Transporting livestock is a necessary expense to consider when raising cattle or horses. When transporting livestock by truck, you need equipment such as a livestock trailer or livestock trucks. You should also consider the special requirements of horse transportation, since horses need more care. Your company or ranch can invest in a new livestock trailer, a horse trailer, a cattle truck or invest in used livestock haulers.

If investing in your own equipment does not appeal to you, it's possible to take advantage of livestock transporting services. These companies take care of the details of livestock truck transport, saving your company or ranch the necessity of doing so. These livestock shippers adhere to stringent standards that include sterilizing their cattle trucks or livestock haulers between shipments. There are several different options for your business to transport livestock.

1. Invest in livestock trailers.

2. Look into cattle trucks.

3. Explore the benefits of livestock transporting services.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look at the livestock trailer options for hauling livestock by truck

The first item for transporting livestock by truck basics is the livestock trailer. Livestock trailers, whether they are trailers for cattle or for horses, come in different configurations. They can be various lengths, from horse trailers capable of carrying two horses, to double-deck semi trailers up to 53 feet long. The trailers for horse transportation generally have more padding for the horses, though combo trailers for livestock and horses are available. Some of the horse trailers have optional dressing rooms--something not available on livestock trailers.

I recommend: Two companies that manufacture livestock trailers and horse trailers are Featherlite Trailers and Kiefer Built.

Consider livestock trucks

Livestock trucks are another method of transport. These cattle trucks have either slatted or punch panels (holes of varying sizes for ventilation) and can have single or double decks. The livestock truck bodies are usually aluminum, and are easy to clean. If your company prefers not to invest in a new cattle truck, buying a used one is an option.

I recommend: For new cattle trucks, M H Eby has a selection of single and double deck trucks from which to choose. Companies like Truck Paper have a long catalogue of used cattle trucks as well as livestock trailers.

Let cattle shippers take over livestock trucking for you

Livestock transporting services take away the headache of transporting livestock by truck yourself. Livestock transporting services have their own fleet of cattle trucks and livestock trailers prepared to transport your livestock to whatever destination your company needs. Services are also available for horse transportation in the form of companies that have vans, trailers and trucks designed for transporting horses. Livestock trucking rates vary according to the distance and the number of animals.

I recommend: Companies that can take care of hauling livestock by truck are Zeigler Livestock Transport and Hilker Trucking. One company that specializes in horse transportation is Sallee Horse Vans.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you are interested in buying a livestock trailer, cattle truck or a trailer for horse transportation, you can choose to have the vehicle or trailer custom built.

Transporting livestock by truck, whether you need to hire a one-horse trailer or a cattle truck, requires planning, coordination, and sometimes, professional help.

Hauling livestock by truck is a proposition that often involves independent livestock shippers. If you'd rather leave the details to someone with more experience, however, livestock trucking can be handled by professionals who serve as a sort of travel agent for four-legged inventory. To determine how far you'll need to go to get your commodity moved quickly and safely, begin planning livestock trucking at least 2 months in advance.

Consider the following details of your load to determine how you'll start planning, and whether you need the help of a livestock transportation service:

1. Number and type of animals to be moved by livestock haulers.

2. Season in which animals will be transported and weather conditions.

3. Distance from origin to destination.

4. Medical history and general health of all animals to be carried by livestock shippers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Complete vaccinations and veterinary inspections no more than 30 days before transporting livestock

If you're shipping within the 48 contiguous states, regulations for livestock transport may differ. While your state may not require that 2-year-old heifers have Brucellosis vaccinations as long as there's a record that they had the vaccination when they were calves, another state may require the vaccine or a Bangs test. Although you can get vaccinations and appropriate paperwork handled quickly, testing sometimes has a longer turnaround time. Also, if you need a veterinarian to make a ranch call, you may be looking at considerable lead time.

I recommend: No matter where you're shipping, the agency that regulates livestock movement in the United States is the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the USDA. You'll need an APHIS transport form with your load. You may also need a state or federal health certificate from your veterinarian.

Ask potential livestock shippers about their commitment to safety

Anyone who ships livestock should be licensed with the USDA under the Animal Protection Act. Reputable livestock haulers make humane shipping methods and animal safety their top priorities and they know their death rates. Ask about those rates. As you make industry contacts, interview the shippers as you would any potential employee to whom you would entrust your livelihood. Get references (preferably satisfied clients), and actually verify them.

I recommend: Thigpen Trucking offers a large fleet of cattle trucks in Texas, and also offers pre-transport feedlot services. Tejas Registered Longhorn Ranch has an online form for requesting information.

Hire independent livestock trucks to save money

Some websites offer listing services to bring shippers and haulers together, like Livestock Haulers classifieds.

I recommend: Bull Wagons is a members-only website that offers a demonstration of its site's features. Navigate the demo to see if a site like this is one you could use.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Your best source for finding a cattle truck could be your neighbor or your veterinarian. Ask around for references before you get started on a full web search.
• •  Feedlot operators and auction barn owners often dabble in transporting livestock by truck. At the very least, they have contact information for livestock trucking services.

The three main methods of livestock trucking are with livestock trailers, via cattle trucks or livestock transporting services. All have their pros and cons for livestock shippers, and all feel the effect industry rules and regulations. Making the most of transporting livestock by truck happens when you understand the regulations and the discussions surrounding livestock trucks and the well being of the animals transported.

Livestock trucks must follow the same rules and regulations as other trucks on the road, but livestock trailers must also comply with ethical standards for transporting livestock. When making the most of transporting livestock by truck, look for this information.

1. How to humanely transport cows, even those headed for slaughter.

2. The controversy surrounding some livestock trailers used for horse transportation.

3. Find general information that applies to all livestock haulers and all types of animals.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find regulations about cattle when transporting livestock by truck

Cattle shippers frequently haul loads to meat packing plants and other locations where cattle go for slaughter. However, it's still essential that your cattle truck and all personnel can humanely handle the load. Other times, livestock trailers stocked with cattle travel to farms for breeding, feeding and showing. The trip can take a toll on these animals and actually de-value the cow, but livestock transporting services can take steps to prevent this from happening.

I recommend: The AVMA issued a policy about transporting livestock, such as cattle, destined for slaughter. CattleNetwork.com features tips for de-stressing cattle before and during transport.

Consider livestock haulers information for horse transportation

Having adequate livestock trailers is essential when you're involved in horse transportation. The trailer should have enough room for the horse to comfortable extend its head and legs. Because of that, many organizations frown upon the use of double-decker livestock trucks for horse transportation.

I recommend: Livestock Transport features an article addressing the controversy about double-decker trailers used to transport horses. The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service issued horse transport regulations to make sure that the transportation and handling of horses, to any destination, is humane.

Research general livestock trucking information affecting the transportation of other animals

Pigs, sheep and goats are just a few of the other types of animals transported in livestock trucks. While each type of animal has its own set of challenges, there are general rules and regulations that affect these smaller animals as a group.

I recommend: NFU maintains a page dedicated to information and regulations about hauling livestock by truck. If your transport has potential to be a long haul, read about the potential risks to all types of animals on the Mary Ann Liebert website. You might also want to read up on the industry issues and challenges about livestock transport from the Journal of Animal Science. Articles include the economic factors of transporting livestock and even the importance of transporting animals that are physically fit.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Making the most of transporting livestock by truck means exploring all the options and taking the one that makes the most business sense for your company.

With a variety of different livestock transport options available, becoming familiar with different types will help you choose the best option for each transport application. Horses, cattle and smaller animals require different types of accommodations. If you know the right type of equipment to use, you can also keep animals healthy and uninjured during their ride. Transporting livestock key terms can help you choose the right livestock transport options for your needs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Livestock trailer

A trailer is an unpowered carrying vehicle pulled by a powered vehicle. The livestock trailer is designed with special features for animal safety and walls that have holes to promote ventilation.

I recommend: For more in-depth information on livestock trailers, see the description at Truckplace.com.

Livestock safety cushion (LSC)

The livestock safety cushion is a soft barrier installed in livestock transport vehicles that protects the animals from bruising. Bruising occurs during the haul when animals come in contact with the sides of the truck or trailer.

I recommend: For a further explanation of livestock safety cushions, check out the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs.

Bumper pull

A bumper pull trailer, also known as a tag along or a pull behind, is connected to the pulling vehicle by a hitch at the bumper.

I recommend: Visit Majon International to explore more information on the bumper pull trailer. For information and a diagram of a bumper pull trailer, check out Double D Distributors.

Gooseneck

A gooseneck is a type of trailer that attaches inside the bed of the hauling vehicle. With its shape, this trailer distributes the carrying weight differently than a pull behind and can carry higher capacity loads.

I recommend: Appalachian Trailers gives a detailed description of the gooseneck trailer.

Livestock hauler or livestock transportation service

A livestock hauler is hired to transport livestock from one location to another. A company that specializes in hauling is considered a livestock transportation service.

I recommend: SheepGoatMarketing.info defines livestock hauler. A further analysis of the term can be explored by going to Cattle Today.

Livestock truck box

A livestock truck box fits into the flatbed of a standard size pickup truck. It's useful for the producer who needs to haul a low number of smaller animals

I recommend: Featherlite Trailers pictures its livestock box.