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Farm Agriculture Equipment Transport

Your farm equipment is extremely important to your livelihood, trust VeriTread to connect you with professional transporters who specialize in Ag transport.
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Farm Equipment Transport - The Ultimate Guide

Tips, Tricks, and Things You Should Know.
john deere tractor with plow
Transporting agriculture equipment is a complex task. Preparation, communication, compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, and strict safety procedures are musts for any machine going from Point A to Point B. Many individuals find that it is better to hire a professional to move their equipment. This is especially true when moving machines over long distances, tricky routes, and through populated areas. It can be difficult and time-consuming to find the right transport provider to handle your load. Luckily, VeriTread is here for you! Our service connects shippers with qualified transport companies around the country who have extensive experience in transporting farm equipment along with other heavy machinery and oversize loads. Still, it’s always best to know everything about the process, should any surprises arise. We have prepared a fundamental guide for shipping agriculture equipment. Let’s dive into what it takes to safely and legally transport farm equipment from one place to another.
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Preparing Agriculture Equipment for Transport

driver checklist
Perform a Documented Risk Assessment
To ensure that you can handle the risk of a situation, it is important to conduct an assessment. You will document what steps are taken in response and how they could fail so things never get out of control or cause unnecessary harm.
Outfit Sites & People With PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
The safety of your crew is the backbone of transport. Without proper protection, they can be at risk not only while preparing for and completing tasks but also during transport if you're carrying heavy cargo. Focusing on PPE documentation will strengthen the overall assessment skill set because it highlights how we take care of ourselves when working with risky loads and situations.
Determine the Weight and Height of Your Equipment
Every load begins with knowing the dimensions and weight of your load. The height, width, length, and weight of your cargo are vital considerations when transporting it. The DOT regulations for transportation revolve around these factors. Verify them before you begin to avoid unnecessary fines, delays, or accidents.
Inspect Your Truck and Trailer
Make sure your truck has adequate power to tow the load and your trailer is rated to handle the cargo weight. Inspect your truck and trailer is in good working order, pay specific attention to the tires, lights, brakes, tie-down points, and hydraulic hoses.
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Loading & Securing Construction Equipment Safely

tractor with plow
Designate Duties
Make sure everyone involved in loading the machine has been trained properly. Not only do they need to know what they're doing, but also how their actions might cause damage or injury if carried out improperly!
Make sure the trailer you are loading onto is on flat, level ground
A tilted trailer can cause rollover problems that are easily avoidable.
Be aware of all obstacles in your area
Adjust your loading strategy to avoid hitting any nearby objects and move everything to a safe distance if possible.
Check that your truck can handle the load and is parked and secure
Use the parking breaks or wheel chocks if necessary to prevent unwanted movement.
Check your trailer deck
Make sure it is as clean as possible and ready to accept the load.
Line up and approach the trailer, straight on
Use a spotter if your view is obstructed. Slowly drive your machine onto the trailer. Make sure the machine gently lowers itself down on the trailer to avoid damaging the machine or trailer. Once you have climbed onto the trailer, ensure all buckets and attachments are tucked towards the floor of the trailer.
Secure Your Farm Equipment for Transport

All equipment attachments, work tools, and other accessory equipment must be lowered and secured before transportation. Retract booms and buckets and secure them in place. Secure equipment components (lock all doors, covers, tailgates, and articulation points). Also, make sure the machine transmission is immobilized and brakes are locked. For additional protection to your equipment, you may choose to cover it with a tarp or wrap it with shrink wrap. This protects the equipment from dirt, debris, and moisture on the roadways. For equipment with a smokestack, be sure to cover it so debris cannot enter. Use ample & appropriate securing devices (chains, binders, straps, & anchors). Choose appropriate attachment points on the machine and trailer.

Once the load is secured, check everything a second time. It can be helpful to have a safety check system in place where multiple people check the load, instead of relying on a single person.

Verify Driver Visibility

To make sure the driver has a clear view of what’s going on around them. The placement of equipment should also allow free movement of the driver and should not obstruct them from exiting the vehicle or accessing any necessary vehicle components or accessories. This ensures the driver can safely transport the machinery and keeps your company compliant with DOT regulations.

Check out a good securement video from Dirt Perfect. It covers tips. tricks, do's & don'ts for equipment greater than 10,001 lbs.

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Transporting Farm Equipment Safely

Delivering Your Machine Safe, Sound, & On Time
flatbed trailer with tractors
Planning the Best Route

Heavy loads can be very dangerous in rush hour traffic in big cities. Take time before your trip and map out a route (and time) that avoids areas of construction or heavy congestion on the roadways--you'll thank yourself later! Try to avoid toll roads, low-hanging bridges, or any other interruptions or delays that could slow transportation. The best routes have the least amount of bridges, turns, starts, stops, and difficult terrain.

You also need to be sure that the roads along your route can handle the weight, height, and width of the load. It is very dangerous to assume that all roads can handle the weight of a heavy load. If the area is unfamiliar, then we strongly suggest you drive the route in a smaller vehicle first to identify areas of concern.

Laws, Regulations, & Permits

Complying with all permits and regulations is especially important if your load qualifies as oversized or overwidth. Most larger agriculture equipment fits this designation which can carry extra liability. Check the laws and regulations for every state where the load will be transported. These laws change as you cross state borders, so don’t assume that the regulations at your destination are the same as those at the departure point. Additionally, Federal regulations apply for interstate commercial loads that weigh more than 10,000 pounds. In some situations, it may make more financial sense to disassemble the machine into smaller sections so that it can travel on multiple trailers as a legal load to avoid oversize and overwidth requirements.

In some situations, it is necessary to acquire permits before oversized loads can travel on state roads or highways. Also, check to see if a pilot car is required for your load.

Equip Transport Vehicles With Signs, Flags, and Flashing Lights
Oversize loads are designated on the road with proper banners, flags, signs, and lights. In some cases or larger freight, you may be required to have escort vehicles — one guiding the transportation truck and the other following behind, alerting others on to the road to the technical operation. Proper communication between escort and transport vehicles should be conducted by CB radios rather than cell phones to comply with industry standards for safe communication.
Run Safety Inspections While En Route

Heavy load securement requires check-ins and inspections while on the road, especially when traveling long distances. Industry safety standards recommend the following as inspection benchmarks while heavy cargo is en route:

  • Once during the first 50 miles of transport.
  • Once every 150 miles or once every 3 hours — whichever comes first for long-distance hauls.
  • At every change of duty or change of driver station. Have the new driver run a full inspection, then document that inspection in a transport log.
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Delivering & Safely Unloading Farm Equipment

Finish Strong & Safe
Hot Shot with Tractors
Prepare the Delivery Site

Before the transportation vehicle even arrives, take the time to review and clear the designated unloading area in the receiving yard. Just as you pay attention to this during the loading phase, wet and muddy ramps and uneven unloading ground make this part of the operation much harder than necessary. Line the ramps up with the rear of the trailer bed as methodically as possible, taking time to match joints and eliminate any gaps between the trailer and the ramp. Once the machinery begins backing up, there will be no time to reposition.

With everything in place, conduct a final condition survey. Look over the equipment’s tires and hitches to ensure their health. Review roles with personnel, appointing a spotter and an equipment operator just like during the loading process and before you begin breaking down the chain tie points. You’ll also want to do a brief survey on the condition of the tie-downs themselves before their release. It is highly unsafe to undo straps and chains if the load has shifted, even minutely. If this is the case after performing a walk-through, you and the operators will have to draw up a custom unloading plan.

Free the Load
Release the chains, binders, and straps one at a time, beginning with the rear corners. Unravel excess chain that may have been wrapped around the links, then start loosening tie-downs with their ratchet-style wrench boomers. Be very careful, as chains and binders have been wound and should still be tight and pressurized. You don’t want a metal chain unexpectedly snapping up because joints and tension weren’t adequately reduced with the ratchet boomer. This could result in serious injury or death.
Slowly Back the Farm Equipment Down the Ramp
Maintain a safe distance between the piece of equipment and its spotter. The equipment operator’s visibility may become hindered, so position the spotter in a way where they’re accessible, but out of harm’s way. Keep all other personnel away from the unloading area while the heavy machinery is being unloaded from the trailer.
Finish It Up
Once on the ground, perform a final inspection. Go over all equipment, truck, trailer, anchor points, and tools before sending everyone on their way. Make proper documentation and load up all tools and supplies. Stay safe and legal and send everyone home healthy and in one piece.
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VeriTread LLC4.6 Based on 168 reviews fromSee all reviewsArt R. ★★★★★ I purchased a Forklift in VA.. and needed it picked up and delivered to Cint. OH. it weighed 12,000 lb was easy to set up the load and pay, Angela helped set up the load, answered all my questions, followed thru and all went well in a very timely maner. The truck driver, whose name I can't recall, maybe Mike, was very professional and did a great job securing the forklift and following thru with the delivery. Thank You !ArtAl L. ★★★★★ The tractor was delivered a day early thanks to the coordination efforts of Angie with VeriTread and the driver Ken, both keeping in constant communication throughout the whole process.Edder G. ★★★★★ You were very punctual with the delivery and Angie helped me throughout the entire process, thank you!mike S. ★★★★★ great fast serviceIlene L. ★★★★★ Michele from your office was pleasant, helpful & seemed very knowledgeable.Bruce I. ★★★★★ Great broker with good prices and necessary level of communication, I worked with Michele Kondrisack and it was nothing but pleasure!fox 0. ★★★★★ Angie did a good job.Courtney B. ★★★★★ Michelle is incredible. There are a handful of brokers that make this business great and she’s one of them!!Rusty E. ★★★★★ Angie was excellent! We purchased an asphalt roller from Ritchie Bros auction and used VeriTread LLC to ship to us. A fantastic and easy transaction and Angie was excellent and saw every detail through. Great Experience & will use again.Craig K. ★★★★★ Angela is the best! Easy to work with and responds quickly!Gaston B. ★★★★★ Angie was great, everything went smooth. ThanksArmine N. ★★★★★ Great Broker, great workers. I work with Micelle Kondriasak, and she is awesome. All trip I have attention and support. I work with this broker 1st time, and I hope we will work in further. Best experience with VeriTread and MicHele Kondriasak.Hector Romeo Aguirre V. ★★★★★ The process was very smooth and whatever issues we came across, we were able to work together to resolve it (Michele Kondrisack)Wendy B. ★★★★★ Michele was easy to work with and very friendly.Benjamin L. ★★★★★ I couldn’t imagine working with a more reputable and trustworthy company. As the largest towing and transportation company in the US, we pride ourselves in making sure that we work with reputable vendors who take as much pride in their work as we do. Michele Kondrisack always goes above and beyond in making sure that we keep our trucks busy and that all information pertaining to the equipment is available. Her patience in working with our busy schedule and her professionalism in making sure that everything flows smooth really makes a difference in our day to day operations. They truly are committed and take pride in having great customer relations. We’re extremely thankful for Michele and nearly the entire team at Veritread.Erik M. ★★★★★ Thank you Michele for you great service, hope we get to work together again soon.ERIKE&D LOGISTICS LLCAnna B. ★★★★★ Wonderful company to work with. I had the pleasure of working with Michele on a load-- She is so nice and helpful. Kenny is great too! The communication is excellent and they stay on top of things! I wish more companies were as professional and easy to work with as they are! I look forward to working with them more in the future!e N. ★★★★★ Angie took care of my account.She can do anything, everything. Thank you Angie.erik M. ★★★★★ As a o/o, Michele was very pleasant to deal with.Scott H. ★★★★★ Angie did an incredible job coordinating with the driver and keeping me informed!Randall C. ★★★★★ Angie and her team were very professional. I would not hesitate to hire in the futureCarlos A. ★★★★★ Excellent service and communications.Angie was great, friendly, and was on top of the whole process.I will use Veritread LLC again.Price for delivering a 7,000 pound pick up truck was not bad either.m s ★★★★★ great work hopefully we work again soon. thank you Michele!Dave ★★★★★ Angela was an excellent Customer Account Manager. My shipment couldn't have gone better. Thank you.Larry ★★★★★ Angie was extremely responsive and helpful with getting my compact track loader's shipment set up. Excellent follow through along the way!I would work with her again without any hesitation!Quin W. ★★★★★ I have been working with VeriTread for several years now. Brian is always on top of things. They move all kinds of loads for me from all over the country. Always good pricing and efficient service.Lindsey A. ★★★★★ They were efficient, helpful, and wonderful at communicating at each step. Angie was especially helpful and made the process seamless! Thank you!!Jason P. ★★★★★ They did everythimg they said they would. Thanks Angie for your help.Gary B. ★★★★★ It was a pleasure to work with Brandon on this load. Communication was fast and all questions dealing with the load was taken care of. Looking forward to working with them in the future.Arturo C. ★★★★★ Angie has been of tremendous help. Easy to get along. Very knowledgeable. Vertread is very fortunate to have her on y'alls team. Kudos to her. She made me a HAPPY CAMPER. Thx Angie. God bless.ArtBrandon G. ★★★★★ Michele in dispatch and Brooke in accounting are excellent to deal with. Fair rates, quick paying, and easy to work with. One of my go to phone calls when looking for work.Belinda W. ★★★★★ I have worked with VeriTread on two loads. The professionalism I received is like none other. My rep Michele Kondrisack went above and beyond to ensure we had everything we need to complete each load that she entrusted us to haul.Would recommend any carrier to call and book loads. These are great folks and offer a fair rate to get their loads moved.johnny A. ★★★★★ My experience with Veritread is been really good the times that I have work with Michele Kondrisack and has been very profesional and helpful in all matters.Antonio M. ★★★★★ Great company, easy to work with, very friendly people excellent dispatchers specially MICHELE KONDRISACK she’s the best.Thank you 🙏 so much Veritread to keeping providing loads for me with the best prices 🤝leggio C. ★★★★★ amazing service across the board! From dispatching, to accounting I give 5 stars. Brooke Meyers Never misses a beat! Always pleasant, and keeps the lines of communication open!Whitney G. ★★★★★ VeriTread is a great company and very helpful! We get paid very quickly and the process is smooth. Thank You Brooke Myers for everything you do 🙂Rubin P. ★★★★★ Great company. Brooke Myers was very helpful and pays very quickly. Wish more brokers were like them.Angela B. ★★★★★ VeriTread was very professional to deal with, kept in contact with me all the way from scheduling to delivery! I would highly recommend using this company for any haul needs you might have.Roger L. ★★★★★ Had a plesant experience with the driver Miguel very helpful. Rick Cortez was excellent at keeping me informed on progress, and a smooth exchange.Martin C. ★★★★★ Had a situation with one of their loads and had the pleasure to work with supervisor Lee Betagole to resolve it !Kevin R. ★★★★★ Thanks Lee and VeriTread LLCKeith D. ★★★★★ There was a lot of back and forth between seller contact and driversand sometimes it takes a little patience . All parties worked well back and forth until the job was finished. Good job everyone!!J C ★★★★★ Jack was very helpful with loads 1216817 & 1216815. Deliveries were very successful & speedy. Will definitely do business with him again. Janet-Petroelectric Searcy, ARjs_loader