Part of Liquidity Services, Inc.Shipping from GovDeals Government Surplus
GovDeals 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.
GovDeals at a glance
GovDeals is the leading online auction platform for government surplus equipment. We coordinate pickup from state DOT yards, municipal facilities, county equipment depots, and federal agency locations across the United States.
- Site type
- Seller and agency sites nationwide
- Auction company
- GovDealsLiquidity Services, Inc.
- Removal deadline
- Default of 10 business days from auction close, unless the asset page says otherwise.
- Equipment sold here
- Fleet VehiclesConstruction EquipmentSnow Removal EquipmentUtility VehiclesGeneratorsTrucks & Trailers
Best export ports by pickup region
GovDeals 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
Containerized shipping available
Oversized equipment transport
Roll-on/roll-off for vehicles and equipment
Pickup from any government location
Container is usually the cheapest option, and we do the partial disassembly needed to make the machine fit. How we containerize heavy equipment
Container, flat rack, RoRo or breakbulk?
We quote in this order because it is usually cheapest first. Most machines that look too big for a box fit once our crew takes off the bucket, boom, cab or wheels; larger ones are taken further apart across several containers, and pieces too big or heavy for a flat rack or roll trailer go breakbulk.
01Container
Best fit- Work needed
- We partially disassemble when needed (bucket, boom, cab, wheels), or take larger machines further apart across several high-cubes and open-tops, then crate, block and lash every part.
- Destinations
- Widest: almost every port worldwide, plus inland delivery by rail.
- Typical cost
- Usually the lowest, with no out-of-gauge surcharges.
- Protection
- Sealed steel box; loose parts and attachments travel locked inside.
- Best for
- Most machines: compact ones as they are, others after partial disassembly, and large ones split across several containers.
02Flat rack
- Work needed
- Ships assembled, blocked and lashed. Surcharges apply when wider than 2.4 m or taller than about 1.95 m.
- Destinations
- Most container ports, on the same vessels as containers.
- Typical cost
- Moderate; rises with every centimetre out of gauge.
- Protection
- Open to the weather; we protect cabs, electronics and hydraulics.
- Best for
- Excavators, dozers and loaders too wide for a container door.
03RoRo
- Work needed
- Drives on assembled; non-runners go on a roll trailer.
- Destinations
- Fewer destinations: regular lanes to Europe, West Africa, the Middle East, Oceania and parts of Latin America.
- Typical cost
- Often competitive for large self-propelled machines where a lane exists.
- Protection
- Below deck, but loose items and attachments cannot ride inside the cab.
- Best for
- Running machines going to a port with regular RoRo sailings.
04Breakbulk
- Work needed
- Lifted aboard piece by piece by ship’s or shore cranes, on its own skids or cradle, then stowed and lashed in the hold or on deck.
- Destinations
- Ports with breakbulk berths and heavy-lift cranes; sailings are booked voyage by voyage.
- Typical cost
- Usually the highest for a single small machine; often the only option for the largest pieces.
- Protection
- In the hold or lashed on deck; we crate, wrap and protect exposed parts.
- Best for
- Pieces too large or heavy for a flat rack or roll trailer: transformers, process modules, mining trucks, crane sections.
After you win at GovDeals
- 1Pay as the asset page instructs and download the Buyer's Certificate.
- 2If someone else will collect, send the agency the authorization it asks for, naming our carrier.
- 3Send us the Buyer's Certificate and the asset page. We confirm the pickup window with the agency contact.
- 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.
GovDeals buyer terms
- Removal deadline
- Default of 10 business days from auction close, unless the asset page says otherwise. Source
- Storage fees
- A daily storage fee of $25 may apply after the removal window. Source
- Loading
- The buyer arranges and performs all packing, loading and transportation; the seller does not. Source
- Foreign buyers
- Liquidity Services will not release an asset sold to a buyer outside the U.S. until the paperwork for a routed export transaction is in place, and will not act as exporter. Source
Checked October 2026. Terms vary by sale, so confirm them on your invoice.
How we work with GovDeals
- We read the asset page's removal instructions and call the agency contact before dispatch, because each yard sets its own hours and rules.
- We send a self-loading carrier or arrange a loader, since agencies do not load.
- For buyers outside the U.S., we act as your U.S. agent for the routed export so Liquidity Services can release the item.
Why Ship With Us
- Experience with government surplus logistics
- Understanding of state and municipal procedures
- Title and registration expertise
- Nationwide pickup capabilities
Our Services at This Location
- Government facility pickup coordination
- State DOT yard logistics
- Municipal equipment retrieval
- Title transfer assistance
- Full export documentation
Common destinations from GovDeals
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 | 21-28 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
- Assuming the agency will load the truck.
- Not setting up a routed export agent before the removal window closes.
- Ignoring the asset page instructions, which override the general terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I arrange pickup from a state DOT yard?
We coordinate directly with the selling agency to schedule pickup. Most require advance notice and proof of payment.
Is government surplus equipment export-ready?
Most items can be exported. We advise on any restrictions and handle all documentation requirements.
What about title transfers for government equipment?
We can assist with title transfers and ensure all ownership documentation is properly completed.
How long do I have to pick up from GovDeals?
By default, 10 business days from the close of the auction, but the selling agency can set a different window on the asset page. A $25 daily storage fee may apply after that.
I am outside the U.S. Can GovDeals release my item?
Liquidity Services says it will not release an item sold to a buyer outside the U.S. until the paperwork for a routed export transaction is in place. We can act as your U.S. agent for this.
Machines bought at GovDeals that we load in containers
Buyers at GovDeals 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
Ready to Ship from GovDeals?
Contact us today for fast pickup and reliable worldwide shipping.