Are you looking for more information about how to ship farm equipment safely and affordably? If yes, then you are in the right place. Here we are going to share more information about the ways to ship farm equipment safely and affordably.
Actually, shipping farm equipment can be confusing. Should you do it yourself or hire a farm shipping company instead? Below we’ll go into scenarios where it makes sense to ship your own equipment and when you should let experts handle it.
We’ll also go into detail about what to expect when shipping your farm equipment and everything to consider. Let’s get started.
Can You Ship Farm Equipment Yourself?
While you can ship farm equipment yourself, it may not be feasible once you reach a specific weight limit. After a point, doing it yourself will not be economical and you’ll need to factor in time lost in renting vehicles, and hiring people to load said equipment.
You also will need to purchase your insurance for the journey of your farm equipment, which will further add to the cost. Not to mention, if you have heavy equipment, you may need to drive on certain routes that you aren’t familiar with, otherwise, you will be breaking the law.
Whether you have a tractor, planter, loader, commercial mower, or even a speed drill, if you’re moving many miles away or selling your equipment, doing it yourself becomes less feasible the longer the distance.
It’s always a good idea to look into hiring a transportation company with experience, so they can reliably ship your equipment with the knowledge they’ve gained through years of farm equipment shipping experience.
What to Consider When Shipping Farm Equipment?
Here are some factors to consider if you want to ship farm equipment:
Type of Equipment
The type of equipment you’re shipping will decide what type of shipping you’ll go with. If you have something like a tractor or mower that is easy to load, then you’ll be able to easily ship these items.
However, if you are trying to ship something awkwardly big or wide, then you’ll have to disassemble these machines and ship them in parts. You can hire someone to disassemble these machines, but it’s best to have a professional who knows how to work with these machines to avoid any trouble later when reassembling.
Size
Before you call for a quote from your favorite farm shipping company like A1 Auto Transport, you’ll need to properly measure your equipment. Some farm equipment is awkwardly shaped and not able to fit in the normal container, so it’s best to get accurate measurements either online or through the manual that came with your farm equipment.
Without the proper dimensions, your carrier may give you a quote that will end up being much lower than it would be if you had the proper dimensions before asking for a quote. Make sure you have the proper dimensions before calling your carrier.
Weight
If you’re shipping all of your farm equipment, you’ll be able to get a discount since you’ll likely be filling up a truck (or several trucks) by yourself. If you’re only shipping one item, it’s still important to know the weight as it’s going to factor into the delivery of your farm equipment.
Container Type
While you can opt to go with open-air shipping, it does come with some risks like theft and weather damage. You likely won’t be able to ship all of your equipment in an open-air container if it’s oversized or fairly heavy. In these circumstances, you’ll have to go with container shipments that use a 40-foot-long container.
You can also opt to purchase the entire container which will likely save you money if you can pack the container properly and in an organized fashion.
Delivery Date
While farm equipment shipping companies try to hit all deadlines, delays do happen. If your shipping equipment is needed on a specific date, it’s best you plan this well in advance or ask for priority shipment.
You can also ship your equipment well in advance and leave it in storage, which will cost an extra fee.
Total Distance
The distance traveled by your farm equipment will also factor in the shipping cost. You can always choose to pay a fixed fee rather than paying per mile, so speak with your farm equipment shipping company for details.
