Who Buys Non-Running Commercial Trucks?
A used semi is worth what a buyer will actually pay for that specific truck, and in 2026 that number has been recovering. According to ACT Research, the average retail price for a used Class 8 truck sat around $61,000 in the middle of the year before easing slightly to just under $61,000 in July. Typical over-the-road sleepers commonly change hands somewhere in the $60,000 to $80,000 range, though a high-mileage unit can bring far less and a clean late-model truck considerably more. Kelly Truck Buyers prices against that same live market every day.
What moves the number up or down
Mileage and model year are only the starting point. Engine make and model, whether it is an automated or manual transmission, rear ratio, wheelbase, and overall spec all pull the price around. So do the boring details buyers care about most: tire condition, recent maintenance, records, emissions system health, and whether the truck has any accident history. Brand matters too. Freightliner Cascadia and Kenworth T680 tractors tend to hold their residual value across the cycle.
Why two trucks that look alike sell for thousands apart
Buyers pay for what the truck will do next, not what it looks like in a photo. A documented service history, a strong engine platform, and clean paperwork can separate two otherwise identical trucks by several thousand dollars. Late-model, lower-mileage units have been commanding a premium because fleets are competing for a limited supply of quality trucks.
Where the market is heading
New truck prices have pushed past $170,000, and the emissions rules arriving in 2027 are expected to add several thousand more to a new build. When new gets more expensive, it tends to lift the value of good used trucks underneath it. That backdrop has helped used values find a floor after a long stretch of decline.
The only way to get an accurate number
Averages are useful for context, not for pricing your exact truck. Jim handles commercial valuations at Kelly and can give you a real figure once he knows the VIN, mileage, engine, and condition. Call 800-790-1686 for a number based on your truck rather than a national average.
