Oh, how the world turns. Yesterday’s hot market becomes today’s bargain bin deal. That appears to be somewhat true in the used equipment market, where supply and pricing can change surprisingly fast. For instance, last September, Sandhills Global reported a 30-month streak of rising used telehandler inventory. In August 2026, the company’s latest used equipment report noted that used telehandler inventory was down 6.56 percent and asking values were down 7.03 percent. What a difference a year makes.

Before we dig into what else has changed, it’s probably worth explaining where all these numbers come from.

If you don’t know, Sandhills Global is an information processing company headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. It gathers, processes, and distributes information through print publications, websites, and auction platforms. It basically connects buyers and sellers of construction, agriculture, trucking, and other types of equipment. Sandhills also owns stuff like TractorHouse and Machinery Trader. As a result, Sandhills Global has access to some pretty interesting data, which they share in these monthly reports. So, below is a quick look at four used equipment categories from its latest recap. All these numbers come from that report. Got it? Now, let’s dig in. 

Four used equipment markets at a glance

• Heavy-duty construction equipment: Inventory down 10.45 percent; asking values down 1.55 percent
• Medium-duty construction equipment: Inventory down 11.41 percent; asking values down 0.22 percent
• Aerial lifts: Inventory down 3.75 percent; asking values down 2.73 percent
• Telehandlers: Inventory down 6.56 percent; asking values down 7.03 percent

Heavy construction equipment is getting hard to find

Big iron that's selling used is getting scarcer. Sandhills reports used heavy-duty construction equipment inventory fell 2.56 percent from July and 10.45 percent year over year. The category includes crawler excavators, dozers, and wheel loaders. Crawler dozers recorded the biggest monthly inventory decline at 3.78 percent. Wheel loaders posted the largest annual decline, with inventory down 11.94 percent. Excavators posted the largest year-over-year decline in “asking value” at 3.58 percent. Auction values told a similar story. Crawler excavator auction values dropped 2.6 percent annually. Used wheel loaders had the largest month-over-month increase in auction values, up 1.01 percent. Despite tighter inventory, falling excavator values suggest buyers can still find some deals in the used heavy equipment market.

Skid steers, mini excavators, backhoes, and beyond

Sandhills groups skid steers, compact track loaders, mini excavators, and backhoe loaders into its medium-duty construction equipment market. I’d call those categories Compact Equipment, but hey, what do I know? Anyway, what’s going on with these types of used machines? Well, inventory increased 0.71 percent from July but remained 11.41 percent below last year. Sandhills characterizes the overall inventory trend as “sideways,” according to this press release. Backhoe loaders showed the biggest supply change. Inventory fell 2.63 percent month over month and a whopping 23.52 percent year over year. Pricing was less dramatic. Overall asking values declined 0.74 percent from July and just 0.22 percent year over year. Mini excavators posted the largest monthly asking-price decline at 1.05 percent. Compact track loaders recorded the biggest year-over-year decline in asking values, down 1.19 percent.

Used aerial lift prices continue to fall

Used aerial lifts offer buyers a more interesting pricing story. Inventory for mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) overall declined 2.02 percent from July and 3.75 percent year over year. Rough-terrain scissor lift inventory recorded the biggest monthly decline at 5.48 percent. Telescopic boom lift inventory dropped 10.64 percent year over year. Values are falling too. Overall asking values declined 0.66 percent monthly and 2.73 percent annually. Auction values fell even faster — down 3.29 percent for the month and 6.36 percent year over year. Telescopic booms took the biggest hit. Their asking values dropped 4.29 percent in August and 7.26 percent year over year. Telescopic boom auction values plunged 8.67 percent monthly and 11.51 percent annually. Sandhills says aerial lift auction values “are trending down for the fourth month in a row,” according to this release.

Used telehandler inventory reverses course

As we teased in the lede, the used telehandler situation has completely flipped. In August 2025, Sandhills said telehandler inventory had increased for 30 consecutive months. Inventory stood 20.96 percent higher year over year. One year later, used telehandler inventory fell 1.69 percent in August 2026 and 6.56 percent year over year. Values have sunk as well. Asking values fell 1.24 percent for the month and 7.03 percent year over year. Auction values increased 0.31 percent in August but remained 5.29 percent below last year. 

So, where are the used equipment deals?

The word “deal” definitely depends on the machine category and what you consider to be deal-worthy these days. Used telehandlers stand out. Asking values are down 7.03 percent from last year despite inventory falling 6.56 percent. Some used aerial lifts could be a bargain. Auction values have fallen 6.36 percent year over year. Telescopic boom lift auction values are down 11.51 percent. But overall, the used equipment market is, well, all over the place. And that's perhaps the biggest takeaway from Sandhills’ August numbers.