Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, the world’s largest auctioneer of heavy tools and vans has launched gross sales knowledge that paints a difficult image for the U.S. trucking trade, as carriers navigate by a weak fee setting and financial uncertainty. Three yr previous 53′ dry van trailer costs peaked at $48,000 in 2021; now they’re going for lower than $20,000. Trailer transaction quantity has been pushed by bankruptcies, like Yellow—which has flooded the market with low spec trailers in poor situation, miserable costs—and repossessions, the place the overwhelming majority of late mannequin trailers up for public sale by Ritchie Bros. have banks as sellers.
Ritchie Bros.’ Q3 2025 Transportation Assessment underscores how these components have dampened trucking provider sentiment, impacting provide, demand, and pricing developments throughout the sector.
(Picture: Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers)
Excessive truck inventories and virtually zero web new orders
The RBA report highlights a stark oversupply problem dealing with the trade, notably in new truck inventories. Historic ranges of Class 8 truck inventories, exceeding 90,000 models, have been recorded at sellers, a big enhance from beneath 50,000 models in late 2021. This glut of obtainable vans contributes to lowered spot and contract charges, pressuring carriers to scale back their fleets. The report quotes, “The market wants extra trucking authorities leaving the market. We want fleet retraction/elimination,” illustrating the urgent must stability provide with diminished demand.
Repossessions are exacerbating the oversupply state of affairs as small to mid-sized fleets offload automobiles. With 158 out of 162 models bought in Q3 2025 being repossessions, stock strain continues to construct, conserving costs from recovering swiftly. The trade faces backward pressures as “greater circulation of repossessions” underscores the stress in balancing truck inventories with present demand ranges.
(Picture: Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers)
Tractor costs are secure, trailer costs nonetheless softening
Demand inside the trucking sector is displaying indicators of stabilization, though it stays weak resulting from ongoing financial uncertainty and coverage challenges. In accordance with the report, “LOWEST ORDER NET ORDERS SINCE THE TAIL END OF ‘THE GREAT RECESSION” signifies that Class 8 truck web orders are at their lowest because the financial turmoil of 2008-2009. The next layoffs by each truck OEM resulting from lack of orders mirror the warning prevailing amongst massive fleets, a lot of whom are adopting a “wait and see” method concerning new purchases.
Nevertheless, the nationwide truck freight market did see progress in Q2 2025, with will increase in cargo and spend volumes. But, year-over-year comparisons nonetheless present a contraction, albeit at a smaller decline, suggesting potential market stabilization. Nonetheless, sustained restoration is determined by readability over home and worldwide commerce insurance policies, which stay unpredictable.
Pricing developments for tractors and trailers illustrate a nuanced dynamic inside the market. Although general costs for sleepers have remained secure primarily based on age, the report notes declines in particular segments equivalent to day cabs and trailers: “Dry van trailers considerably down,” largely because of the flooded market amplified by bulk gross sales from bankruptcies like Yellow Freight in 2024. This inflow of trailers into the market has resisted typical worth restoration, with dry-van trailer spot charges stabilizing at $2.18 in early July in comparison with a 2024 common of $1.98, which displays the persistence of a suppressed fee setting.
The amount of apparatus gross sales additional displays this cautious sentiment as Q3 2025 marked the third lowest Q3 amount within the final six years at 15.6k models, a pointy lower from the 120k plus models surged in 2024. The report means that carriers are hesitant to increase their fleets amidst ongoing uncertainties, thus limiting the variety of automobiles put up on the market or acquired by auctions.
Provider sentiment inside the U.S. trucking trade stays muted in Q3 2025, undercut by each an oversupply of automobiles and an unstable financial backdrop. The interaction of those parts has compelled carriers to undertake restrained buying methods and has led to an ongoing wave of repossessions. The sector’s path to restoration relies upon considerably on aligning stock ranges with demand and higher regulatory and financial predictability within the coming quarters.
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