Part of RB Global, Inc. (acquisition completed May 2026)Shipping from BigIron Auctions
BigIron lots sit at seller and agency sites across the United States, so the best export port depends on where the machine is. The table below gives the closest container and RoRo port from each region, and we confirm the route as soon as we know the pickup address. Most lots here are tractors, combines, and planters, and buyers here most often ship to Nigeria, Ghana, and Saudi Arabia.
BigIron at a glance
BigIron, part of RB Global since May 2026, sells farm and construction equipment online with no reserve, and items stay at the seller's farm or yard. You pay within 48 hours and must remove the item within 14 calendar days.
- Site type
- Seller and agency sites nationwide
- Auction company
- BigIron AuctionsRB Global, Inc. (acquisition completed May 2026)
- Removal deadline
- Within 14 calendar days of winning, from the seller's location.
- Equipment sold here
- TractorsCombinesPlantersConstruction EquipmentTrucks & TrailersLivestock & Grain Equipment
Best export ports by pickup region
BigIron machines can be anywhere in the country. These are the closest container and RoRo ports from a typical pickup point in each region; your quote uses the actual address.
| Pickup region | Container and flat rack | RoRo |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific Northwest (Yakima, WA) | Port of Seattle145 mi, about 3 h | Port of Tacoma155 mi, about 3 h |
| California (Fresno) | Port of Oakland177 mi, about 3.5 h | Port of Hueneme230 mi, about 4.5 h |
| Southwest (Phoenix) | Port of Los Angeles / Long Beach382 mi, about 7.5 h | Port of Los Angeles / Long Beach382 mi, about 7.5 h |
| Mountain West (Denver) | Port of Los Angeles / Long Beach1,033 mi, about 20.5 hContainers: usually railed from the Denver intermodal rail ramps, 6 mi away | Port of Los Angeles / Long Beach1,033 mi, about 20.5 h |
| Northern Plains (Sioux Falls, SD) | Port of Houston1,108 mi, about 22 hContainers: usually railed from the Kansas City intermodal rail ramps, 391 mi away | Port of Houston1,108 mi, about 22 h |
| Texas (Dallas–Fort Worth) | Port of Houston267 mi, about 5.5 hContainers: usually railed from the Dallas–Fort Worth intermodal rail ramps, 17 mi away | Port of Houston267 mi, about 5.5 h |
| Corn Belt (Des Moines, IA) | Port of Houston961 mi, about 19 hContainers: usually railed from the Kansas City intermodal rail ramps, 227 mi away | Port of Houston961 mi, about 19 h |
| Great Lakes (Indianapolis) | Port of Baltimore599 mi, about 12 hContainers: usually railed from the Chicago intermodal rail ramps, 185 mi away | Port of Baltimore599 mi, about 12 h |
| Southeast (Atlanta) | Port of Savannah249 mi, about 5 h | Port of Brunswick (Colonel's Island)278 mi, about 5.5 h |
| Florida (Orlando) | Port of Jacksonville (JAXPORT)146 mi, about 3 h | Port of Jacksonville (JAXPORT)146 mi, about 3 hOr Brunswick, the busiest U.S. RoRo gateway: 201 mi |
| Northeast (Harrisburg, PA) | Port of Baltimore85 mi, about 1.5 h | Port of Baltimore85 mi, about 1.5 h |
Road miles from OSRM (OpenStreetMap), calculated October 2026. Truck hours assume a 50 mph average for a loaded lowboy, including stops.
Methods from this location
Large tractors and combines containerized with wheels, duals or header removed
Flat racks for BigIron lots too wide to containerize
RoRo for tractors and trucks from the port closest to the seller
Pickup from the seller's location after full payment
Container is usually the cheapest option, and we do the partial disassembly needed to make the machine fit. How we containerize heavy equipment
What sells at BigIron and how it ships
The cheapest way to ship a typical unit of each machine type sold here, whole and without disassembly, and the port it leaves from.
| Machine type | Typical unit | Cheapest whole-unit method |
|---|---|---|
| Tractors | John Deere 8R 370 (row-crop, single wheels) | Flat rack |
| Combine Harvesters | John Deere S780, header off | Flat rack |
| Planters | John Deere 1775NT 12-row planter, stack-folded | Flat rack |
| Excavators | Caterpillar 320 (20 t class) | Flat rack |
| Wheel Loaders | Caterpillar 950 (19 t class) | Flat rack |
| Bulldozers | Caterpillar D6 (20 t class, SU blade fitted) | Flat rack |
Smaller units often fit a container, and partial disassembly can move a machine down a rung. Your quote uses the lot's actual dimensions.
After you win at BigIron
- 1Pay within 48 hours.
- 2Send us the paid invoice and the lot page, including any loading assistance notes.
- 3We call the seller to agree a pickup time within the 14 days.
- 4We collect the machine, load it with our own carrier and take it to the port, or first to our facility if it needs partial disassembly to fit a container.
- 5We file the export declaration (EEI) in the Automated Export System. It is required when any Schedule B line is worth more than $2,500 or needs an export license, and its ITN confirmation goes to the carrier at least 24 hours before the vessel loads.
- 6For titled machines and vehicles, the original title and the EEI go to U.S. Customs at the port at least 72 hours before export. Without them the unit cannot sail.
- 7We send you the bill of lading and the documents your customs broker needs to clear the machine at destination.
BigIron key pickup terms
- Payment
- Full payment within 48 hours of the auction close, unless the special terms say otherwise. Source
- Removal deadline
- Within 14 calendar days of winning, from the seller's location. Source
Checked October 2026. Terms vary by sale, so confirm them on your invoice.
All BigIron terms, fees, common mistakes and FAQsHow we work with BigIron
- BigIron invoices cannot be changed for export after the auction, so we check that the account name matches the export paperwork before you bid.
- We remove wheels, duals or headers so large tractors and combines fit a 40 ft high-cube container.
At every yard we book the pickup, load with our own insured carriers, block and brace the machine, file the export declaration, and take it apart for a container when that is cheaper than shipping it whole.
Why Ship With Us
- Pickups inside BigIron's 14-day window
- Combines and tractors prepared for containers
- Soil-free cleaning for Australia and New Zealand
Our Services at This Location
- Pickup from the BigIron seller's farm or yard inside the 14 calendar days
- Carrier that self-loads at a farm, or the seller's loading help where the listing offers it
- Soil-free cleaning for Australia and New Zealand before loading
Common destinations from BigIron
Container and flat rack services reach all of these. RoRo depends on the lane from the East and Gulf Coast, so it is shown separately.
| Destination | Ocean transit | RoRo from this coast |
|---|---|---|
 Nigeria | 21-30 days | Regular sailings |
 Ghana | 20-28 days | Regular sailings |
 Saudi Arabia | 18-25 days | Regular sailings |
 United Arab Emirates | 20-28 days | Regular sailings |
 Australia | 28-35 days | Regular sailings |
 Chile | 16-32 days | Regular sailings |
 Guatemala | 10-16 days | Regular sailings |
 Philippines | 18-28 days | Limited sailings |
Transit times are typical port-to-port ranges. Every quote confirms the current schedule.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Bidding under a name that does not match the export paperwork; the invoice cannot be changed afterwards.
- Missing the 14-day window; the seller may then charge $25 a day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to collect a BigIron purchase?
14 calendar days from winning, from the seller's location. After that the seller may charge $25 a day.
Can a BigIron invoice be changed for export?
No. Invoices cannot be changed after the auction, so the account name you bid under must match the export paperwork.
When do I get the title for a BigIron purchase?
BigIron sends titles by certified mail no sooner than 14 days after full payment. Titled vehicles cannot be exported without the original title.
Machines bought at BigIron that we load in containers
Buyers at BigIron ship these kinds of machines with us. Each card shows the boxes from our loading records; open a brand for every model.
Motor grader
CAT 12
1 × 40 ft high cube
Caterpillar loading plansExcavator
CAT 206B
1 × 45 ft high cube
Caterpillar loading plansWheel loader
Komatsu 180-1
1 × 20 ft container
Komatsu loading plansWheel loader
Komatsu 180-3
1 × 40 ft high cube
Komatsu loading plansExcavator
Hitachi EX 150
1 × 40 ft high cube
Hitachi Construction Machinery loading plansExcavator
Hitachi EX 370-5
1 × 40 ft open top, 1 ft / 0.3 m over the side walls + 1 × 40 ft high cube
Hitachi Construction Machinery loading plansWheel loader
Volvo 220D
2 × 40 ft high cube
Volvo Construction Equipment loading plansExcavator
Volvo EC 480EL
1 × 40 ft open top, 1 ft / 0.3 m over the side walls + 2 × 40 ft high cube
Volvo Construction Equipment loading plansWheel loader
Kawasaki 95Z VII
2 × 40 ft high cube + 1 × 20 ft container
Kawasaki loading plans
Brands in what BigIron sells
Brands we have loaded in the categories BigIron lists, most loading records first, then other makers of the same machines.
Ready to Ship from BigIron?
Contact us today for fast pickup and reliable worldwide shipping.