What are the rules of the road regarding farm equipment, vehicles?

By KRISTY HEMMINGSEN | Country World East Texas

Slow-moving? Too wide? Lights or reflectors? Everyone on the road benefits from producers following the law.

-- Staff photo by Hemmingsen

June 14, 2001 -- With seasonal farm chores, many producers are on the road with trailers, tractors, and implements. Producers should know the rules and requirements regarding the movement of such machinery.

Most likely, if you're an East Texas farmer, you have some idea of the requirements that must be met. But, if pulled over, would you be able to avoid the fines an officer could impose on you?

Sergeant Mike Bishop of the Department of Public Safety offered some helpful information farmers can comply with to keep themselves free of fines, and help make the roads safer for everyone.

First of all, if a farm tractor is to be driven down the road it must meet certain requirements.

If the tractor is less than a gross weight of 4,000 pounds or less, it is allowed to travel between farms, between a place of supply and a farm; or an owner's farm and produce market without being registered.

This same tractor is also declared a "slow-moving-vehicle" which means it can travel at a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour or less. Safety requirements for this tractor includes the placement of a slow-moving-vehicle emblem on the tractor.

Slow-moving-vehicle not only means a "vehicle," but an implement, or machinery that is either towed by an animal or a "slow-moving" motor vehicle.

Also, there are limitations on height, weight, width, and length, with some exceptions to tractors, trailers, and implements.

Examples of some of these laws include:

A vehicle (such as a farm tractor or farm trailer) shall not exceed a total outside width of 102" or 8'6" except implements traveling or being pulled during daylight hours on a public highway other than the National Interstate System.

If this "over-width" item is to travel more than 50 miles on a public roadway it will require an oversize permit.

If a permitted oversize item is to travel during nighttime hours, two red reflectors that indicate the maximum width are required.

This same lighting requirement, as well as two red lamps visible at a distance of at least 500 feet from the rear, applies as well to projected loads. This involves a vehicle transporting a load that extends from the rear at least four feet beyond the bed or body of the vehicle.

Reflective tape or paint may be used as an alternative to the reflectors required if the alternative complies with other requirements listed above.

The maximum height allowed as in the instance of hauling farm equipment on or off a trailer, is the same requirement for anything traveling down public roadways.

The overall height of a motor vehicle, including the load, shall not exceed 14 feet.

In regards to hauling round hay on public roadways, exceptions to width can be made after obtaining an annual permit if the load is wider than the maximum allowable vehicle width (8'6") but not wider than 12 feet.

The maximum allowable height of 14 feet applies to hay hauling as well.

Lighting requirements for combination vehicles include:

If a unit of farm equipment or implement is towed by a farm tractor and the towed object or its load extends more than four feet from the rear of the tractor, or obscures a light on the tractor, the towed object must be equipped with at least two rear red reflectors that are visible at all distances from 100 to 600 feet when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlights and mounted to indicate the extreme width.

Some of the other "general" lighting requirements for farm tractors, farm equipment, and implements of husbandry include:

A farm tractor, self-propelled unit of farm equipment, or implement must be equipped with: at least two headlamps; at least one red lamp visible at a distance of at least 1,000 feet from the rear and mounted as far to the left of the center of the vehicle as practicable; at least two red reflectors visible at all distances from 100 to 600 feet from the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps; and hazard lamps which shall be lighted and visible in normal sunlight at a distance of at least 1,000 feet from the front and rear.

For full details on the rules of the road as determined by the Department of Public Safety, visit one of their offices.