Part of The Public Group, LLCShipping from PublicSurplus Government Auctions
Public Surplus 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 buses, and buyers here most often ship to Nigeria, Ghana, and Saudi Arabia.
PublicSurplus at a glance
Public Surplus is The Public Group's auction site for state agencies, cities, counties, school districts and universities. Each listing names the pickup location and the payment methods that agency accepts, and states that the buyer must collect the item.
- Site type
- Seller and agency sites nationwide
- Auction company
- PublicSurplusThe Public Group, LLC
- Equipment sold here
- Fleet VehiclesConstruction EquipmentBusesUtility VehiclesGeneratorsTrucks & Trailers
Best export ports by pickup region
Public Surplus 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 site for smaller surplus lots
Flat racks for equipment from Public Surplus agency yards
RoRo for titled vehicles, buses and trucks from public fleets
Pickup from the agency address shown 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 PublicSurplus 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 |
| Buses & Coaches | Blue Bird Vision 72-passenger school bus | 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 Public Surplus
- 1Pay the agency by a method the listing accepts, then send us the paid receipt and the pickup location.
- 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.
Public Surplus buyer terms
- Pickup
- Each listing names the pickup location; the buyer must pick up the item. Source
- Payment
- Set by the selling agency on each listing; some cap online card payments, for example at $4,000, and take wires above that. Source
Checked October 2026. Terms vary by sale, so confirm them on your invoice.
How we work with PublicSurplus
- We take the pickup address from the listing and confirm the appointment with the agency contact.
- Some agencies cap online card payments, for example at $4,000, and take wires above that, so we check the listing before you pay.
- The listing gives the pickup address, such as an agency fleet yard; we confirm the appointment with the agency contact before dispatch.
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
- Pickup address and payment rules read from each listing
- Agency appointments confirmed before dispatch
- Loading equipment arranged for agency sites
Our Services at This Location
- Pickup from the location named on the Public Surplus listing, booked with the agency contact
- Payment checked against the agency's accepted methods, including any online card limit
- Loading equipment sent where the agency site has none
Common destinations from PublicSurplus
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
- Trying to pay a large invoice by card when the agency's online card limit is lower.
- Expecting the agency to ship; Public Surplus listings state that the buyer must pick up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who do I pay after winning on Public Surplus?
The selling agency, by one of the payment methods shown on the listing. Some agencies cap online card payments and take wires above that.
Does the agency ship Public Surplus items?
No. Listings state that the buyer must pick up the item from the location shown. We collect and handle the export.
How do you arrange pickup from a Public Surplus agency?
We take the pickup address from the listing and confirm the appointment with the agency contact once the item is paid for.
Machines bought at PublicSurplus that we load in containers
Buyers at PublicSurplus 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 PublicSurplus sells
Brands we have loaded in the categories PublicSurplus lists, most loading records first, then other makers of the same machines.
Ready to Ship from PublicSurplus?
Contact us today for fast pickup and reliable worldwide shipping.