Shipping from Municibid Municipal Surplus
Municibid 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, public works trucks, and snow & street equipment, and buyers here most often ship to Nigeria, Ghana, and Saudi Arabia.
Municibid at a glance
Municibid sells surplus for municipalities, counties, school districts and other public agencies, from public works trucks to loaders and fleet vehicles. Municibid charges its buyer's fee to your card when the auction closes; you pay the selling agency for the item and collect from the agency's yard.
- Site type
- Seller and agency sites nationwide
- Auction company
- Municibid
- Equipment sold here
- Fleet VehiclesPublic Works TrucksSnow & Street EquipmentConstruction EquipmentUtility Vehicles
Best export ports by pickup region
Municibid 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 near the agency yard for smaller fleet units
Flat racks for loaders, plows and street equipment from Municibid agencies
RoRo for titled public works trucks and fleet vehicles
Pickup from the city, county or school district yard named on the listing
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 Municibid 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 |
| Street Sweepers | Elgin Crosswind regenerative-air sweeper | 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 Municibid
- 1Pay the selling agency for the item, then send us the paid receipt and the agency's pickup instructions.
- 2We 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.
- 3We 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.
- 4For 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.
- 5We send you the bill of lading and the documents your customs broker needs to clear the machine at destination.
Municibid buyer terms
- Buyer's fee
- A percentage of the winning bid, shown on each listing and charged to your card at the close of the auction. The fee is tiered, so a different rate applies above set price thresholds. Source
- Payment for the item
- Paid directly to the selling agency, unless the listing says otherwise. Source
- Pickup
- Pickup requirements are set by each seller and shown on the listing. Source
Checked October 2026. Terms vary by sale, so confirm them on your invoice.
How we work with Municibid
- We book the pickup with the agency contact on the listing, since each city or county sets its own hours and release rules.
- Each agency sets its own pickup requirements on the listing, so we read them and confirm hours with the agency contact before the truck goes.
- Titled vehicles need the agency's signed title before U.S. Customs will clear them, so we ask for it at payment.
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
- Agency pickup rules read from each Municibid listing
- Titles requested from the agency at payment
- Loading equipment arranged for agency yards
Our Services at This Location
- Pickup booked with the agency contact on the Municibid listing
- Agency payment receipt collected before dispatch, since the item is paid to the agency, not Municibid
- Loading equipment sent where the city or county yard has none
Common destinations from Municibid
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
- Paying Municibid's buyer's fee and assuming the item is paid; the item price goes to the agency.
- Sending a truck before the agency has confirmed a pickup time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who do I pay after winning on Municibid?
Municibid charges its buyer's fee to your card when the auction closes. The item itself is paid to the selling agency, unless the listing says otherwise.
How is the Municibid buyer's fee calculated?
As a percentage of the winning bid, shown on each listing. It is tiered, so a different rate applies above set price thresholds.
Who sets pickup times for Municibid items?
The selling agency. Each listing shows its pickup requirements; we book the time with the agency contact.
Machines bought at Municibid that we load in containers
Buyers at Municibid 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 Municibid sells
Brands we have loaded in the categories Municibid lists, most loading records first, then other makers of the same machines.
Ready to Ship from Municibid?
Contact us today for fast pickup and reliable worldwide shipping.