Welcome to IronUp! We help contractors and equipment renters better manage the “rented” fleet, for all suppliers. As part of our commitment to improving equipment operations, we have created this article to help you with your owned equipment fleet.
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Equipment is critical to getting your job done. And depending on the upcoming project, you can source your equipment in multiple ways:
- Use existing equipment/fleet
- Rent construction equipment to supplement existing fleet
- Buy new construction equipment
- Buy used construction equipment
Here, we are going to focus on the last option – buying used construction equipment.
Most would argue that buying equipment is more transparent and easy than ever and trends continue to point towards online purchases of used construction equipment, if not at least online searching for used construction equipment.
We are now at the inflection point where used construction equipment purchases are primarily started online
With that in mind, we are going to do a deep dive analysis of 11 major online platforms for used construction equipment and highlight their relative strengths and weaknesses. With this information, it should be much easier to pick the right marketplace for the right used equipment buying need.
When buying the used construction equipment online, it is important to understand the websites types and their general characteristics:
- Classifieds, Originator: an online classifieds platform where the seller lists the asset directly through that website
- Classifieds, Aggregator: a website that aggregates/scrapes listings from Classifieds, Originator websites to making it easy to search all equipment in one place
- Classifieds, Remarketing: a specific version of a Classifieds, Originator website that is controlled by a manufacturer’s remarketing team and only carries equipment from that manufacturer
- Auctioneer: a distressed sell, buy asset in seconds through classic offline auction companies
On to the websites, which include:
- Equipment Trader
- Machinery Trader
- Rock and Dirt
- Machine Finder
- CAT Used
- Volvo CE Used
- Case CE Used
- Used Equipment Guide
- Iron Planet
- Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers
- Bidadoo
Equipment Trader
Website: www.equipmenttrader.com
Equipment Trader is one of the leading used construction equipment marketplaces with dominant traffic and progressive site features.
Purchase Type: Classified Listings
Originator or Aggregator: Originator (listings start here, are not syndicated)
Asset Valuation Method: Fair Market Value
Asset Quantity: High
Asset Type(s): Construction Equipment (not, parent company also has platforms for Truck and Ag equipment)
OEM-Specific: No
Region Focus: USA
Parent Company: Trader Interactive
Integrated Financing Feature: Yes
Price Change Email Notification Feature: Yes
All Assets Inspected by Platform: No
Machinery Trader
Website: www.machinerytrader.com
Machinery Trader is the largest, highest volume classified platform in the industry. Go here for selection when wanting to buy a non-distressed asset (non-auction).
Purchase Type: Classified Listings
Originator or Aggregator: Originator (listings start here, are not syndicated)
Asset Valuation Method: Fair Market Value
Asset Quantity: Very High
Asset Type(s): Construction Equipment (note, parent company also has platforms for Truck and Ag equipment)
OEM-Specific: No
Region Focus: USA
Parent Company: Sandhills Global
Integrated Financing Feature: Yes
Price Change Email Notification Feature: No
All Assets Inspected by Platform: No
Rock and Dirt
Website: www.rockanddirt.com
Rock and Dirt is a longstanding classified marketplace for construction equipment. Their platform was just relaunched in October 2020 – take another look.
Purchase Type: Classified Listings
Originator or Aggregator: Originator with some light syndication
Asset Valuation Method: Fair Market Value
Asset Quantity: Medium – High
Asset Type(s): Construction Equipment, Trucks Class 1-8, Trailers
OEM-Specific: No
Region Focus: USA
Parent Company: n/a
Integrated Financing Feature: No
Price Change Email Notification Feature: No
All Assets Inspected by Platform: No
Machine Finder
Website: www.machinefinder.com
Machine Finder is the John Deere corporate-controlled platform for the John Deere dealer network – both construction and ag equipment. Come here to find the best selection of John Deere equipment.
Purchase Type: Classified Listings
Originator or Aggregator: Originator
Asset Valuation Method: Fair Market Value
Asset Quantity: Low – Medium
Asset Type(s): Construction Equipment, Ag Equipment, Lawn, Forestry
OEM-Specific: Yes – John Deere
Region Focus: USA
Parent Company: John Deere, Inc.
Integrated Financing Feature: No
Price Change Email Notification Feature: No
All Assets Inspected by Platform: No
CAT Used
Website: www.catused.com
CAT Used is the corporate remarketing platform for the Caterpillar dealer network. It exists as a disposition platform for trade-ins and end-of-lease assets ending up with Caterpillar financial. These CAT assets have all the certification you could hope for. It’s THE place to hand-select your next Caterpillar machine.
Purchase Type: Classified Listings
Originator or Aggregator: Originator
Asset Valuation Method: Fair Market Value
Asset Quantity: Low – Medium
Asset Type(s): Construction Equipment, Power Systems, Trucking, Ag Equipment (CAT-style)
OEM-Specific: Yes – Caterpillar
Region Focus: USA
Parent Company: Caterpillar, Inc.
Integrated Financing Feature: No
Price Change Email Notification Feature: No
All Assets Inspected by Platform: No
Volvo CE Used
Website: volvousedce.com
Volvo CE Used is the corporate remarketing-managed platform for the Volvo CE dealer network. Find all things Volvo CE here. What’s one big benefit of it being corporate controlled? For every available machine, a full telematics report is provided, showing maximum performance transparency (Volvo CE calls them a “Matris” report).
Purchase Type: Classified Listings
Originator or Aggregator: Originator
Asset Valuation Method: Fair Market Value
Asset Quantity: Low
Asset Type(s): Construction Equipment
OEM-Specific: Yes – Volvo CE
Region Focus: USA
Parent Company: Volvo Group
Integrated Financing Feature: No
Price Change Email Notification Feature: No
All Assets Inspected by Platform: No
Case CE Used
Website: used.casece.com
The last of our corporate remarketing sites, the Case CE Used platform is the new one on the block. Here’s you’ll be able to sort through Case CE machines with ease, with extra filter controls, specifications and history transparency because it’s all one brand. Enjoy your Case CE viewing.
Purchase Type: Classified Listings
Originator or Aggregator: Originator
Asset Valuation Method: Fair Market Value
Asset Quantity: Low
Asset Type(s): Construction Equipment
OEM-Specific: Yes – Case CE
Region Focus: USA
Parent Company: CNH Industrial
Integrated Financing Feature: No
Price Change Email Notification Feature: No
All Assets Inspected by Platform: No
Used Equipment Guide
Website: www.usedequipmentguide.com
When UEG came on the scene in 2016, they were the disruptor. Aiming to be the “aggregator” of all construction, truck, lift/access and power generation ads, they have been largely successful in hitting that goal. They were quietly sold to Randall Reilly, a trucking information business in 2019/2020, where they’re leveraging their skills to launch new marketplaces.
They are the lone large-scale aggregator on our list, meaning they’re the “search engine” of all online marketplaces. Watch out, though – you’ll normally need to still go to the originator website to make contact with the seller.
Purchase Type: Classified Listings
Originator or Aggregator: Aggregator
Asset Valuation Method: Fair Market Value & Forced Liquidation Value
Asset Quantity: The Most Possible
Asset Type(s): Construction Equipment, Ag Equipment, Trucking, Lift/Access Equipment, Power Generation
OEM-Specific: No
Region Focus: Global, with a preference for USA
Parent Company: Randall Reilly
Integrated Financing Feature: Depends – links to originator website for detail
Price Change Email Notification Feature: Depends – links to originator website for detail
All Assets Inspected by Platform: Depends – links to originator website for detail
Iron Planet
Website: www.ironplanet.com
Iron Planet is the original online auctioneer. For over a decade, this team defined what it meant to buy equipment online, quickly and with confidence.
Since being acquired by Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers in 2016/2017, they’ve continued their pioneering of the online auction space with rich features, detailed information and industry-leading inspections.
Purchase Type: Auction
Originator or Aggregator: Originator
Asset Valuation Method: Forced Liquidation Value
Asset Quantity: Medium
Asset Type(s): Construction Equipment, Ag Equipment, Trucking, Power Generation, Random Bits
OEM-Specific: No
Region Focus: USA
Parent Company: Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers
Integrated Financing Feature: Yes
Price Change Email Notification Feature: Yes
All Assets Inspected by Platform: Yes* (some impact due to Covid)
Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers
Website: www.rbauction.com
The grand-daddy of used equipment sales, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers is the global standard for buying used equipment, quickly. Here, we are just focusing on their primary, classic auction business.
If you’re looking for a well priced machine for an upcoming project, Ritchie is your place. Buy quickly, buy with confidence and ship it anywhere all through their feature rich platform.
One big advantage that the Ritchie Bros. family of businesses has is the integration of Veritread, an equipment industry-first “uship”, enabling real time transportation shipping costs before you buy.
Purchase Type: Auction
Originator or Aggregator: Originator
Asset Valuation Method: Forced Liquidation Value
Asset Quantity: Medium
Asset Type(s): Construction Equipment, Ag Equipment, Trucking, Power Generation, Random Bits
OEM-Specific: No
Region Focus: Global
Parent Company: Ritchie Bros.
Integrated Financing Feature: Yes
Price Change Email Notification Feature: Yes
All Assets Inspected by Platform: Yes (partial)
Bidadoo
Website: www.bidadoo.com
Bidadoo is the up and coming online auctioneer. With rapid growth in recent years, their unique platform strategy of partnering with eBay means we are comfortable with their platform and know how it works. And their features go beyond basic eBay, including finance and inspection capability.
Purchase Type: Auction
Originator or Aggregator: Originator
Asset Valuation Method: Forced Liquidation Value
Asset Quantity: Low – Medium
Asset Type(s): Construction Equipment, Ag Equipment, Trucking, Power Generation, Random Bits
OEM-Specific: No
Region Focus: USA
Parent Company: n/a
Integrated Financing Feature: Yes
Price Change Email Notification Feature: No
All Assets Inspected by Platform: No, but can purchase an inspection via We Go Look separately
