Ryder CEO Diez: Used Truck Market Momentum to Accelerate

Ryder System CEO John Diez stated that the used-truck market conditions improved in the second quarter of 2026 and are expected to strengthen further in the second half of the year. The momentum in used vehicle sales is upward, with pricing gains and rising freight rates supporting a broader recovery in used vehicle sales and market sentiment. The introduction of EPA 2027 engines is expected to boost used-truck demand by increasing the cost of new equipment. Ryder’s used vehicle sales in Q1 fell 10% year over year to 4,600 from 5,100 but climbed 27.8% compared with Q4 2025. The average Class 8 retail sales price rose 1.9% year over year to $59,122 in April, according to ACT Research. The company’s used vehicle sales are set to trend even higher as 2026 progresses, in parallel with the ongoing rebound in the freight market and as a result of regulation changes for engines. The introduction of engines compliant with Environmental Protection Agency 2027 nitrogen oxide-emissions regulations is set to lift truck and tractor prices, with the EPA requiring NOx emissions for heavy-duty trucks to drop to 35 milligrams per horsepower-hour from 200 mg/hp-hr.