Ritchie Bros. to sell large fleet of late model super dump trucks for Mesa's Heritage Trucking in unreserved Phoenix public auction

25-ton capacity super dumps complement large selection of aggregate and crushing equipment

PHOENIX, April 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE and TSX: RBA), the world's largest industrial auctioneer, will be conducting a two-day multimillion dollar unreserved public equipment auction at its permanent auction site in Phoenix, AZ on April 15-16, 2010. More than 1,800 construction and aggregate equipment items and trucks will be sold to the highest bidder - regardless of price - with no minimum bids or reserve prices.

"This is one of the best selections of aggregate, crushing and hauling gear we've ever assembled in a single Phoenix auction," said Chris Holmberg, Area Manager, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers.

A major highlight of the auction includes the sale of more than 70 dump trucks, including over 40 late model Kenworth T800B Super 18 dump trucks - a major realignment for Mesa-based Heritage Trucking Inc. Founded in 1993, Heritage Trucking operates the largest fleet of super dump trucks in the Southwest U.S.

Super dumps are large-framed, heavy-spec, dump trucks with four to seven axles and a trailing axle. The trailing axle is a liftable, load-bearing axle added to the rear of the dump truck to increase payload and maximize productivity. Super dumps are used in aggregate and road building applications and can legally haul payloads ranging from 19 to 32 tons*.

The Kenworth T800B Super 18 dump trucks being sold by Heritage Trucking are 18 wheel dump trucks with seven axles and 18-1/2 foot dump boxes that allow them to easily maneuver in tight spaces and haul up to twice the payload of standard dump trucks.

"The average dump truck hauls about eight to nine tons of material, but these super dumps from Heritage Trucking are able to haul around 25 tons - about the equivalent weight of 25 classic Volkswagen Beetle cars," said Mr. Holmberg. "We have late model and mid-range super dumps from Heritage's fleet in the auction and these dump trucks are generating a lot of interest."

The super dumps will be sold on Day 2 (April 16) of the auction - along with a wide assortment of other transportation equipment, including over 110 truck tractors, 60 pickup trucks, 55 flatbed trucks, 50 water trucks, and a variety of bottom and end dump trailers.

The auction will also feature a large selection of aggregate and asphalt equipment from Phoenix-based Gila Resources and Tucson-based Lamb Rock, including screen plants, conveyors, crushers, pavers - to be sold on Day 1 (April 15) - and more than 25 mixer trucks - to be sold on Day 2.

"All the aggregate equipment in the auction complements the fleet of super dumps nicely because this equipment is often used together," said Mr. Holmberg. "This is a very unique opportunity for buyers in the market for this specialized equipment since they'll find all they need in one convenient location."

Wheel loaders, loader backhoes, excavators, cranes, crawler tractors, boom trucks and aerial equipment will also be sold on Day 1. Every item will be sold with no minimum bids or reserve prices. Interested buyers can inspect, test and compare equipment in the Phoenix yard starting now through auction day.

    * Information on super dump trucks provided by RitchieWiki at:
        www.ritchiewiki.com/wiki/index.php/Dump_Trucks


    Auction details:
    ----------------
    -   Location: Ritchie Bros.' Phoenix auction site at 5410 West Lower
        Buckeye Road, Phoenix, AZ, 85043
    -   Phoenix auction site tel: +1.602.269.5631
    -   Time and date: Thursday, April 15 to Friday, April 16, 2010. Auction
        start time: 8:00 a.m. each day
    -   The auction is open to the public and registration to bid is free
    -   Interested buyers can bid in person at the Phoenix site, online in
        real time at rbauction.com or by proxy
    -   More information about the auction, including full equipment details
        and photos, is available at www.rbauction.com

About Ritchie Bros.

Established in 1958, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers (NYSE and TSX: RBA) is the world's largest industrial auctioneer, selling more equipment to on-site and online bidders than any other company in the world. The Company has over 110 locations in more than 25 countries, including 40 auction sites worldwide. Ritchie Bros. sells, through unreserved public auctions, a broad range of used and unused industrial assets, including equipment, trucks and other assets utilized in the construction, transportation, agricultural, material handling, mining, forestry, petroleum and marine industries. The Company maintains a web site at www.rbauction.com and sponsors an equipment wiki at www.RitchieWiki.com.

ATTENTION MEDIA: Photos of the late model Kenworth T800 Super 18 dump trucks are available for your use at www.rbauction.com/media or by calling Kim Schulz at the contact number below.

SOURCE Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers