Agricultural and excavator transportation - Issues and Costs
Transporting agricultural machinery and excavators often requires a truck with what is known as a flatbed trailer. This falls under exceptional transport.
Agricultural transportation includes everything from transporting a simple tractor to huge excavators and silos.
Below, we will look at the main concerns in moving heavy agricultural equipment, including the necessary permits a hauler in agriculture must have. Finally, we look at the cost of transporting agricultural vehicles and excavators.
Permits for transportation of agricultural machinery
Anyone who arranges transport for payment with a vehicle with a payload of more than 500 kilograms needs the Professional Goods Transport Permit (Euro Permit) from the NIWO. Thus, when commercially transporting another person's agricultural equipment or tractor, there is in principle a permit requirement.
Permit exceptions.
First, transportation by a farmer of his own goods and equipment for his own farm is not subject to a permit requirement. In fact, own transportation is never subject to a permit requirement.
Second, a permit requirement does not apply when the transport takes place directly on behalf of an agricultural farm and is directly related to the performance of agricultural work.
In international transport, a commercial transport license is always required.
The above applies to agriculture as a whole. According to the law (Civil Code Book 7), agriculture is the commercial exercise of arable farming, pasture farming, livestock farming, poultry farming, horticulture, including fruit growing and the cultivation of trees, flowers and bulbs, the cultivation of brushwood and reeds, any other branch of land cultivation, except forestry.
Tractor transport
One of the most requested agricultural transports is the transportation of tractors. Tractors are regularly transported by road, but can also be driven on another vehicle.
Tractor driving
Tractors can, of course, drive themselves and be transported that way. To do this, the driver must have a tractor driving license. This allows you to drive a tractor, tractor or limited-speed motor vehicle (MMBS) on public roads. Such a license is not required on private property. If you already had a driving license B (standard car driving license) on July 1, 2015, you may also drive a tractor on public roads. If you obtained your B driver's license after that date, you must obtain an additional the tractor T license.
Tractors are allowed to go 25 km/h on public roads. Recently an APK obligation for tractors has been agreed upon, allowing them to drive 40 km/h on registration plates. Still, in many cases this is very slow, especially if the unloading location is very far away or even international.
Have tractor transported
but it is very common to transport a tractor on another vehicle or trailer. If a tractor needs to get to a particular work site quickly or breaks down, for example, you can use a transport company.
Cost tractor transport
The weight, dimensions, desired delivery time and loading and unloading location are important for a good idea of the costs. There may also be additional costs such as tolls, vignettes and waiting times at borders. A company that has to come from far away will also charge higher call-out fees.
What do you look for in agricultural machinery transport?
When having an excavator, tractor or other agricultural equipment transported, you need to pay close attention to a number of things. As a shipper, you want your machines to be in good hands. Therefore, observe the following points of attention:
- Work only with transportation companies with the proper permits to transport heavy equipment such as excavators. Note that across the border, additional permits and paperwork may again be required. Make sure your cargo is not stopped, but that everything is in good order.
- Make sure the transporter is properly insured and purchase additional goods transport insurance where necessary. If you are going to transport your machines yourself, "self-haul insurance" can cover your risk.
- Transportation of agricultural machinery requires experience and specialty. So work only with companies that are good at this. On Transportscanner, transport companies are organized by field of expertise. Each company is monitored and must adhere to our Quality Mark.
- Make sure that the agreements between you and the transport company are well defined in a transport contract. Preferably, your carrier works with the AVC/CMR conditions for goods transport. Under these conditions, your rights are best protected.
What does farm machinery and tractor transport cost?
Below are some previously issued quotes for transportation of excavators, tractors and other implements:
| Type machinetransport | Prijs (excl. btw) |
|---|---|
| Graafmachine 9 ton van randstad naar Wallonië (BE) | € 350 (incl. dieseltoeslag en tolkosten) |
| Transport mobiele kraan 13 ton van Nederland naar Hongarije | € 2700 |
| Landbouwmachines 3 ton van Polen naar België | €1875 |
| Mini tractor vanaf Nederland naar Antwerpen | €500 |
| Vervoer graafmachine 14 ton van Nieuwediep Nederland naar Schoten België | €360 |
| Tractor vanaf veiling in Antwerpen naar Kootwijkerbroek brengen | €315 |
| Farmall Cub tractor van Frankrijk naar Nederland | €750 |
| Tractor van Leende naar Samorin, Slowakije | €1000 |
| Tractor transport from NL to DK and return | €1200 |
International transport agricultural machinery
A heavy agricultural machine weighs many tons. There are strict EU rules regarding the maximum dimensions and weights that can be transported by road. Again, there are all kinds of exemptions, which means that in fact almost anything can be transported. In practice, however, this means that the transport of really large and heavy agricultural machinery is a custom job, requiring a specialist who has the papers in order. When transporting exceptionally large machines and vehicles, you need to find a company in special and heavy transport. You can find more information on our page about legislation and permits.
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Transport companies in agriculture and implements
Find below a selection of companies that can help you transport farm equipment, tractors or excavators. Be sure to check the exact specialty of a company before approaching them. Alternatively, you can get instant quotes by placing a no-obligation request.
Previously posted machine and vehicle transportation
On Transportscanner, companies and individuals post their larger transport jobs. Below is a sampling of recent transport requests for (agricultural) machinery and other vehicles.