by MAYNARD FRIESEN

Not long ago, we were able to fit any tractor on a standard step deck. In the past two years, we have seen equipment move onto trailers with a number of axles that we haven’ t seen before, leaving dealers and carriers scrambling for equipment and capable drivers. The growth in this industry is exciting; however, these changes impact every facet of the supply chain and, ultimately, your bottom line.

Whether you are working with a homegrown, agricultural-focused transportation company to move your equipment, or you are contracted with a globally diverse 3PL organization to ship your equipment on breakbulk vessels from overseas to your local dealer, we believe that asking the following questions about your current carriers will positively impact safety and overall cost.

QUESTION 1 The size of equipment has grown – does your carrier have the right equipment to support the changes in both market and commodity?

For many years, heavy-haul and specialized trailers( 7-9 axle RGNs) have been built and designed to move mining and construction equipment, which vary in weights and dimensions, and mostly feature metal tracks instead of rubber tires. We’ re now starting to

With an increased need for specialty or heavy-haul trailers( above 7 axles) in this industry, comes a decrease in the number of carriers who have this equipment- often leading to scrambling at the last minute to find someone that can safely haul your equipment.

see this shift as agricultural equipment grows both in size and capability. Our CEO, Reg Quiring, was thinking back to a time over a decade ago when Q-Line was hauling combines.“ We used to be able to fit two combines on one trailer,” he said.

As a dealer, it’ s important that your carrier understands the dimensions of the commodity as it relates to the trailer. For example, 10 years ago, the standard tractor size and weight was 65,000 lbs., and could easily be transported on a 6-axle RGN trailer. Today, these same tractors weigh up to 85,000 lbs. and are frequently transported on a 9-axle trailer during road bans.

With an increased need for specialty or heavy-haul trailers( above 7 axles) in this industry, comes a decrease in the number of carriers who have this equipment- often leading to scrambling at the last minute to find someone that can safely haul your equipment. Heavy-haul trailers have traditionally been designed around construction, mining and industrial equipment that utilizes steel tracks and belly-loading configurations. As agricultural equipment continues to evolve, newer generations increasingly require trailer designs capable of accommodating rubbertired and rubber-tracked machines. The carriers you work with will need to have a strong relationship with their manufacturer to design and build trailers that accommodate the unique demands of the AG industry.

Additionally, your carrier needs to understand the transport dimension requirements for your oversized load. As your commodity moves from state to state( or province to province), the transport requirements change. For example, in Nebraska, you need a pilot at 12’ wide, whereas in South Dakota, you only need 1 pilot at 16’ 1”. Not having a thorough understanding of these requirements can be a critical and costly mistake. A reliable carrier will have the ability to navigate these requirements and safely move your commodity from point A to point B.

QUESTION 2 Your equipment is worth more than ever – is it properly insured in transit?

The average open-deck carrier in North America carries $ 100,000 in cargo insurance. Given that almost all of a dealer’ s heavy machinery is worth significantly more than

Pull-out ramps are designed for optimal weight distribution, helping protect your equipment and reduce the risk of damage to highvalue agricultural tires.

12 EQUIPMENT DEALER MAGAZINE • U. S. EDITION