The math on used trucks is compelling for most fleet operators. A three-year-old Class 8 tractor has already taken its steepest depreciation hit, and the operator who buys it at that point gets real work capacity at a fraction of the new price. The challenge has always been financing: used commercial trucks require lenders who understand the actual market value of the iron, not just the age on the title.
We finance pre-owned commercial trucks across a wide range of years, makes, and mileage levels. From late-model units coming off lease or trade-in with under 400,000 miles, to older working-class trucks in the 600,000-mile range that still have plenty of productive life under the right maintenance program, we work with the real market rather than an arbitrary age cutoff that excludes perfectly good equipment.
Minimum transaction is $50,000. B and C credit operators qualify. Application-only approvals are available up to approximately $400,000 for businesses with strong cash flow. Funding runs about one to two weeks once documentation is submitted.
Used Equipment We Finance
Used commercial truck financing covers most of the major categories operators buy in the secondary market.
Class 8 tractors are the highest volume used truck category. Used sleeper tractors from brands like Freightliner, Peterbilt, Kenworth, and Volvo trade actively in the secondary market, particularly at auction houses and through dealer trade-in programs. Units in the three to five year age range with 400,000 to 600,000 miles are the most commonly financed profile. Older iron with 700,000 miles or more requires more documentation but is not automatically declined.
Vocational trucks including used dump trucks, flatbed trucks, and service trucks hold value differently than highway tractors. Condition and documented maintenance history carry more weight in the valuation for these trucks because they operate in more varied duty cycles. A well-maintained dump truck at 150,000 miles on the body may have many years of productive use remaining.
Trailers also finance in the used market. Dry vans, reefers, and flatbeds coming off five to seven year commercial leases often represent excellent value for growing fleets. We handle used trailer financing as standalone transactions or in combination with used tractor purchases.
Private-party purchases, dealer purchases, and auction wins all qualify. The transaction structure adjusts based on the seller type; see our page on private-party truck financing for specifics on that path.
Used vs. New: What the Numbers Look Like
New trucks depreciate sharply in the first two to three years. A Class 8 tractor that stickers at $160,000 to $200,000 new may carry a market value of $90,000 to $130,000 at three years old depending on mileage and spec. The operator buying used captures the majority of the truck's remaining productive life at a significantly lower acquisition cost.
Lower acquisition cost means lower monthly payments for the same term, or a shorter loan term for the same payment. Either outcome improves cash flow per truck relative to buying new. For fleet operators where capital efficiency matters as much as equipment age, this arithmetic drives a consistent preference for buying in the two to five year used market.
The counterargument for new equipment is warranty coverage, full manufacturer support, the latest fuel and emissions technology, and the fact that a new truck starts the depreciation clock fresh. For operators who can absorb the higher monthly payment and value those considerations, new financing through our fleet financing program is available. Many operators run a mixed strategy: newer units on critical routes, used trucks on lower-utilization work, financed through the same lender relationship.
One place where the new versus used comparison shifts is for highly specialized configurations. A custom-spec vacuum truck or a purpose-built crane truck may have a limited used supply, making new the practical choice regardless of the cost differential.
