Anyone run farm or personal on heavy trucks?

I've been frustrated for many years as everything I need to move stuff, time time and cost drives me right back to equipment ownership. Not because I'm trying to insult the trucking trade at all, it's just always a massive scheduling hassle, and if anything goes wrong, my checkbook is the target. I own and run a farm. I wanted to get a day cab tractor to use, then try to find a few trailers, and maybe just rent them back out or something to justify the ownership. But I am curious if any of you guys run as farm type O/O? My primary use is just going to get stuff that exceeds my dually/goose capacity within a 200-300mi range. the laws/regs/requirements get insane blurry in this space. Hell, I would tag and own as personal if I could avoid drama, but it seems like a screw job where people run illegal daily with goose config, anywhere, yet a semi gets all the looks. I was hoping a day cab would signal "I don't live in this thing". I just want to own a power unit and trailers that can move my stuff when needed.

I think a lot of farmers put farm plates on big trucks for hauling bales, cattle, grain, equipment etc. I wish I could get farm plates. I don't think farmers need an air brake endorsement either but it's good to have. Insurance is way cheaper. There might be a stipulation on how far away from the farm you can drive.

Welder Dave said: I think a lot of farmers put farm plates on big trucks for hauling bales, cattle, grain, equipment etc. I wish I could get farm plates. I don't think farmers need an air brake endorsement either but it's good to have. Insurance is way cheaper. There might be a stipulation on how far away from the farm you can drive. Click to expand... There technically is, thus why I'm asking. 150 air miles in my area. Who TF knows how sticky that gets.

You don't even need a CDL in Missouri if you are using your truck for farm use. I have a friend that I was sure he had a CDL he has had a tractor trailer for years, Nope I have farm use on my gooseneck and my dump trailer. I wasn't using them like I do now, I should probably switch them over to regular tags now that I am excavating full time

smifwal said: You don't even need a CDL in Missouri if you are using your truck for farm use. I have a friend that I was sure he had a CDL he has had a tractor trailer for years, Nope I have farm use on my gooseneck and my dump trailer. I wasn't using them like I do now, I should probably switch them over to regular tags now that I am excavating full time Click to expand... MO, technically is prob the same, which 'should' be a class A non-commercial. However, what you mention is different than me, in which I need to jump a state over or something, in which those lanes are squarely in DOT huntland. Find a reason to get some money. Who knows, I've talked my way out of many situations, but I do need to educate a bit. At least look like Im trying to comply. As it pertains to farm, Yes, I need a 200T press brake on my farm. Don't we all?

fastline said: MO, technically is prob the same, which 'should' be a class A non-commercial. However, what you mention is different than me, in which I need to jump a state over or something, in which those lanes are squarely in DOT huntland. Find a reason to get some money. Who knows, I've talked my way out of many situations, but I do need to educate a bit. At least look like Im trying to comply. As it pertains to farm, Yes, I need a 200T press brake on my farm. Don't we all? Click to expand... A brake a d9 a ex1100 Were going to clean the barn officer. In a hurry. May need a new barn tho

In Ak, farm plates are limited to 20k lbs or less and driven exclusively within 150 air miles of the farm. No CDL, no HOS. I was gonna become a ganga farmer and looked into it. Figured I needed a sweet Peterbilt to haul all my weed to the dispensary. Farm Vehicles, Division of Motor Vehicles, State of Alaska dmv.alaska.gov

fastline said: MO, technically is prob the same, which 'should' be a class A non-commercial. However, what you mention is different than me, in which I need to jump a state over or something, in which those lanes are squarely in DOT huntland. Find a reason to get some money. Who knows, I've talked my way out of many situations, but I do need to educate a bit. At least look like Im trying to comply. As it pertains to farm, Yes, I need a 200T press brake on my farm. Don't we all? Click to expand... You can go from farm to farm, or for farm related stuff. In state or out. My sister lives in Oklahoma he doesn't have a CDL she hauls horses all over the country (on farm tags)

DOT had to put a 150 mile radius for farm, because they knew it would be abused if left unregulated, just like many of the hotshots. A farmer is exempt as long as hauling his own commodities, I don't know or never heard of hauling grain to a elevator 150 miles out. But rules change past the 100 mile radius for general freight on log requirements. Most of it goes back to CFV covered farm vehicle, and has to do with under 26,001 or over, those can run just about anywhere, 26,003 moves into 150 radius. The main thing is carrying proof what's on the trailer is directly related to the farm the truck belongs to. Because a farmer is not allowed to haul for hire. * But Different states, different laws. Having a day cab will do nothing for you, if your a long ways out and get pulled in they can ask for log to show on duty time, reason--the name of your farm and town you hail from also has to be on the door. They will ask for bill of ladings {which even hauling your own stuff your suppose to have} looking for time stamps. But if you cross a scale early on, your plate/tag and DOT number were read and recorded as rolled across scale. They can enter that, your time dated scale crossing comes up, you can't hide. And states bordering each other share that info, It can figure your average mph in that time frame, and if over a ticket could be issued. * The simplest--license as a business not a farm, yes it will cost more dollars. But driving around wondering isn't a good way.

Do you know anybody with interstate authority you could lease to? That way you’re good to go anywhere and would be legal to do so. It could be as simple as paying them whatever it costs to tag and insure your rig and maybe a little extra for their trouble. I’ve never been bothered with the farm trucks but I don’t use them much and everything I’m hauling is clearly farm related, I don’t go far and I also know any of the DOT officers in my area so even if they did stop me it would probably be a quick convo.

Junkyard said: Do you know anybody with interstate authority you could lease to? Click to expand... There are regulatory risks involved for both parties, a search explains.

To me it wouldn’t be any different than a carrier leasing an owner operator.

Junkyard said: To me it wouldn’t be any different than a carrier leasing an owner operator. Click to expand... Except there is the thing of profit revenue involved, I personally don't know any that would be willing to carry a leaser that wasn't tied to company profit platform. There might be but normally a lease is tied to operating within that company, and not sure their insurance would go along with it. Freight/transport insurance can be fickled, would probably have to carry own insurance. If anything happened it could threaten their authority, because using their DOT number ties them to anything. Ton's of grey area.

No, I don't want anything messy like tying with another company or something. I won't be hauling anything for profit.

fastline said: No, I don't want anything messy like tying with another company or something. I won't be hauling anything for profit. Click to expand... Based on that the only legit way to remove as much liability as possible and run as legal as possible is a legit for hire interstate DOT # and the accompanying insurance. Anything else opens you to various forms of liability and regulatory oversight.

Junkyard said: Based on that the only legit way to remove as much liability as possible and run as legal as possible is a legit for hire interstate DOT # and the accompanying insurance. Anything else opens you to various forms of liability and regulatory oversight. Click to expand... Absolutely correct.

Lol, and I'm over here trying to find free load boards to just solve this month's problems. I swear I hate trucking with a passion. I tried Uship several weeks ago. Like wow, if you want to bend over, they gotchew with the lube! I certainly won't get this solved this week so I will keep working to find some locals to fill the gap.

With Uship I found out you have to turn down the bids. Then they'll start going lower and lower. Give it a try. Some of those shippers are real doosies, but have always got it done for me.

In Iowa I am pretty sure you can run anywhere in the state with farm tags and up to 150 air miles if you cross state lines. 150 air miles could equal 200 road miles pretty easy alot of times. If crossing state lines you would need a trip permit for that state to be legal. As far as justifying ownership goes there is alot more to it than just the purchase price of the truck and trailer(s). In my opinion you need to be able to do most of the repairs yourself. If you have to send them to a shop to get worked on you will soon find out that writing a check to have your stuff hauled might not be too bad. Just my $.02

MO farm, ‘F’ tags is 150 Air Miles from home INSIDE the state and up to 30 miles into adjoining states if within that 150 air miles. Cannot do Any For Profit Hauls, not even hauling for Neighbor Farm if get caught, must be for Personal Use not anything else. MO RV tags(Auto Tags not weight) are ONLY for RV Use, cannot so much as haul a trailer load of lumber to home or load of trash to dump. Requires a VIN code Change on vehicle for now, in the future are looking to a Non Commercial CDL for both Farm and RV with Air Brakes and Fifth Wheel or Goose Ball hitches or Class A or B Non Commercial with air brake Truck Chassis. Also looking to curb Multi Trailer sets of no Multiple Trailer endorsements. MO has a Local ONLY as well a Beyond Local weight tag, L tag is good for only 25 miles from home or a 50 mile radius of home. BL is supposed to be Recognized 48 Lower states and Canada as a Open Use license, NOT restricted to Commercial nor Personal Uses. 73280 is still the largest BL Tag where above that requires a Apportioned Commercial Plate. Running Commercial on ANY MO license requires a DOT number, personal use does not as with hauling personal animals or materials. Is why my Blue Beast is licensed 48BL.