What Is My Used Commercial Truck Actually Worth? A Realistic Guide for Sellers

If you’re asking “what is my used commercial truck actually worth,” you’re already ahead of most sellers, because truck value isn’t a Blue Book number, and it’s not whatever someone is asking online. Commercial trucks are priced by real-world demand: drivetrain condition, engine hours, specialized equipment, and (often) the parts market for what’s on the truck right now. The same truck can be worth wildly different amounts depending on whether it’s a clean fleet unit, a hard-used owner-operator truck, or a non-runner with high-demand components. This guide breaks down how serious buyers really value commercial trucks, so you can set realistic expectations and avoid leaving money on the table.

12 real factors that decide what your used commercial truck is worth

Truck type and buyer pool: Dump, reefer, rollback, tanker, bucket, semi, box truck, service body; each has different demand and value drivers.
Engine hours vs. mileage: Some trucks “age” by hours (service, dump, bucket), others by miles (long-haul tractors). Buyers look at the right metric for the job.
Maintenance records and service history: A higher-mile truck with documented fleet maintenance can beat a lower-mile truck with gaps and unknowns.
Drivetrain reputation: Engine family and spec matter (and buyers price in known rebuild costs, reliability, and parts availability).
Component-level value: Transmissions, axles, PTO systems, hydraulics, liftgates, reefer units. Many trucks are valued as “systems,” not just as a single vehicle.
Parts market demand (and timing): A non-running truck can bring a strong offer if key components are currently scarce or in demand.
Specialized equipment condition: On dumps, it’s the hydraulics and the body; on reefers, it’s the refrigeration unit; on tow trucks, it’s the towing gear; on tankers, it’s the tank itself and specs.
Frame, body, and cargo-area integrity: Rust, rot, box condition, dump body condition, deck condition; structural condition can matter more than cosmetics.
Configuration details that change the buyer list: Day cab vs sleeper, axle configuration, wheelbase, capacity, liftgate presence, box length — these can move pricing fast.
Geography and regional demand: Some markets move certain trucks faster; national buyers can sometimes outbid local buyers because they already know where the truck (or parts) will go next.
“Non-running” doesn’t mean “scrap”: A blown engine is not automatically “minus the engine cost.” The truck is priced by what’s still valuable and sellable today.
Title and paperwork reality: Title situation affects price and ease of sale, but it’s often workable; it just needs to be discussed upfront with a real buyer.

How to Get a Real Offer (Not a Guess) on Your Commercial Truck

If you're trying to sell a used commercial truck, the first question you ask yourself is almost always the same one: what is this thing actually worth? It sounds simple. It isn't. The commercial truck market operates by a completely different set of rules than the passenger car market, and the factors that determine real value (not blue book value, not what someone on Facebook Marketplace is asking, but what a serious buyer will actually pay) are more complex than most sellers realize until they're already in the middle of a transaction.

At Kelly Truck Buyers, pricing commercial trucks has been our full-time job for over two decades. Jim, who handles all truck valuations for our company, talks to hundreds of buyers and sellers every month. He tracks parts markets, monitors regional demand, follows seasonal shifts in what specific truck types are selling for, and stays current on how tariffs and supply chain changes affect component values across different makes and models. What follows is a straightforward look at how commercial truck value actually works, and why the number you get from a knowledgeable buyer may surprise you, in either direction.

Why Commercial Truck Value Is So Different from Car Value

When most people think about selling a vehicle, they think about condition, mileage, and year. Those things matter for commercial trucks too, but they're just the beginning. A used commercial truck is also a collection of specialized components, each with its own market. The engine, transmission, axles, hydraulics, lift gates, PTO systems, refrigeration units, dump bodies, and dozens of other systems all have separate values that fluctuate based on demand, availability, and developments in industries most sellers have no reason to follow.

A semi-truck with a failed engine, for example, isn't just a non-running truck; it's potentially a source of a transmission that's in short supply in the Midwest right now, a set of drive axles that someone in Florida is actively looking for, and a sleeper cab that's in demand in Texas because a regional fleet is expanding. None of those individual values show up in a generic price guide. They only show up in the mind of someone who's been tracking these markets long enough to connect the dots.

This is why getting an accurate answer to "what is my used commercial truck worth" requires talking to someone who lives in the commercial truck market every day, not someone running your VIN through a database.

The Major Factors That Drive Commercial Truck Value

Engine Hours vs. Miles … and Why Both Matter

For over-the-road trucks like semi-tractors and long-haul rigs, mileage is a primary factor, but it's the story behind those miles that really matters. A truck with 500,000 miles that was maintained by a professional fleet operation and kept on a strict service schedule can be worth significantly more than a 300,000-mile truck that was run hard by an owner-operator and skipped oil changes. Maintenance records (or their absence) affect value more than most sellers expect.

For trucks that work by the hour rather than the mile (dump trucks, bucket trucks, service trucks), engine hours tell a more meaningful story than odometer readings. A dump truck with 8,000 hours has been through a lot, regardless of what the odometer says.

Component Condition and Parts Market Demand

This is where commercial truck valuation gets interesting. Jim tracks the parts market to know when specific components are in short supply nationwide. When they are, a non-running truck can command a stronger offer than a seller might expect. Tariffs on imported parts have tightened the availability of certain components over the past few years, pushing up demand for used parts pulled from American trucks. A truck that you think is worth scrap value because the engine is blown may have a transmission, a rear axle, or a hydraulic system that's currently in demand.

The opposite is also true. When a particular make and model floods the resale market (often after large fleet liquidations), even well-maintained examples see their values soften as supply outpaces demand. This is something sellers with no visibility into commercial truck markets would never know to factor in.

Truck Type and Specialized Equipment

The kind of truck you're selling matters enormously, because each type has its own buyer pool and its own set of value drivers.

Semi-trucks and tractor-trailers are evaluated heavily on drivetrain condition, the reputation of the engine make (Cummins, Paccar, Detroit Diesel), whether the truck is a day cab or sleeper, and axle configuration. Long-haul fleets, regional carriers, and owner-operators are distinct buyers with distinct priorities.
Dump trucks retain their value well due to consistent demand in construction and infrastructure work. The hydraulic system condition (cylinders, pump, controls) is a major factor alongside the dump body itself. Single-axle and tandem-axle dump trucks have different value profiles and different buyer pools.
Box trucks and straight trucks are valued heavily on the condition of their boxes and their features. A working lift gate adds meaningful value. Size matters;16-foot and 24-foot box trucks often see different demand than 26-footers, depending on what's moving in the regional delivery and moving industries.
Flatbed trucks are assessed on the frame, deck condition, and whether they have any specialized features, such as a headache rack, winch, or beaver tail. Flatbeds in good shape move steadily in construction, landscaping, and agricultural supply.
Refrigerated trucks (reefers) require a separate evaluation of the refrigeration unit itself; brand, age, maintenance history, and current operating condition all factor in. The reefer unit can represent a significant portion of the truck's value independent of the truck itself.
Bucket trucks and aerial work platforms are evaluated heavily on boom condition, the hydraulic and PTO system, weight class, and whether any certifications or inspections are current. These trucks serve specialized buyer pools (utility companies, tree services, telecommunications contractors) and their values can vary more widely than those of general cargo trucks.
Service trucks and utility bodies are assessed partly on the chassis and partly on the utility body itself. Body makers, storage configurations, crane or lift capacities, and auxiliary power systems all contribute to value. A well-configured service body in good condition adds significant worth above the base truck.
Delivery vans and step vans (including the classic P-series step vans used by package delivery services) have seen consistent demand from food truck converters, mobile service businesses, and small delivery operations. Condition of the cargo area and the walk-in features matter as much as mechanical condition.
Tow trucks and rollbacks are valued on the towing equipment itself (the boom, the wheel lift, the deck, and the hydraulic tilt mechanism for rollbacks) as much as the truck underneath. Towing equipment from reputable manufacturers retains its own value.
Tanker trucks have a highly specialized buyer pool. The tank material (aluminum, stainless steel, carbon steel), capacity, baffling, and last-used product history all factor significantly. A tanker that carries food-grade liquid has a different value than one used for chemicals or fuel. The tank itself often drives a large portion of the valuation.

How Geography Affects What Your Truck Is Worth

Where your truck is located matters, but not always in the ways you'd expect. A buyer with national reach can often pay more for a truck in a remote location than a local buyer can, because their network of parts purchasers and wholesalers isn't limited to what's nearby.

That said, regional patterns are real. Michigan has one of the strongest commercial truck markets in the country, driven by its industrial base, its long history in manufacturing and construction, and the density of fleet operators throughout the state. Trucks coming out of Michigan (whether from the Detroit metro, the Grand Rapids area, or further north) tend to move quickly because there's an established infrastructure of buyers, reconditioning operations, and parts networks that know this equipment well. We've been seeing strong interest from Michigan sellers, and Jim stays closely tuned to what's moving in that market.

Florida presents a different picture. The year-round construction season and the steady demand from landscaping, agriculture, and delivery operations mean dump trucks, flatbeds, and refrigerated trucks all see consistent buyer interest. However, rust is almost never a factor on Florida trucks, which can make them attractive to buyers in northern states where body and frame condition on comparable trucks is often worse.

Texas has its own dynamics: heavy demand for oilfield-related equipment, construction trucks serving the ongoing development in major metros, and agricultural trucks working the vast farming and ranching regions. A tank truck or heavy hauler coming out of Texas often has a specific buyer community that's actively looking.

In the Midwest (Ohio, Illinois, Indiana) the mix of manufacturing, agriculture, and construction creates broad demand across most truck categories. The Great Lakes region generally has a dense enough commercial trucking infrastructure that most types of trucks can find buyers without traveling far.

That said, our reach is national. We buy trucks in all 48 contiguous states, and our network means that a non-running dump truck in a rural area can still get a competitive offer because we know who wants it, even if they're 1,200 miles away.

What "Condition" Really Means for Commercial Trucks

Most sellers enter the conversation wondering whether their truck is "too far gone" to be worth selling to a real buyer. The answer is almost always no. The trucks we buy most often are the ones that aren't running, need significant repairs, or have been sitting for a while. Here's why:

Non-running trucks still have value in their components. A truck that needs a $15,000 engine repair isn't worth $15,000 less than a running equivalent; it's worth whatever the remaining components are worth on current parts markets, which can still be substantial. A transmission that's in demand, a set of axles in good shape, and hydraulic components with life left all contribute to an offer even when the truck as a whole isn't operable.

Title situation matters, but it doesn't have to be a dealbreaker. We work with trucks in various title situations and can talk through what applies to your specific vehicle.

Body and frame condition matters more for trucks where the structure itself has functional value; flatbeds, dump bodies, and box truck cargo areas. For trucks where the primary value is mechanical, visible wear and cosmetic issues are far less significant.

Age matters less than you might think for specialized trucks. A well-maintained older dump truck or tanker with serviceable components can still command a meaningful offer because the demand is for what it can do or what can be pulled from it, not how new it looks.

The Process: From First Call to Final Offer

When you call Kelly Truck Buyers at 800-790-1686, you'll likely speak with Faith or Michelle first. They'll gather the basics. From there, Jim gets involved to work through the valuation.

Jim will ask specific questions about the truck, and his questions may surprise you. He's not just running through a checklist; he's building a picture of what the truck is worth in current markets, and he'll be direct with you about his reasoning. If something drives the value up, he'll tell you. If something brings it down, he'll explain why.

The offer is valid for a week. We're not going to call you every day to pressure you into accepting. Most commercial truck sellers we work with take a few days, compare their options, and think it through. That's the right way to make a decision on something this significant, and we respect that. If you accept the offer, we arrange free, nationwide towing.

There are no hidden fees deducted at pickup. The offer is the offer.

The Bottom Line

Selling a used commercial truck (whether it's a semi that's been on the road for fifteen years, a dump truck coming off a construction job, or a box truck that finally needs more repairs than it's worth) doesn't have to be a complicated process. But it does require talking to someone who actually knows these markets, not someone running an algorithm or making offers based solely on scrap weight.

If you want a straight answer on what your truck is worth right now (not a range, not a maybe) call 800-790-1686. Kelly Truck Buyers is a family business in its second generation, an A+ rated member of the BBB, and we've been buying commercial trucks of every type and condition for over 20 years.

Give us a call. Tell us what you have. We'll tell you what it's worth.