Shipping Equipment from Ritchie Bros Auction to a US Port for Export

Step 1: Know Your Pickup Window Before You Bid

Ritchie Bros auctions have strict equipment removal deadlines — typically 5–10 business days after the auction closes. Missing the removal deadline results in storage fees that can add up quickly, especially for large equipment. Before you bid on a machine, confirm the removal deadline and make sure you have a carrier lined up who can meet it.

The removal deadline is non-negotiable at most Ritchie Bros yards. If your carrier can't make the window, you'll pay storage fees until they can. For export moves, where you're also coordinating with a vessel booking, timing is doubly critical — a missed pickup can cascade into a missed vessel cut-off, adding weeks to your delivery timeline.

Step 2: Choose the Right Export Port

The choice of export port affects cost, transit time to your destination country, and vessel availability. Key US export ports for heavy equipment and their typical service areas:

• Houston, TX: Best for Latin America, West Africa, and Middle East destinations. Strong RoRo service with multiple weekly sailings. Convenient for equipment purchased at Texas and Oklahoma auction sites.
• Savannah, GA: Strong service to West Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. One of the fastest-growing US ports. Good for equipment from Southeast auction sites.
• Baltimore, MD: Strong RoRo service to Europe, West Africa, and the Middle East. Good for equipment from Mid-Atlantic and Northeast auction sites.
• Los Angeles / Long Beach, CA: Best for Asia-Pacific destinations. Strong container and RoRo service. Good for equipment from Western US auction sites.
• New Orleans, LA: Good for Latin America and West Africa. Convenient for equipment from Gulf Coast and Midwest auction sites.
• Jacksonville, FL: Strong RoRo service to Latin America and Europe. Good for equipment from Florida and Southeast auction sites.

Your freight forwarder will recommend the best port based on your destination country and vessel schedules. The domestic transport cost to the port is a factor — shipping from a Chicago auction to Houston adds more domestic transport cost than shipping to New Orleans, for example.

Step 3: Book Your Vessel Before You Book Your Truck

This is the most common mistake in export equipment logistics: booking the truck first and then scrambling to find a vessel. The correct sequence is:

1. Win the auction lot
2. Contact your freight forwarder immediately with the equipment details
3. Get a vessel booking confirmation with a cut-off date for port delivery
4. Book your domestic carrier with the port cut-off date as the delivery deadline

RoRo vessels for heavy equipment typically sail weekly or bi-weekly from major ports. Cut-off dates for equipment delivery are typically 2–5 days before sailing. If you miss the cut-off, you wait for the next vessel — which can be 1–4 weeks depending on the route.

Step 4: Prepare the Equipment for Export

Export shipments have additional preparation requirements beyond standard domestic transport:

• Fuel level: Most ports require fuel tanks to be below 25% capacity for fire safety. Drain fuel before transport or coordinate with the carrier to drain at the port. Some ports have specific fuel drain requirements — confirm with your freight forwarder.
• Fluids check: Check for fluid leaks before transport. Leaking equipment may be refused at the port or require remediation before loading.
• Battery disconnect: Disconnect the battery to prevent electrical fires during ocean transit.
• Secure loose parts: Remove or secure any loose parts, attachments, or accessories that could shift during ocean transit. Anything that can move will move on a vessel.
• Documentation: Your freight forwarder will need the equipment's make, model, year, serial number, and value for export documentation (EEI filing, bill of lading, etc.). Have this information ready before the auction closes.

Step 5: Coordinate the Domestic Transport

The domestic leg — from the Ritchie Bros yard to the port — is where most logistics problems occur. Key coordination points:

• Confirm the Ritchie Bros yard's operating hours and any specific carrier check-in requirements
• Confirm the port's gate hours and any specific delivery requirements (booking number, gate pass, hazmat declaration)
• Ensure your carrier has experience with port deliveries — not all heavy-haul carriers are familiar with port gate procedures
• Build in buffer time: aim to deliver to the port 1–2 days before the vessel cut-off, not the day of

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

• Bidding without a carrier lined up: Have a carrier relationship in place before the auction. Post-auction scrambling leads to higher rates and missed pickup windows.
• Underestimating domestic transport cost: The domestic leg from auction to port can cost $1,500–$6,000+ depending on distance and load dimensions. Factor this into your total acquisition cost before bidding.
• Missing the vessel cut-off: Book the vessel first, then book the truck. Build in buffer time for permit processing (2–5 business days for standard oversize loads).
• Forgetting fuel drain requirements: Ports are strict about fuel levels. Coordinate fuel drain with your carrier or plan to drain at the port.

IronHaul Logistics specializes in auction-to-port export moves from Ritchie Bros, IronPlanet, and other major auction platforms. We handle domestic transport, port delivery coordination, and can connect you with trusted freight forwarders for the ocean leg. Call (208) 495-2260, email [email protected], or use our online quote form to plan your next export move.