Recent developments in the construction and agriculture equipment sectors have drawn attention as equipment values fluctuate. Resale and auction markets continue to act as barometers for demand, supply, and overall economic performance in heavy machinery. For fleet managers, these shifts make one thing clear: you need stronger visibility and tighter control to protect asset value. That’s where construction equipment management software can help—by streamlining maintenance, depreciation tracking, and equipment valuation so decisions aren’t based on guesswork.
In this article, we’ll break down what’s happening across construction, lift/access, and agriculture equipment values, what’s driving those changes, and practical ways to maximize equipment value with better processes and technology.
Construction Equipment: Weathering the Pause
The construction equipment market has experienced a stall in both resale and auction channels, pointing to an anticipated seasonal slowdown. In response, many fleet managers are holding onto aging equipment and pushing it into continued service rather than cycling it out.
At the same time, lift/access equipment continues to stand out (more on that below). For mixed fleets, this creates a familiar operational challenge: balancing utilization demands with maintenance needs, while keeping a close eye on what each asset is worth in the current market.
Construction Industry Backlog and the Equipment Market
The construction industry’s overall pause aligns with findings from the Associated Builders and Contractors Construction Backlog Indicator. Sales, profit margins, and staffing levels experienced slight decreases in June, though all three indicators remain above the threshold of 501—signaling expectations of growth over the next six months. With significant infrastructure projects commencing, many stakeholders are hopeful for a stable and robust second half of the year.
Connection with economic indicators: Construction equipment demand typically tracks economic health. Backlog, sales, margins, and staffing levels can offer early signals for how quickly equipment needs may rebound—or where caution is warranted.
Meanwhile, as original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) catch up with backlogged orders, the used equipment market remains steady with prices normalizing. This is encouraging for both buyers and sellers because it suggests a more balanced market—less overheated, less unpredictable.
Lift/Access Equipment: Reaching New Heights
The lift/access equipment segment is showing a positive trend in 2023. Values, usage, and age in the resale channel have seen continuous increases throughout the year. In particular:
- Fair Market Value (FMV) recorded an 11.9% gain year over year.
- Fair Liquidation Value (FLV) increased 37.2% compared to the previous year.
Experts remain optimistic about the aerial lift industry’s trajectory despite labor constraints, rising costs, and ongoing supply chain challenges.
Connection with technological advancements: Aerial lift equipment continues to evolve, with technology improving capabilities and efficiency. That progress supports steady demand and sustained relevance across job site applications.
In the auction channel, month-over-month values dipped slightly (-1.4%), but year-over-year values still climbed by 37.2%. The segment also shows a 57.8% rise compared to May 2021—underscoring continued strength in lift/access pricing.
For equipment owners, this kind of value movement raises the stakes on two operational basics: keeping maintenance tight (to protect condition and uptime) and tracking utilization accurately (to justify keep/sell/replace decisions).
Agriculture Equipment: Steady Amidst Uncertainty
The agriculture equipment market is positioned for a successful year, largely due to high projected farm income levels driving sales. Still, both resale and auction channels are showing signs of a possible slowdown.
After a strong start to 2023, FMV for agriculture equipment has stabilized, while FLV dipped slightly (-0.8%) month over month. Even with that recent downtrend, year-over-year values remain strong—creating an advantageous environment for sellers.
Connection with agricultural trends: Agriculture equipment demand is influenced by weather, commodity prices, and government policies. Projected income may support demand, while market and trade dynamics can introduce volatility.
What These Value Shifts Mean for Fleet Managers
Across categories, the message is consistent: equipment values move with broader economic conditions, and the construction and agriculture sectors are interconnected with real estate, manufacturing, and transportation. For fleet managers, industry experts, and buyers, staying informed on these signals supports better timing on purchases, disposals, and redeployment.
But market awareness alone isn’t enough. To navigate volatility, you also need operational systems that help you answer day-to-day questions quickly:
- Which assets are underutilized (and why)?
- Which units are approaching costly maintenance cycles?
- What’s each asset worth today based on condition and usage?
- Are you tracking depreciation consistently across the fleet?
That’s where a modern equipment management system becomes a practical advantage.
Using Construction Equipment Management Software to Protect Value
Managing a fleet is challenging—especially when you’re balancing maintenance compliance, depreciation accuracy, and real-world equipment valuation across jobs and locations. Construction equipment management software brings these processes into one place so teams can act faster, reduce downtime, and support better financial decisions.
Streamlined Maintenance Tracking
Regular, timely maintenance is essential for prolonging equipment life and keeping assets productive. Software can help you:
- Schedule and monitor preventive maintenance
- Track service history by asset
- Trigger reminders and reduce missed intervals
A proactive maintenance workflow reduces breakdowns, minimizes downtime, and helps avoid costly repairs—while also supporting stronger resale value by preserving equipment condition and documentation.
Precise Depreciation Management
Depreciation directly affects financial planning and replacement strategy. Software can automate depreciation tracking by applying factors such as acquisition cost, useful life, and salvage value, using common methods like straight-line or declining balance.
With cleaner depreciation records, you can make more confident retire/replace decisions and support accurate financial reporting.
Real-Time Equipment Valuation
https://rentalresult.com/resources/rentalresult-demo/Knowing the current value of equipment supports financial reporting, insurance coverage, and investment decisions. Software can centralize relevant inputs—usage, maintenance history, and internal performance signals—to help maintain a more current view of equipment value.
That improved visibility helps when evaluating whether to sell, buy, redeploy, or shift assets between locations and job sites.
Improved Asset Utilization
Beyond individual assets, construction equipment management software supports fleet-wide visibility so you can:
- Identify underutilized equipment
- Understand where idle time is occurring (yard vs. job site)
- Improve allocation decisions across projects
- Tighten controls across multi-location equipment management
Improved utilization reduces unnecessary spend, strengthens operational efficiency, and supports better long-term equipment performance—helping protect value over time.
Maximizing Equipment Value
Equipment values will continue to move with market conditions. The teams that protect returns are the ones that pair market awareness with operational discipline: consistent maintenance, accurate depreciation tracking, and clear utilization and valuation visibility.
A platform like RentalResult can help consolidate equipment tracking, maintenance workflows, and reporting so you can make faster decisions and protect asset value as conditions change.
Want tighter fleet visibility and better control of maintenance, depreciation, and equipment value? Schedule a demo of RentalResult.
