Shipping from GSA Auctions Federal Surplus
GSA Auctions 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 fleet vehicles, construction equipment, and generators, and buyers here most often ship to Nigeria, Ghana, and Saudi Arabia.
GSA Auctions at a glance
GSA Auctions is the U.S. General Services Administration's site for federal surplus, sold from agency locations nationwide. Payment is due within 2 business days and removal within 10 business days of the award email, and vehicles come with an SF 97-1 used to obtain a state title.
- Site type
- Seller and agency sites nationwide
- Auction company
- GSA AuctionsU.S. General Services Administration
- Removal deadline
- Within 10 business days of the award email, unless the contract says otherwise.
- Equipment sold here
- Fleet VehiclesConstruction EquipmentGeneratorsTrucks & TrailersSupport Equipment
Best export ports by pickup region
GSA Auctions 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
Containers loaded after pickup from the federal site
Flat racks for federal surplus equipment too large for a container
RoRo for titled federal vehicles once the state title is issued
Pickup from the agency location named in the GSA award, within 10 business days
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 GSA Auctions 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Trucks | Freightliner Cascadia 126 sleeper tractor | RoRo |
| Dump Trucks | Volvo A30G (30 t articulated hauler) | 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 |
| Generators | Air-cooled turbogenerator, 200 MVA class | Breakbulk |
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 GSA Auctions
- 1Pay within 2 business days.
- 2Send us the paid GSA Form 27A and a letter of authorization naming our carrier.
- 3For vehicles, apply for a state title with the SF 97-1; we need the title for U.S. Customs.
- 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.
GSA Auctions key pickup terms
- Payment
- Within 2 business days of the award email. Source
- Removal deadline
- Within 10 business days of the award email, unless the contract says otherwise. Source
- Release
- Present the paid Purchaser's Receipt and Authority to Release Property (GSA Form 27A); agents also need a letter of authorization and photo ID. Source
Checked October 2026. Terms vary by sale, so confirm them on your invoice.
All GSA Auctions terms, fees, common mistakes and FAQsHow we work with GSA Auctions
- The SF 97-1 is evidence of title, not a title itself, so we obtain the state title before the vehicle is presented to U.S. Customs.
- Export-only property must leave the United States within 60 days of the sale, so we book the sailing at the same time as the pickup.
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
- Federal release paperwork carried by every driver
- State titles obtained from the SF 97-1
- Export-only lots shipped inside the 60 days
Our Services at This Location
- Drivers sent with the paid Purchaser's Receipt (GSA Form 27A), letter of authorization and photo ID
- Site access rules confirmed with the property custodian before dispatch
- State title obtained from the SF 97-1 before the vehicle goes to U.S. Customs
Common destinations from GSA Auctions
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
- Sending an agent without the Form 27A, letter of authorization and photo ID.
- Presenting the SF 97-1 to U.S. Customs as if it were a title.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to collect from GSA Auctions?
Payment is due within 2 business days and removal within 10 business days of the award email, unless the contract says otherwise.
Is the SF 97-1 a vehicle title?
No. It is evidence of title used to obtain a state title. U.S. Customs needs the state title before the vehicle can be exported.
What is export-only property on GSA Auctions?
Property sold on condition that it leaves the United States within 60 days of the sale. We book the sailing with the pickup so it meets that date.
Machines bought at GSA Auctions that we load in containers
Buyers at GSA Auctions 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 GSA Auctions sells
Brands we have loaded in the categories GSA Auctions lists, most loading records first, then other makers of the same machines.
Ready to Ship from GSA Auctions?
Contact us today for fast pickup and reliable worldwide shipping.