After years of fleets sitting on their hands, the order books just woke up — and that matters whether you’re buying, selling, or just trying to hold the value of the rig you already run.
The news
TRATON — the Volkswagen truck group that owns International Motors in the U.S. — reported its nine-month results on Wednesday, October 28. The headline number for North America: incoming truck orders up 105% in the first nine months of 2026, with demand for heavy-duty Class 8 trucks improving significantly.
Group-wide, incoming orders rose 25% to 253,100 vehicles, unit sales rose 3% to 230,400, and adjusted operating profit rose 13% to €2.3 billion (about $2.56 billion). TRATON’s CFO said the company expects the North American market “to gain further momentum towards year-end” and kept its full-year outlook in place.
One honest read on the numbers: orders are not deliveries. An order surge says fleets are committing money again after several subdued years — it does not mean new trucks are sitting on lots today, and it does not by itself prove freight rates will follow.
What this means for car haulers
Replacement demand is back. When big fleets start ordering new iron again, the used market feels it from both sides: trade-ins eventually feed used supply, and buyers who can’t wait on a factory slot shop used instead. For a car hauler, that second group is your competition for clean used packages right now.
Good used packages won’t get cheaper by waiting. A turn-key truck-and-trailer package you can put to work this week competes against a new-truck order that may not deliver for months. That time advantage is worth money — to a buyer who needs capacity now, and to a seller holding a ready unit.
Year-end still matters. Orders doubling doesn’t change the calendar: equipment placed in service by December 31 is what counts for this year’s Section 179 write-off. If you’re buying anyway, a used package that can be delivered and working before year-end can beat a new order on both timing and tax.
The bottom line
The big fleets are spending again. That usually tightens the market for clean, work-ready used equipment before it loosens it — so if you’ve been watching a package, don’t assume it’ll still be there in the spring.
Browse car hauler equipment for sale — trucks, trailers, and turn-key packages ready to work now. Call Victor at 954-947-3096.
Sources: Reuters, “Traton’s nine-month operating profit rises 13% on volume, pricing and product mix” (October 28, 2026) — https://www.reuters.com/business/tratons-nine-month-operating-profit-rises-13-volume-pricing-product-mix-2026-10-28/ ; TRATON GROUP nine-month 2026 release (October 28, 2026), incoming orders +25% group-wide to 253,100 vehicles, North America truck orders +105%. Order figures are TRATON’s reported numbers; what they mean for used car-hauler prices is our read, not a guarantee.
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