Inside R&K Underground’s Retirement Fleet: Why They Trusted Ritchie Bros. to Sell It

OwenSeptember 14, 2026 · 3 min read

R&K Underground started in 2000 with a leased backhoe and three guys chasing a single
gas-line contract in Little Rock, Arkansas. Twenty-six years later, founder Kim Dodson is retiring
the company and putting a fleet built for serious underground utility work up for sale.

A Fleet Built for the Job

At its peak, R&K ran four crews and 40 to 50 pieces of equipment at a time, working
underground utility contracts across Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. That’s a fleet built
around the demands of gas distribution work: backhoes for digging and grading, directional drills
for trenchless installs, and the trucks, rods, and tires that keep crews moving from one job site
to the next.

Well-Maintained, Ready to Work

R&K didn’t let equipment run down between jobs. Kim and her team reviewed the fleet once a
month, and foremen were expected to flag issues the moment they came up — tires, bore rig
components, replacement rods, whatever kept a crew from losing time in the field. “Our guys,
we had really good guys to get stuff in and get it worked on and take care of us,” Kim says. “Our
people were more like family to us than just another number.” That discipline is what’s left
behind: a fleet that’s been used hard, but never neglected.

Why R&K Chose Ritchie Bros.

R&K’s relationship with Ritchie Bros. started before there was ever a sale to talk about. Richard
Spacek, Ritchie Bros. Territory Manager for southern Missouri, was already a neighbor and
friend of the Dodson family. When Kim felt R&K was overpaying on equipment insurance,
Richard stepped in to help reevaluate what the fleet was actually worth — and got her insurance
costs down. That track record of showing up and delivering, long before any transaction was on
the table, is what made the decision easy when Kim was ready to sell.

Every fleet reaches a turning point, whether that’s retirement, downsizing, or simply
modernizing equipment. Thinking about what that turning point looks like for your
own operation? See how to sell your equipment with Ritchie Bros. →

“They have been excellent — when you call them, they answer,” Kim says. “They’ve helped me
get my equipment managed, get it cleaned up and taken care of. Just very good to work with.”
Richard sat down with Kim to walk through the retirement sale in detail — how the process
works, what to expect, and how Ritchie Bros. would help get R&K’s equipment in front of the
right buyers.

The Retirement Sale

R&K Underground’s complete retirement package is live now and selling through Ritchie Bros.’
Midwest Regional Auction, with bidding closing September 24th.

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Ready to bid on a fleet that’s been put to work and kept in shape?

Browse the full R&K Underground retirement package →

See also

Sell now – buyers need your equipment for 2024 tax savings