Ritchie Bros. teams with Inland Kenworth to sell special truck tractor for Truckers Against Trafficking charity

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Jun 08, 2017, 16:30 ET

Customized 2018 Kenworth T680 will be sold at Ritchie Bros.' auction in Phoenix, AZ on June 20

PHOENIX, June 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ - Ritchie Bros. is hitching its trailer to a very important cause this month. At its Phoenix, AZ auction on June 20, the company will be selling a customized 2018 Kenworth T680 truck tractor—donated by Inland Kenworth, one of the largest Kenworth truck dealers in North America, and a group of truck industry sponsors—and donating all proceeds to advocacy group Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), to help prevent human trafficking.

"When Inland Kenworth came to us with the idea, we jumped at the chance to do our part," said Chris Holmberg, Sales Director, Ritchie Bros. "We believe that with our global network of buyers we can get the best return for the Kenworth T680 and in turn help Truckers Against Trafficking. Ritchie Bros. is proud to support the prevention of human trafficking."

Inland Kenworth has dubbed the special T680 the "Everyday Heroes" edition. The truck has a retail value of US$157,000 and features a 76-inch sleeper, 485 horsepower Paccar MX-13 engine and Eaton Fuller Advantage 10-speed automated transmission.

"I first became involved with Truckers Against Trafficking after hearing a presentation they made at an Arizona Trucking Association conference," said Don Blake, Sales Manager at Inland Kenworth in Phoenix. "They opened my eyes to the evils of human trafficking. So many of the victims are innocent children. My heart hurt after being informed, but it made me want to help."

Don continued, "We chose Ritchie Bros. to sell the truck because they are the best auctioneers in the trucking industry. I knew they would be willing to help. When I asked Chris Holmberg to auction the truck to benefit Truckers Against Trafficking, I couldn't even get the question out before he said yes. Not only has Ritchie Bros. offered to auction the truck for free, but they have worked very hard to market both the cause and the truck."

For more information about Truckers Against Trafficking, please visit truckersagainsttrafficking.org.

950+ items to be sold in Phoenix on June 20; all items sold with no minimum bids or reserve prices

On top of the special Kenworth T680 being sold for charity, Ritchie Bros. will also sell hundreds of other items during its unreserved public auction. Equipment highlights include 80+ truck tractors, 90+ trailers, as well as excavators, loaders, dozers, excavators, aerial work platforms and more. The auction also features a selection of trucks and trailers being sold for Graebel Van Lines. For more details, visit rbauction.com/Phoenix.

About Ritchie Bros.:
Established in 1958, Ritchie Bros. (NYSE and TSX: RBA) is a global asset management and disposition company, offering customers end-to-end solutions for buying and selling used heavy equipment, trucks and other assets. Operating in a multitude of sectors, including construction, transportation, agriculture, energy, oil and gas, mining, and forestry, the company's selling channels include: Ritchie Bros.Auctioneers, the world's largest industrial auctioneer offers live auction events with online bidding; IronPlanet, an online marketplace with featured weekly auctions and providing its exclusive IronClad Assurance® equipment condition certification; EquipmentOne, an online auction marketplace; Mascus, a leading European online equipment listing service; and Ritchie Bros. Private Treaty, offering privately negotiated sales. The company also offers sector-specific solutions including GovPlanet, TruckPlanet, and Kruse Energy Auctioneers, plus equipment financing and leasing through Ritchie Bros. Financial Services. For more information about the unprecedented choice provided by Ritchie Bros., visit RitchieBros.com.