Farm trailer safety and maintenance

Whether you’re towing with a tractor or a pick-up truck, hauling soybeans or livestock, road safety should always be a priority. Use the following trailer towing and maintenance tips to help protect your employees, your livestock and your livelihood.

Trailer inspection and care

Regular maintenance and inspection of your farm trailers may help you avoid unexpected delays and losses. Having the right farm insurance for your trailer is essential, too. Contact your agent to learn more.

Get the details. Knowing the weight limits and capacities of the truck and trailer is key. Information about the towing capacity and other important information can be found stamped in the vehicle identification number (VIN) placard on the trailer, and the towing vehicle’s details are usually found on the driver’s side doorjamb.

While VIN placards vary by manufacturer, the following data are usually located on every trailer:

• MFD by: The name of the manufacturer.
• Date: The date the trailer was produced by the manufacturer.
• VIN: This is the trailer’s vehicle identification number.
• Rebuilt by: If rebuilt, you’ll find the name of the rebuilding company here.
• Year: If rebuilt, you will find the year of the rebuild here.
• Model no.: This is the manufacturer’s model number.
• Fleet no.: This is the manufacturer’s fleet number.
• GCWR: Gross combination weight rating. This figure identifies the maximum weight limit that the towing vehicle can safely haul, per the manufacturer. The figure includes the weight of the trailer.
• GAWR: Gross axle weight rating. This figure states the maximum gross weight that all of the trailer’s axles can carry. This figure may be less than the GVWR because some of the load is carried by the towing vehicle.
• GVWR: Gross vehicle weight rating. This figure states the maximum operating weight of the trailer and its cargo.
• With Tires, Rims, PSI: Above trailer rating only applies if the specified size and rim sizes on the trailer are inflated according to these figures.

Update the tags and registration. Before driving onto public roadways, be sure that your trailer complies with federal and local codes. In many states, you may need to register it if it’s over a given weight. A plate and tags will need to be purchased, and some trailers may require a US Department of Transportation number to be displayed. Check with your local DMV for the specifics.

Tour the trailer. Rust can accumulate, causing the undercarriage of your trailer to deteriorate. Inspect outrigger welds or the structural supports that extend off the trailer’s frame and be sure that they’re in good shape. Look under the trailer and in the cabin for stowaways to remove things like wasps and animal nests. Gates, doors and windows should also be working and lockable as designed.

Pair the coupling system. The ball hitch and receiving cup must match in diameter. Be sure that the safety chain is in good shape and that the chain’s towing capacity matches or exceeds the gross vehicle weight of your trailer.

Inspect the tires. Check the tire pressure. Are the tires doubled up? If so, remember to check the inside tire, too. Examine the condition of the sidewalls, interior and exterior for cracks or bumps since these can be signs of an upcoming blow-out. Remember to rotate the tires annually or according to the manufacturer’s specifications.

Be ready to change a tire. Check the spare tire changing equipment and be sure you’ve got a spare tire, jack and lug nut wrench on board. It’s also a good idea to have flares or safety reflectors on hand.

Inspect the brakes. Source a trailer with brakes to avoid completely relying on the towing vehicle to stop the trailer. Match the type of brakes installed on the towing vehicle to those on the trailer. Inspect the physical condition of the brakes regularly, then repair and replace them when necessary. Brake controllers should be inspected and in proper working order.

Maintain and inspect your breakaway kit and battery. When electronic brakes are in use, these are essential to help prevent the trailer from detaching from the towing vehicle. It uses a battery-powered system that applies the trailer’s brakes if the cable connecting the trailer to the control pin is pulled free.

Tour the reflectors and lamps. Wipe the dust and dirt off of all reflectors and lights. Verify that the brake lights work at the rear of the trailer. Check the turn signals on the side of the trailer and the rear and verify that the backup lights are functioning as well. Upgrade to LEDs when replacing, they’re more durable and may last longer. And be sure you’re compliant with reflectors, lights and slow-moving vehicle triangle regulations so you’re clearly visible to other drivers.

Wheel bearing maintenance. Replacing the bearings at 12,000-mile intervals — or annually, without respect to mileage — will save you time and the inconvenience of doing so in the field or on the side of the road when a load or livestock may be onboard.

Considerations for transporting livestock

Keeping the animal’s stress level low while on the road is key to getting livestock delivered in good health. Here are some of the things to keep in mind to make your trailer safe for livestock.

Clean the interior. A safe and clean space for your livestock will help to keep the animals from getting injured during transport. Proper drainage and good traction are also important factors to keep in mind.

Load animals with care. Before you begin bringing animals into the trailer, look for foreign objects like rocks or branches that may scare them, and remember to keep noise to a minimum because animals spook easily and may be unpredictable. Stay calm, and don’t stress the animals while they’re loading and unloading.

Load your larger livestock first. When using a bumper-mounted ball and hitch towing system, this is a best practice. The heavier load will be split between the trailer and the towing vehicle, putting less stress on the trailer’s bearings and axles.

Transport carefully. Remember that livestock shift each time you accelerate and brake. Maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you and allow more time for braking. Approach curves and turns slowly, too.

Wet and cold are a bad combination. Wind chill factors increase the risk of pneumonia with exposure to cold temperatures. Reschedule travel plans if severe weather is predicted to help protect your livestock.

Tips for transporting crops and farming implements

Once your payload’s onboard and you’ve completed your inspection, it’s time to hit the road. Here are a few essentials to consider:

Plan to use pilot vehicles. If hauling wide loads, use pilot vehicles in front and behind your payload to help ensure safety on the road. Flag the right and left wide ends of your payload and use flashing lights to draw attention to the load.

Stay on the road. While this advice may seem simple, it’s important to remember that country roads' soft shoulders account for a high percentage of farm vehicle rollovers. Avoid yielding too much of your lane to passing vehicles.

Light up your load. Cars approaching slow-moving vehicles on single-lane roads may not slow down sufficiently to prevent a rear-end collision. Bright, flashing rear-facing lights may help you alert drivers earlier.

Use caution when turning. Left turns may result in a collision if a vehicle attempts to pass you while turning. Triple-check rear-view mirrors before turning.

While considering your safety, take a few moments to review your commercial farm/ranch policy with an American Family Insurance agent. Get the specialized coverage your farm needs to help protect your business.

This article is for informational purposes only. The information is widely available through different sources. This information does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. Compliance does not guarantee conformity with codes, or federal, state, or local laws and regulations, nor does it guarantee coverage. Compliance does not ensure the safety of your operations or farm.