New trucks
The new truck market has been performing very well since the start of 2026. It would appear that industry challenges such as the severe driver shortage and high, volatile fuel prices have had no impact whatsoever on demand. The truth is probably somewhat different, but it is masked by several processes occurring simultaneously. Firstly, large fleets have resumed regular vehicle replacement, and we are seeing a backlog of this process following the suspension of purchases during the pandemic. Secondly, some manufacturers have significantly extended delivery times for new vehicles, which ensures them relatively stable registration figures and discourages customers from cancelling or postponing collection. Finally, it should be borne in mind that changes in market conditions can only be observed in registration figures after several months, and this timeframe depends on the length of the period between ordering, delivery and registration of the vehicle.
Used trucks
Unlike the new car market, the used truck market reacts immediately to any disruptions in demand. The only problem is observing this process using relevant data. Sudden changes in fuel prices trigger a rapid reaction from buyers. That is why demand stabilised after the summer holidays, but the current, escalating fuel crisis is causing a decline in interest in purchasing. Buyers have also become much more selective, taking advantage of the difficulties faced by car dealers caused by unstable demand. Consequently, mileage is once again becoming a very important factor. Cars with up to 500,000 km on the clock are accepted, but those with higher mileage show a significant drop in value and are not accepted by the market. Used truck traders are also struggling to source vehicles in a specific technical condition. The reduction in buy-backs following the pandemic has diminished the supply of used trcuks in Europe, and their prices are relatively high and unacceptable to the Polish market. The availability of used tractors is falling sharply, as is also evident from the statistics on vehicle listings. Compounding this are technical issues with Euro VIE engines (post-2021) and a significant rise in maintenance costs for the latest models.
The second-hand market is becoming increasingly complex, and the problems faced by hauliers are directly affecting the health of car dealerships. For this reason, export markets are one of the most sought-after sales channels. Recently, there has been increased activity from buyers in Uzbekistan (with 2022 models in high demand). However, these are temporary trends that cannot replace stable demand on the domestic market. Some export markets are opening up whilst others are closing, which is causing problems with reselling, particularly for older vehicles.
Used truck stocks
There is a clear decline in the number of adverts on the market, particularly for older tractor units. Listings have returned to the levels seen at the start of the year, following a sharp rise after the outbreak of the conflict in Iran. The supply of newer models is significantly higher, although fluctuations in fuel prices are clearly affecting demand. The price of fuel is becoming a key determinant of interest in used lorries. For this reason, a slight increase in interest in LNG-powered tractor units has been observed. However, this has a greater impact on the speed of sales than on their market value.
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