2022 North American Trends in Heavy Equipment Sales
At Trusted Dispatch, we see various trends in the type of heavy equipment that needs shipping from quarter to quarter. For example, our drivers see higher volumes of load requests after the big auction events, typically in the Spring and Fall seasons. These shipments can include anything from farm equipment to industrial machinery to construction equipment. We’ve seen and shipped it all between various locations across North America. So, when the industry releases a report on the market trends for heavy machinery sales, it’s always interesting to compare how sales line up with the volume of shipment requests.
Large, Heavy Farm Equipment Purchases on the Rise
According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), sales of large machinery, such as harvester combines, are rising while sales of smaller units, such as small tractors, have declined. While the drop in sales reflects the general economic trends, the increase in spending on larger, expensive machines can be seen as an investment in better years to come, according to AEM analysis.
United States
According to the AEM data, in the United States, the sales for combine harvesters grew 9.2% in July of this year compared to July of 2021. Heavy duty agricultural tractor sales also increased, with 2WD tractor purchases up 22.8% over last year and 4WD tractor purchases up 21.8% over last year. These segments of tractors outperformed the entire category of all tractor sales, which fell by 14.8% this year compared to last.
Canada
The story in Canada is fairly similar; while combine harvester sales in Canada are down quite a bit, compared to last year, at nearly 22.1%, there is a rise in the sale of tractors. Large 4WD ag tractor sales are up 27.9% compared to 2021, while the sales of all farm tractors are down 8.3% this year versus last year.
Ritchie Brothers Market Trends
Another expert source in the industry that we like to follow is the Ritchie Bros. Market Trend Reports, which indicate buying and selling behaviour in the auction circuit. One interesting trend captured in the Market Trend Report for the first half of 2022 is the rise in the price of excavators in Canada, increasing 12% compared to last year. This increase in price for excavators matches the rise in spending on the mining and exploration industry in Canada in both 2021 and so far in 2022.
Top Excavator Brands in the United States
While the sales of excavators at heavy equipment auctions in the United States are on a decline compared to 2021, the top three brands retained their ranking amongst buyers and are as follows:
- Caterpillar – down 43% in sales to last year
- John Deer – down 22% in sales to last year
- Komatsu – down 37% in sales to last year
Top Excavator Brands in Canada
In Canada, the overall sale of excavators at heavy equipment auctions, in terms of numbers of units, was down compared to 2021. However, this decrease is not as drastic as the stats out of the United States. The top three excavator brands in Canada also retained their ranking amongst buyers and are as follows:
- John Deere – up 1% in sales to last year
- Caterpillar – down 7% in sales to last year
- Hitachi – down 19% in sales to last year
Heavy Equipment Shipping Calculator
If you’ve recently purchased a heavy tractor or excavator and need reliable, expert shipping, use our free heavy equipment shipping calculator. You’ll instantly get a free quote for transporting your machine anywhere in Canada or the United States. We even have drivers that can haul across the border and a list of recommended customs brokers that can help you with the paperwork.
You can get the cost of transportation for your shipment by entering the weight and dimensions of your load and the start and end location of the shipment. Click “submit,” and we’ll calculate the cost of your heavy haul.
Heavy Equipment Trucking in North America
Whether you’re purchasing a new harvester combine or heavy-duty farm tractor at auction, you need reliable, expert heavy haul transport. At Trusted Dispatch, we have drivers that can haul your equipment from an auction site, ag dealership, or seller’s property anywhere in North America. Get started with your instant, free quote.
