Volume 28 • Issue 1 • 01/15/2026 |
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IN THIS ISSUE
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BOARD NEWS & VIEWS: If You Could Change One Thing, What Would it Be? by Craig Kendall
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DEALER GROUP January Update by Steve Bootsma MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Mickey Carson OPINION: The Nuclear Battery Freight Frontier: Why American Truck Manufacturers Must Lead the Microreactor Revolution by Ricardo Rodriguez-Long Commercial Vehicle Finance Solutions: Trusted Business Auto Loans & Leasing Options by Ian Sifuentes -
Women In Trucking Blog
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Used Truck Market Review & Forecast
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Awards & Accolades
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Industry News Briefs
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Electric & Alternative Fuel News
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Time to Renew Your Membership! Organizations must have an active Corporate Membership for their Professional Members to renew.
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If you could change one thing, what would it be—and why? There has been a great deal of discussion about when conditions will improve in trucking and truck sales.
2025 has not been an easy year, and many are wondering what 2026 will bring. When will freight recover, and what will the industry—and the world—look like moving forward? |
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When things don’t turn out the way we hope, it’s easy to react in ways that aren’t always productive. The real question is how we choose to respond. Are we acting with a positive mindset—supporting one another and bringing good energy—or are we allowing negativity to take over and project bad energy? |
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Greetings from the Dealer Group, and Happy New Year! I hope you all had a blessed holiday season and were able to spend meaningful time with friends and family.
2025 was another interesting year in the used truck market, and it seems the new normal may be learning to expect the unexpected.
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As I write this with Christmas rapidly approaching, I find myself reflecting on the many blessings of the past year. We live in the greatest country in the world and are fortunate to operate within a free-market economy. Despite the challenges, there were—and continue to be—opportunities in the used truck marketplace. |
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UTA Truck Talk Podcast Episode 6
Fleet Remarketing With Crete Carrier Corporation
Featuring Steve Bootsma, Scott Wynn, and Dan Gosserode |
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Mickey Carson |
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Mickey Carson has been a member of the UTA for more than 10 years and has spent the majority of his career working in the transportation industry. He began his career in transportation in 1999 when he went to work for Paschall Truck Lines (PTL), where his father was also employed.
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His first role in the industry was as a dispatcher, managing a fleet of drivers and communicating load information, including shipper and receiver details, locations, and appointment times.
“Over my 13 years with the company, I went on to become a coordinator and eventually the Vice President of Operations for the Owner Operator division,” he said.
His time at PTL gave him extensive experience on the carrier operations side of the business. |
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A Challenge to Build What Others Won't
The American trucking industry is clinging to a 133-year-old German invention while our global competitors architect the future. Diesel engines—brilliant in their era—have reached their thermodynamic ceiling. |
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Meanwhile, China dominates electric vehicle battery supply chains. Japan, South Korea, and China lead hydrogen fuel-cell development. Europe is building charging infrastructure to its own specifications. And America? We’re still refining diesel. This is not a position of strength. It is technological surrender disguised as prudence.
I am proposing that American truck manufacturers pursue what no other nation has attempted: Nuclear Battery-Electric Autonomous Transport (NEAT) for Class 6–7 urban freight. Not as a research project. Not as a feasibility study. But as a committed development program targeting commercial deployment by 2035. |
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For small business owners in the commercial trucking industry, securing the right vehicle financing solution can make the difference between surviving and thriving.
Whether you're purchasing your first truck or expanding your fleet, commercial vehicle finance options provide critical flexibility. |
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But with so many options on the market, how can you know which one fits your business needs?
By understanding your options and choosing a strategy aligned with your goals, you can confidently navigate the world of commercial vehicle financing. In this guide, we break down the most trusted solutions for business auto loans, leasing, and specialty commercial vehicle financing. |
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Inside the Headlines: Critical Trucking Topics in 2025 Readers Can’t Ignore
Brian Everett (Dec 16, 2025)
In a year defined by volatility, innovation, and accelerating change in the trucking industry, members of the Women In Trucking Association (WIT) gravitated toward stories on the Women In Trucking Blog that helped them make sense of a rapidly evolving industry. |
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From the rise of next-generation technologies and the growing threat of cargo theft, to shifting safety dynamics and workplace issues facing women, readers sought out insights that could shape strategy and strengthen resilience. These top-read articles reflect not only the critical issues facing professionals with a specific interest in women’s issues in trucking, but also the industry’s shared commitment to staying informed, anticipating risks, and driving smarter, more efficient operations. |
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USED TRUCK MARKET REVIEW & FORECAST |
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VOLUME TRENDS: Same dealer used Class 8 retail truck sales decreased sequentially for the second month in November. The 17% m/m decline was consistent with expected 16% seasonal performance. November is usually the eighth weakest sales month of the year, running just below average. Both the auction and wholesale markets gave up ground in November. Auction volumes softened 33% m/m. Dealers saw activity slow 16% m/m. Combined, total market same dealer sales volumes fell 24% m/m in November. Compared to November 2024, the retail market was off 14%.
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Sales volume at auctions was down moderately in December, somewhat unusual for what is typically a high-volume month. Pricing moved downward 4.5% month-over-month. Depreciation for calendar-year 2025 averaged 2.4%, which is historically typical.
No one’s happy about current price levels, but since at least the second half of the year, supply hasn’t been unmanageable. New truck orders finally showed some life in December, due mainly to clarity on tariffs and emissions regulations.
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Sandhills Global Market Reports Underscore Challenging Market For Used Truck Dealers Sandhills Global market reports covering December data show inventory levels of used heavy-duty trucks trending sideways, driven largely by a 19.29% year-over-year drop in the used day cab category. By contrast, used sleeper truck inventory has been trending up over the past few months. Meanwhile, used semi-trailers showed marginal decreases in inventory levels, asking prices, and auction values, with all trends pointing downward.
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The UTA wants to recognize the wins of the people and companies in our industry! If you want to share news about an award or accolade, please send the details and article link to our newsletter editor at utaeditor@uta.org. |
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Preparing Your Dealership for a Sale: Step 8 - Don't Slow Your Business Down TPS (January 2nd, 2026) — One of the most common mistakes dealership owners make when considering a sale is shifting their focus away from operations. Instead of running the business as they always have, they begin making changes — cutting costs, slowing investments, or unintentionally signaling to employees that a transition is coming. |
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New Legislation Could Upend Truck Broker Margins
Freightwaves (December 22, 2025) — Bill imposes 10% surcharge on contracts with violation-prone trucking companies. New legislation threatens to transform the way truck brokers do business, replacing voluntary vetting practices with a stiff federal penalty for contracting “unsafe” motor carriers.
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Hybrids Help Keep Automakers’ Electrification Plans Afloat Transport Topics (December 29th, 2025) — Like most U.S. car dealers, Scott Kunes has some electric vehicle whiplash. In the third quarter, he sold EVs like ice cream at the beach. However, after federal purchase incentives expired at the end of September, those models have been tough to move at his company’s 50 or so Midwest stores selling about 20 different brands, from Mitsubishi to Mercedes-Benz
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Used Truck Association
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