May Market Trends Report: Q1 2026 Construction & Transportation Pricing

With our May edition, we are taking a broad view of construction equipment and transportation sales from Q1 2026 using the industry’s best data.

In the full report, we look at pricing and volume trends for most major construction and transportation equipment categories with both Ritchie Bros. auction data and Rouse retail insights.

Ritchie Bros. Used Equipment Auction Trends

In the U.S., auction pricing results were mixed when comparing median prices from Q1 2026 to Q1 2025. Aerial equipment categories, along with telehandlers and forklifts, declined in price due in part to higher volume, while earthmoving equipment categories mostly showed pricing strength.

Pricing in Canada followed a similar pattern, with earthmoving equipment categories increasing in median price despite higher volumes, while aerial equipment and telehandlers declined. A few highlights below:

• Boom and scissor lifts showed pricing declines corresponding with higher volumes across both geographies.
• Truck tractors showed improvement in the U.S. amid lower volume and a younger age profile. In Canada, the opposite is true, with lower pricing and higher usage and volume.
• Dozers, excavators, motor graders, and articulated dump trucks all had higher sales volumes in Q1 2026 vs. Q1 2025, while either maintaining or improving their median sales prices in both Canada and the U.S.

Ritchie Bros. Price Index Insights

In Q1 2026, construction and transportation prices in the U.S. remained about the same compared to the previous quarter (Q4 2025). It was a similar story in Canada – construction and transportation prices in Q1 were about the same compared to the previous quarter (Q4 2025).

Retail Used Equipment Market Trends (Rouse data)

Retail construction is about the same as in the last quarter (Q4 2025). The was a slight price drop in March, which offset the price increase in December.

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Download the free Q1 2026 Market Trends report

See also

Crane operator salary in the US and more