Selling Your Commercial Truck: Why Experience and National Reach Matter

Selling a commercial truck isn’t something you rush. Whether you’re closing a business, downsizing a fleet, or retiring from the road, getting a fair price matters. Kelly Truck Buyers brings more than 20 years of national market experience, real pricing knowledge, and a family-run reputation for honesty that helps sellers get better offers with zero hassle.

Real market pricing based on hundreds of monthly truck conversations nationwide, not guesswork or generic guides.
A family-owned business with 20+ years of experience and an A+ BBB rating maintained for over a decade.
National buying reach across the lower 48 states, meaning your truck isn’t limited to local scrap or regional demand.
Direct access to Jim, a specialist who tracks parts demand, auction activity, seasonal patterns, and regional shortages.
Buyers and partners in multiple states, allowing higher payouts when certain truck types sell better in other regions.
Ability to buy semis, box trucks, refrigerated units, dump trucks, flatbeds, tow trucks, vans, step vans, and specialty haulers.
Honest quotes the first time; no lowballing, no price changes at pickup, no excuses.
Streamlined process: quick intake with Faith or Michelle, detailed evaluation from Jim, and fast scheduling that fits your timeline.
Full paperwork handling plus free towing, even for non-running or long-parked commercial trucks.
Deep understanding of how tariffs, parts shortages, and economic trends affect real truck value right now.
A respectful, pressure-free approach that recognizes selling a commercial truck can be a major business or personal decision.

When you're ready to sell a commercial truck, you're usually not making the decision lightly. Maybe the business is closing. Maybe you're downsizing the fleet. Maybe that semi finally needs more in repairs than it's worth. Maybe you're an owner-operator who's decided it's time to get out of the business entirely.

Whatever brought you here, you're probably taking your time with this decision. We understand that. Commercial trucks represent significant investments, and selling one (whether it's running or not) deserves careful consideration and multiple quotes if possible.

At Kelly Truck Buyers, we've been buying commercial trucks of all types for over twenty years. We're a family-owned operation, now in our second generation, and we've maintained our A+ BBB rating for over a decade by doing one thing consistently: treating people fairly and keeping our word.

When you call 800-790-1686, you'll most likely talk to Faith or Michelle first during business hours. They'll get the basic information about your truck. But when it comes to pricing, understanding what your specific truck is actually worth in today's market, you'll talk to Jim.

Why Jim Knows What Your Truck Is Worth

Jim's been pricing commercial trucks for years now, and he's developed something that matters more than any pricing guide or algorithm: real market knowledge based on hundreds of conversations every single month with people buying and selling trucks all over the country.

He knows the parts market. He knows what's in demand right now and what isn't. He knows which truck models have parts that are hard to find and therefore valuable. He knows the seasonal patterns; dump trucks move differently in spring than winter, refrigerated box trucks have their own cycles, flatbeds follow construction seasons.

More importantly, Jim talks to buyers across the entire country every month. He knows where there are shortages of specific types of trucks. He understands how tariffs are affecting the parts market and import/export dynamics. He knows what's happening at auctions in different regions. He's not guessing about value; he's working with real information from real transactions happening right now.

That kind of knowledge can't be Googled. It comes from being in the business day after day, transaction after transaction, staying connected to what's actually moving and what people are actually paying.

National Reach Means Better Offers

Here's something that matters when you're selling a commercial truck: we buy nationally. We're based in the Chicago area (Frankfort, Illinois specifically) but we regularly buy trucks from all over the lower 48 states.

Why does that matter to you? Because we're not limited to local scrap prices or local demand. When Jim prices your truck, he's thinking about multiple markets simultaneously.

Your semi tractor might be worth more to a buyer in Texas than to a scrapper in Michigan. Your refrigerated box truck might have parts that are in high demand in Florida right now. Your dump truck might be perfect for a buyer in Pennsylvania who's willing to do some repair work. Your flatbed might go to auction in Illinois where there's currently strong demand.

We can often pay more than a local buyer specifically because we're not thinking locally. We're thinking nationally about where your truck has the most value; whether that's in parts, repair and resale, or scrap.

That national network took twenty years to build. It's one of the reasons we've survived as a family business when so many others haven't.

What Types of Commercial Trucks Do We Buy?

We buy all types of commercial trucks in any condition. That's not marketing language; it's literally what we do. Let's talk about the major categories:

Semi Trucks and Tractor Trailers

We buy semis whether they're running or not. Day cabs, sleeper cabs, older Freightliners, Peterbilts, Kenworths, Volvos, Internationals. Jim knows these trucks and knows what they're worth. Even if the engine is blown or the transmission is gone, there's value in a semi. The parts market for over-the-road trucks is substantial, and certain models have components that are always in demand. We've bought semis from owner-operators who decided to retire, from small trucking companies that went under, from fleets that were upgrading their equipment. If you've got a semi that needs to go, Jim can tell you what it's worth.

Box Trucks and Straight Trucks

These are probably the most common commercial vehicles we buy. Delivery trucks, moving trucks, refrigerated trucks, dry box trucks; we see all of them. Box trucks are interesting because they serve so many different industries. A refrigerated unit might be worth more if food service businesses in certain regions are expanding. A dry box truck might have value to a moving company or a parts hauler. Even if the box is damaged or the lift gate doesn't work, Jim understands what the chassis is worth and whether the refrigeration unit has salvageable components. We buy box trucks from businesses that closed, from companies that switched to smaller vehicles, from owner-operators who couldn't afford the repairs anymore.

Dump Trucks

Dump trucks follow construction and landscaping cycles, and Jim pays attention to those patterns. Single-axle dumps, tandem dumps, tri-axles; each has different markets and different seasonal demand. Spring is obviously busy for dump trucks in most regions, but there are always buyers looking for specific configurations year-round. We buy dump trucks from landscaping businesses that shut down, from contractors who are downsizing, from municipalities selling off old equipment. Even a dump truck that hasn't run in two years has value; the dump body itself, the hydraulics, the axles, the frame. Jim knows where those parts go and what they're worth.

Flatbed Trucks and Tow Trucks

Flatbeds are workhorses, and there's consistent demand for them in good markets. Whether it's a small flatbed for local hauling or a larger unit for equipment transport, these trucks hold value well; especially the beds themselves. We've bought flatbeds from construction companies, from equipment rental businesses, from independent contractors. Tow trucks are more specialized, but we buy those too. The towing equipment, the hydraulics, the specialized chassis components; there are buyers for all of it.

Delivery Vans and Step Vans

These smaller commercial vehicles are everywhere now, especially with the growth in delivery services. Cargo vans, sprinter vans, step vans like the classic bread trucks; we buy all of them. Even if they're high-mileage or have mechanical issues, there's often value in the body, the shelving systems, the lift gates. We've bought delivery vans from businesses that went bankrupt, from companies switching to different vehicles, from owner-operators who couldn't keep up with maintenance costs.

Heavy Equipment Haulers and Specialized Trucks

Low-boys, heavy haulers, tankers, cement mixers, specialized hauling equipment; we buy these too, though they require more specific expertise to price correctly. Jim has connections with buyers who specifically look for this type of equipment. Even if it's not running, specialized trucks often have components that are expensive to replace and therefore valuable on the secondary market.

The point is this: no matter what type of commercial truck you have, we can evaluate it properly and make you a fair offer based on real market knowledge.

The Commercial Truck Market Right Now

The market for commercial trucks changes based on economic conditions, industry trends, regulations, and seasonal factors. Right now, a few things are affecting truck values:

The parts market remains strong for many types of trucks because new truck prices have been high and lead times have been long. That means more businesses are keeping older trucks running longer, which creates demand for parts.

Certain truck types are in higher demand than others based on regional needs. Jim knows these patterns because he's connected to buyers and auctions across the country.

Tariffs and international trade policies affect the import and export markets for trucks and parts, which in turn affects domestic values. This is the kind of thing Jim pays attention to because it matters for pricing.

How the Process Actually Works

When you call 800-790-1686, here's what happens:

You'll talk to Faith or Michelle first in most cases. They'll ask you about the truck; year, make, model, condition, what's wrong with it if it's not running, whether you have the title, where it's located. This conversation is straightforward. They're gathering the information Jim needs to price it accurately.

Then Jim gets involved. He'll ask more detailed questions about the truck because the details matter. The VIN helps him understand the exact configuration. The condition affects value in ways that aren't always obvious. Whether it's been sitting for years or was running last month makes a difference.

Jim will give you a quote based on everything he knows about the current market. That quote is honest. We're not trying to lowball you and then change the price when we show up. We're giving you the actual number we can pay.

Here's the part that's different from selling a regular car: you're probably going to take a few days to think about it. Maybe you want to get other quotes. Maybe you need to talk to your business partner or your accountant. Maybe you just need time to process that this truck (this piece of equipment that represented your livelihood or your business) is really done.

That's completely fine. Take your time. We're not going anywhere. We've been doing this for over twenty years, and we'll be here when you're ready to decide.

If you decide to sell to us, we coordinate pickup. For commercial trucks, that's more involved than picking up a car. We need appropriate towing equipment. We need to coordinate with your schedule and your location. If the truck is at a storage facility or a repair shop, we work with them directly.

When we pick up the truck, you get paid. Cash, check, or electronic payment; whatever works for you. We handle all the paperwork. We provide you with documentation for your records.

Why Family Businesses Survive in This Industry

Kelly Truck Buyers is a family operation. Mike started this business about twenty years ago when he realized there was a need for honest, professional truck buying services. His daughter Michelle and son-in-law Jim run it now, and the business supports three generations of the family.

We've survived in this industry because we operate on old-school principles: give your word and keep your word.

That A+ BBB rating we've maintained for over a decade? That didn't happen by accident. It happened because when we tell you we'll pay a certain amount, we pay it. When we tell you we'll pick up the truck on Tuesday, we show up on Tuesday. When we tell you we'll handle the paperwork, we handle it.

There are bigger companies in this space with more advertising dollars and fancier websites. There are also smaller operators; a guy with a tow truck and a phone number. We're in between those two extremes, and that's exactly where we want to be.

We're big enough to have national reach and market expertise. We're small enough that you talk to actual decision-makers (Faith, Michelle, and Jim) not a call center. They’ll talk to everyone else. We're established enough to have two decades of reputation behind us. We're family-owned enough to care about that reputation because it's our name on it.

What We Need from You

To give you an accurate quote, we need honest information about the truck. The year, make, model, and VIN are just the starting point. We need to know:

What condition is it really in? Is it running? If not, what's wrong with it? How long has it been sitting? Is there body damage? What's the mileage?

Do you have the title? This is important for commercial trucks just like it is for cars. We can work with title issues in many cases, but we need to know upfront.

Where is the truck located? Is it at your business, your home, a storage facility, a repair shop? Access matters for pickup.

The more honest you are with us, the more accurate the quote will be. If you tell us the truck runs and we show up to find a blown engine, that's a problem for everyone. But if you're straight with us from the beginning, we can all have a straightforward transaction.

Making the Decision to Sell

Deciding to sell a commercial truck often represents more than just a vehicle transaction. For owner-operators, it might represent the end of being in business for yourself. For small companies, it might represent downsizing or closing up. For fleet managers, it might represent making tough choices about which equipment to keep and which to let go.

We get that. We respect that. We're not going to pressure you.

Take your time. Get other quotes if you want to. Talk to whoever you need to talk to. Think about it for a few days.

When you're ready, and if you decide we're the right buyer, call us back. We'll move forward on your timeline, not ours.