Agricultural machinery transport by road

What agricultural machinery transport involves

Agricultural machinery transport means carrying by road, on the back of a lorry, machines that should not or cannot be driven there under their own power: a tractor sold in another region, a combine moving on to a new harvest, a newly bought trailer or a batch of implements going from the manufacturer to the dealer.

It is a service for dealers, manufacturers, agricultural contractors, cooperatives and farmers who buy or sell machinery. We started out in Fuente Palmera, a farming town in the province of Córdoba, and farming is part of our everyday work: as well as agricultural bulk, we carry the machines that work the land.

Which machinery we move

• Tractors of various sizes.
• Combine harvesters, with the header removed when needed.
• Rotavators and small machinery.
• Farm trailers.
• Implements: ploughs, harrows, seed drills, fertiliser spreaders, sprayers.

Each machine is its own case. A rotavator goes on with a forklift in moments; a large tractor needs a ramp, chocks and proper lashing; a combine may need its header taken off to travel.

Dimensions and weight: the first thing we check

In machinery transport everything starts with the dimensions. As general information, in Spain a standard vehicle may not exceed 2.55 metres in width or 4 metres in height, load included. The machine’s height is added to the height of the trailer deck, so a tall machine runs out of margin sooner than you might think.

Machine	How it is usually handled
Small and light	Loaded by forklift or crane, also as groupage
Medium-sized tractor or trailer	Driven up a ramp or from a loading bay, full load
Combine or machine with protruding parts	Remove the header or parts and carry them separately
Exceeds the maximum dimensions	Abnormal load transport with a permit

So before quoting, we ask for the dimensions and weight of each machine. If it will not fit standard transport, we tell you straight away, before committing to dates.

How a machine is loaded and secured

Loading

There are three usual ways of getting a machine onto a lorry:

• Under its own power, up a ramp or from a loading bay.
• By crane, slung from its lifting points.
• By forklift, for small machinery and implements, taking advantage of the fact that the curtainsider opens along the side.

Securing

Once on board, the machine is chocked so it cannot roll and lashed with chains or straps at the anchor points specified by the manufacturer, never on parts that could bend. The handbrake is on and moving parts, such as loader arms or the top link, are lowered and locked. The driver checks the lashings before setting off and at every stop.

Protection

A new machine has to arrive without a scratch. The trailer curtain protects it from rain, dust and stones thrown up from the road, which counts for a lot on a machine going from the factory to the dealer.

How to prepare the machine before loading

A well-prepared machine loads faster and travels more safely. In general, it helps to:

• Remove loose items from the cab and platform.
• Close doors and windows, and fold in mirrors and folding parts.
• Lower and lock arms, linkages and hitches.
• Check for oil or fuel leaks.
• Leave the keys and mention anything unusual about loading or unloading it.

One machine or several

If you are moving several machines or one large one, a full load is normal. If it is a small machine or a few implements, groupage and part loads may work out better: your machine shares the lorry with other loads heading the same way and you pay for the space it takes up.

What we need to know to quote

• What the machine is, with make and model if you have them.
• Dimensions: length, width and height, and whether any part can be removed.
• Weight of each machine.
• How it is loaded and unloaded: ramp, loading bay, crane, forklift.
• Origin, destination and dates.

Agricultural machinery transport in Spain and France

We have regular customers and routes in Spain and France, in both directions, and we reach other European countries. For machinery that helps us fit dates and make use of return journeys. If your machine is going to or coming from France, see also road freight between Spain and France.