Used Class 3-8 vehicle registrations in the U.S. hit a record level in 2010 with approximately 672,000 units registered, according to Polk, up 21.7% from the year prior.

With this increase, used commercial vehicle registrations accounted for nearly 65% of the total commercial vehicle market – new and used – in 2010, the research firm said. This is the first year registrations of used commercial vehicles have exceeded 600,000 units.

The demand for clean used equipment was greatest for Class 8 vehicles as they represented more than 47% of all used commercial vehicle transactions in 2010.   “The significant increase in used vehicle registrations during the 2010 calendar year is indicative of a strengthening in the demand for commercial vehicles overall,” said Gary Meteer, director of sales and client services at Polk. “Large fleet owners and operators are upgrading to new vehicles, and therefore the smaller fleet companies and independent owner operators have the opportunity to find available clean used equipment; however, the pattern of used vehicle transactions indicates a softer supply of clean used equipment during the last quarter of the calendar year.”