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.
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