Dealers & Leasing
Stay Ahead with Market Data and Forecasts for Smart Inventory and Asset Decisions.
Navigate demand changes, manage inventory risk, and boost profitability with targeted insights and forecasting tools crafted for dealers and leasing companies.
Get Transportation IntelligenceManaging inventory cycles, forecasting resale value, and anticipating demand are ongoing challenges for dealers and leasing companies. ACT Research delivers reliable, up-to-date data and accurate forecasts to help you navigate these complexities. With insights into Classes 5-8 vehicles, used truck values, and freight trends, we empower you to make proactive, data-driven decisions that enhance profitability and streamline operations in an evolving market.
November 2025 Update
In a Wait-and-See Market, Asset Providers Lean into Policy-Ready Solutions"Without reliability, you have nothing; credibility goes out the window. At the end of the day, we found ACT Research to be the most reliable source in the marketplace."
Rusty Rush
Rush Enterprises, Inc.
What It Offers: Essential Market Intelligence for Dealers and Leasing Companies
ACT Research equips dealers and leasing companies with the insights needed to manage inventory, pricing, and demand across Classes 4-8 vehicles:
- Inventory Trends & Market Demand: Access data on production cycles, order backlogs, and inventory levels to support balanced stock management and optimize resale timing.
- Used Vehicle Pricing & Sales Data: Monthly reports on used vehicle values and sales trends, helping businesses set competitive prices and manage turnover.
- Economic and Freight Analysis: Comprehensive insights into economic and freight activity, informing leasing and purchasing strategies amid market changes.
Who Benefits?
Dealers and leasing professionals optimizing stock, pricing, and acquisition strategies to increase profitability and navigate market shifts effectively.
Unlock Your Inventory Advantage with Forecast Insights.
U.S. Used Truck Price Forecast
In-Depth Forecasting for U.S. Used Truck Prices
What It Offers:
- Monthly Used Truck Price Forecasts: Accurate, up-to-date forecasts on used truck pricing trends of Class 8 Tractors by age and mileage groups, helping stakeholders anticipate price fluctuations and market cycles.
- Economic and Market Influencers: Analysis of key economic drivers and market conditions affecting used truck prices, such as freight demand, new truck availability, and macroeconomic indicators.
- Inventory and Resale Value Insights: Data on inventory levels and resale value trends, providing critical context for pricing expectations and helping to assess the long-term value of used trucks.
Who Benefits?
- Dealers and Resellers forecasting pricing to optimize inventory acquisition and resale strategies for different truck classes and age groups.
- Fleet Managers and Procurement Teams planning fleet acquisitions or sales based on anticipated pricing trends to maximize value and reduce total cost of ownership.
- Financial Analysts and Investors evaluating the used truck market as an indicator of transportation sector health and potential investment opportunities.
- Lenders and Finance Companies assessing truck values to better structure financing options and manage residual risk.
North America Commercial Vehicle Outlook
Industry-Leading Forecasts to Support Strategic Decisions
What It Offers:
- Class 4-8 Vehicle Forecasts: Get a comprehensive view of vehicle demand trends across trucks and trailers over the next 1, 5, and 10 years.
- Economic and Industry Drivers: Analyze key economic factors driving the commercial vehicle industry.
- Population Composition and Demand Trends: Insights into population models, active fleet, and age.
Who Benefits?
- OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers aligning production capacity with market demand.
- Financial and investment firms tracking industry performance.
- Fleet managers and CFOs optimizing vehicle acquisition strategies.
Discover the Data Driving Fleet Profitability
United States Used Trucks
Comprehensive Market Intelligence on North American Used Truck Classes 3-8
What It Offers:
- Monthly Sales and Price Trends: Detailed tracking of used truck sale transactions and pricing across Classes 3-8, giving insights into current market demand and valuation trends.
- Inventory Levels and Age Data: Analysis of used truck inventory levels, age distribution, and mileage, supporting informed buying and pricing strategies.
Who Benefits?
- Dealers needing insights into inventory demand to optimize stock and pricing.
- Fleet Managers planning replacements and valuing assets for future resale.
- Financiers and Investors seeking accurate valuation trends for lending or investment decisions.
North America Classes 5-8 Vehicles
Comprehensive Market Intelligence on North American Class 5-8 Vehicles
What It Offers:
- Monthly Production and Sales Data: In-depth coverage of monthly production, sales, and inventory levels for Class 5-8 trucks, providing critical insights into current and projected market conditions.
- Order Backlogs and Cancellation Rates: Detailed analysis of order backlogs, cancellation rates, and their implications for future demand, supporting accurate assessments of market momentum.
- Insights on Supply Constraints: Up-to-date information on supply chain pressures affecting Class 5-8 production, from parts shortages to labor availability, helping stakeholders manage and anticipate impacts on production timelines.
Who Benefits?
- OEMs and Tier 1 Suppliers optimizing production planning and adjusting to supply chain conditions based on total market data.
- Fleet Owners and Equipment Managers evaluating market trends to make informed decisions on fleet expansion, replacement, and capital investments.
- Logistics Companies and Freight Brokers monitoring equipment availability and market demand to plan capacity needs effectively.
- Investors and Analysts seeking data-driven insights into the performance and trajectory of the Class 5-8 market to guide investment strategies.
United States Trailers
Comprehensive Insights into the U.S. Trailer Market
What It Offers:
- Monthly Trailer Production and Factor Shipments: Timely reports on trailer production and factory shipments, providing a clear view of market demand, production capacity, and performance across the U.S. trailer industry.
- Backlog and Inventory Analysis: Detailed data on order backlogs and inventory levels, enabling stakeholders to assess production pipelines, capacity utilization, and inventory sufficiency.
- Order Cancellations and Net Orders: Insight into order trends, cancellations, and net order activity, supporting accurate assessments of demand shifts and overall market health.
- Segmented Market Insights: Breakdown of performance by trailer type (e.g., dry vans, reefers, flatbeds), offering targeted insights into each segment’s activity and growth trends.
Who Benefits?
- Trailer Manufacturers and Suppliers monitoring market demand and optimizing production planning to meet changing order levels.
- Dealers and Distributors aligning inventory with sales trends to maintain an optimal stock of high-demand trailer types.
- Fleet Managers and Equipment Buyers timing purchases based on production and inventory data to manage fleet needs and capital expenditure efficiently.
- Financial Analysts and Investors using trailer sales and production data as a barometer for economic and transportation sector trends, supporting data-driven investment decisions.
Updated November 21, 2025
In a Wait-and-See Market, Asset Providers Lean into Policy-Ready Solutions
With Class 8 net orders remaining well below seasonal norms in October and fleets staying defensive, asset providers are doubling down on flexibility, compliance readiness, and adaptive equipment strategies.
The freight economy continues to move slowly and unevenly. According to ACT Research’s November NA Commercial Vehicle OUTLOOK and Freight Forecast, Class 8 backlogs increased on lower build rates, inventories continued to normalize—especially tractors—and fleets remain cautious as profitability stays near recession levels. OEMs are maintaining disciplined build schedules, and orderboards for 2026 continue to run lighter than normal.
For leasing, rental, and dealership operators, this landscape demands precision. Fleets are not expanding, but they continue to need reliable, policy-ready assets with shorter commitments, lifecycle support, and reduced capital risk. Flexibility—not volume—remains the competitive edge.
Fleets Are Delaying Purchases, But Still Need Equipment
Fleet replacement cycles remain extended as operators defer new equipment purchases. The absence of EPA 2027 clarity and the full impact of 232 heavy-vehicle tariffs continue to push acquisition costs higher. With insurance, maintenance, and financing costs also elevated, fleets are holding older assets longer and delaying multi-unit commitments.
Even so, fleets still need dependable equipment—particularly tractors and vocational configurations tied to essential operations. Replacements remain selective and primarily focused on uptime, safety, and compliance reliability.
Leasing and Sales Strategies Must Reflect a Risk-First Mentality
Fleet buyers are navigating regulatory, financial, and operational risk simultaneously. Asset providers that solve for all three will retain customer share and strengthen long-term relationships.
That means:
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Structuring shorter-term leases with renewal, conversion, or upgrade flexibility
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Bundling maintenance, uptime support, and telematics for risk and compliance management
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Embedding EPA 2027 readiness into specs and long-term contracts
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Providing structured trade-in and transition pathways for older assets
Retail trends continue to favor day cabs, regional tractors, and vocational units—categories most aligned with replacement-only behavior. Long-haul sleeper demand remains weak, reflecting soft freight, aging-cycle extension, and high total cost of operation.
Inventory Management Is Critical
OEM build discipline has helped stabilize inventory levels, but open production slots remain available into early Q1 2026, a clear signal of persistent demand softness. Retail orders remain below normal for this point in the cycle, and dealer pipelines must be carefully managed to avoid idle exposure.
ACT’s November reports show relative strength in:
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Day cabs
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Refrigerated units
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Vocational equipment, tied to infrastructure and municipal demand
Meanwhile, sleeper tractors and high-spec configurations continue to see slower turns, requiring:
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Deeper pricing flexibility
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More targeted regional placement
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Faster rotation of underperforming units
Rental and lease operators that dynamically reposition assets across regions, customer segments, and seasonal opportunities will outperform those that remain static. Utilization, not inventory volume, is the driver of profitability.
Inventory October Is Still a Strategy Month—Not a Growth Month
November reinforces that 2025 remains a strategic reset year, not a rebound. Dealers, leasing firms, and rental operators must continue navigating market softness with disciplined inventory practices, capital efficiency, and policy fluency.
Key focus areas include:
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Maintaining strict inventory control to avoid idle equipment exposure
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Embedding compliance flexibility and EPA 2027 readiness into all contracts
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Using telematics and data visibility to strengthen uptime, manage residuals, and support customer retention
As fleets await regulatory clarity and margin improvement, asset providers that deliver policy-smart, uptime-focused, and flexibility-first solutions will be positioned as early winners—ready to scale the moment confidence and replacement cycles return.
Want to hear more from ACT Research? Analysts Lydia Vieth and Ann Rundle explain the current market and regulations, as well as their projections for future electric truck adoption, battery technologies, and beyond.
Where's the electric truck market headed now? (12:56 minute watch)
5 Reasons You Should Choose ACT Research
Choosing ACT Research for your market insights and forecasting means partnering with industry leaders renowned for their precision and insight. Our forecasting solutions are built on unparalleled data accuracy and deep market analysis, providing you with the tools to stay ahead of market trends.
- Proprietary Data
- Methodology
- Human Intelligence
- Track Recored of Success
- Trusted by Industry Leaders
Market Guidance for Dealers & Leasing Companies
Unlock the power to predict and prosper. ACT's precision analytics arm companies like yours with unparalleled foresight into market trends, enabling you to master market swings, navigate demand changes, manage inventory risk, and boost profitability . Get ahead, stay ahead, and turn market volatility into your competitive edge.
Drive Your Company To Success with ACT Research's Premium Market Insights
By partnering with ACT Research, dealers and leasing firms gain the advantage of data-driven insights to support effective risk management, uncover new opportunities, and confidently navigate the complexities of the transportation market. Our market intelligence services not only aligns with the fluctuating needs of the industry but also provides a cost-effective solution for accessing industry expertise and insights, empowering dealers and leasing companies to make strategic decisions that drive growth and profitability.