TAG SEARCH RESULT: Truck Resale

For some fleets, a truck’s value does not come up until it’s time for remarketing. But getting the most profit for these assets requires careful planning long before the truck goes up for sale.

Over the past three months, two segments have shown unchanged value or an increase in overall value: Full-Size Pickups are unchanged, and Small Pickups have gained +0.2% in value.

Volume-weighted, overall truck segment (including pickups, SUVs, and vans) values decreased by just 0.03% last week, better than the average decrease of 0.17% per week in the previous four weeks.

Generally, medium-duty segments are holding up well, with cabovers and lighter GVW conventional trucks performing the best.

Regardless of the vocational application, companies are in the business of “manufacturing” used vehicles. Today’s new truck is tomorrow’s used truck. How you spec a truck has a direct bearing on its future resale value.

When spec'ing a truck, it is critical to find the balance between building a truck to perform the intended job function and ensuring there will be a strong secondary buyer demand in the resale market at the end of its lifecycle.

Increased buying opportunities and a favorable economic climate are limiting price growth, and the supply of quality used trucks is expected to increase.

Waiting too long can result in unnecessary wear-and-tear, expense, and lost productivity. Making the decision too soon can result in higher capital expenses and depreciation costs. The key is finding the perfect balance.

After a steeper decline to start 2014, depreciation is expected to settle into the range of 1 percent to 1.5 percent per month for the rest of the year.

To get the most value from a used truck, fleet managers looking to auction their units should do a little research and be thoroughly prepared.