Lincoln, Neb. – September 08, 2026 -- Used heavy-duty construction equipment inventory on Sandhills Global's MachineryTrader.com fell 2.56% month-over-month and 10.45% year-over-year in August, with crawler dozers posting the steepest monthly decline at 3.78% and wheel loaders logging the largest annual drop at 11.94%, according to new Sandhills Equipment Value Index (EVI) data.
Construction equipment values edge higher despite falling inventory
Asking values for used heavy-duty construction equipment rose a slight 0.52% M/M but remained down 1.55% Y/Y, while auction values increased 0.31% M/M and fell 1.29% Y/Y. Sandhills noted dealers are reporting slower sales activity and more cautious buyers even as rental demand stays strong.
Medium-duty construction equipment inventory rose 0.71% M/M but dropped 11.41% Y/Y, led by loader backhoes, down 23.52% annually. Used aerial lift auction values fell 3.29% M/M and 6.36% Y/Y, marking a fourth consecutive month of decline, with telescopic boom lifts down 8.67% M/M at auction.
Forklift inventory climbs nearly 14% year-over-year
Used forklift inventory increased 1.98% M/M and 13.94% Y/Y, driven by cushion-tire units up 16.78% annually. Asking values for pneumatic-tire forklifts rose 2.18% M/M, though cushion-tire asking values fell 5.09% Y/Y. Telehandler inventory fell 6.56% Y/Y while auction values dropped 5.29% Y/Y despite a 0.31% M/M uptick.
Farm equipment auction values jump as tractor supply tightens
Used tractors 100 HP and greater saw inventory fall 15.49% Y/Y, while auction values climbed 2.3% M/M and 4.45% Y/Y. The EVI spread between asking and auction values for this segment narrowed to 31% in August from 33% in July. Used combine harvester inventory dropped 10.18% Y/Y even as auction values rose 3.23% M/M and 4.66% Y/Y, with the EVI spread easing to 37%.
Used planter auction values surged 5.07% M/M and 15.35% Y/Y, and the EVI spread fell to 45% from 47% in July, remaining below the highs seen in 2015. Compact and utility tractor inventory has trended down for 10 straight months, dropping 22.02% Y/Y, while auction values gained 1.7% Y/Y.
Heavy-duty truck and trailer inventories keep shrinking
Used heavy-duty truck inventory fell 6.16% M/M and 37.7% Y/Y, its ninth consecutive month of decline, with sleeper trucks down 42.3% annually. Auction values for heavy-duty trucks rose 4.91% M/M and 3.03% Y/Y, led by sleeper trucks up 5.91% Y/Y.
Semi-trailer inventory has trended down for 13 consecutive months, falling 31.38% Y/Y, with reefer trailers down 48.29% annually. Reefer trailer auction values jumped 21.8% Y/Y, the largest annual gain across the semi-trailer category. Medium-duty truck inventory dropped 33.18% Y/Y, marking 12 straight months of decline, while auction values fell 6.42% Y/Y.