Hauling Cattle Safely: Trucks, Trailers and Loading

Hauling cattle is one of those jobs that looks simple until something goes wrong. A trailer that is too heavy for the truck, a floor with no traction, a driver who brakes late: any of these can turn a short trip to the sale barn into an injured animal or a wreck. Most livestock hauling accidents are preventable with the right equipment, preparation and habits.

This guide covers matching your truck and trailer, loading and spacing animals, driving and weather and paperwork. Laws and weight limits vary by state, so check with your state agency and your insurer. If you want to find livestock hauling and safety events near you, agriculture.directory can help you find agriculture events in your area.

Match the Truck to the Trailer

Every truck has a rated towing capacity and a gross combined weight rating, and a loaded stock trailer can be heavy. Remember that cattle weigh more than you think, and they shift. Your trailer's rated capacity, the weight of the cattle, the tongue weight and the truck's rating all matter. Do not guess. Check the manufacturer's ratings on your truck and trailer, and have the loaded rig weighed if you are unsure. Many hauling problems come from a truck that is not heavy enough to control the trailer when braking. Bumper-pull trailers are fine for small loads, but gooseneck and fifth-wheel trailers are generally more stable for heavy loads. Brakes on the trailer and a working brake controller are essential.

Inspect the Trailer

Floor. Check for rot and rust, and make sure it is solid, with traction. Rubber mats or sand or shavings help prevent slipping, but cattle need good footing.
Sides and gates. Look for sharp edges, loose boards and broken latches that could injure animals.
Tires. Check pressure, age and wear, and carry a good spare.
Lights and brakes. Test the lights, brake controller and breakaway system.
Hitch and safety chains. Make sure the coupler is secure and chains are crossed.
Ventilation. Slots or openings for airflow, with protection from direct wind and rain in cold weather.

Loading Calmly

Animals load easily when they are calm and the facility makes sense to them. Dr. Temple Grandin has studied livestock handling for decades, and her website at grandin.com offers practical material on low-stress loading ramps, flight zones and handling. A few basics:

Use a solid-sided ramp or chute, with cleats or steps for footing, and a gentle slope.
Avoid distractions such as shiny objects, shadows or open spaces at the ramp entrance.
Move cattle quietly, using their natural movement, rather than shouting or using prods excessively.
Let them see the way. Cattle prefer to move toward light and away from darkness.
Do not rush. Patience saves time and reduces injuries.

The Beef Quality Assurance program has training that covers handling and transport.

How Many Animals?

Loading density matters. Too few animals, and they get thrown around in turns and stops, and too many, and animals can go down and get trampled. Guidelines for space per animal depend on weight, and BQA and transport guidelines provide tables. Many haulers use dividers to keep small groups from sliding as a mass. Keep animals sorted by size and avoid mixing bulls, or animals that do not know each other, in the same compartment. Cows with young calves should be hauled separately from large animals.

Driving for the Cargo

Accelerate smoothly, take curves slowly and brake early. Think about the animals' balance.
Leave extra following distance, because loaded trailers take longer to stop.
Avoid sudden lane changes.
Check on the load at stops, and watch for animals that go down.
Do not exceed safe speeds, even if the highway limit is higher.
Take breaks, and watch for driver fatigue.

Weather and Season

In heat, avoid hauling during the hottest hours, keep the trailer moving for airflow and avoid long stops in the sun. In cold, make sure animals are protected from direct wind chill while still having ventilation, and watch for ice on roads and ramps. Wet floors and ramps become slick, so add traction. The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has information on animal movement and disease traceability.

Paperwork

Requirements vary by state and destination, and may include brand inspection, health certificates, vaccination records, official identification and proof of ownership. Cattle traveling across state lines usually have additional requirements. Contact your state veterinarian or department of agriculture before moving cattle, especially across state lines. Also make sure your commercial driver rules, registration and insurance are in order. A call to your insurance agent before an accident is much easier than one afterward.

Before You Leave Checklist

Truck and trailer match and ratings are checked.
Tires, brakes, lights and hitch are inspected.
Floor is solid and has traction.
Animals are sorted and loaded calmly.
Paperwork is in the truck.
Route planned and weather checked.
Phone charged, and a plan for emergencies.

Common Mistakes

Underpowered truck. The trailer controls you.
Slippery floor. Animals fall.
Rushing the loading. It causes injuries.
Mixing bulls or unfamiliar animals. Fighting starts.
Driving too fast. The load is alive.

Farm.fm's page on ranching in Texas offers background on the ranching lifestyle, and for a laugh at the paperwork side, see farm.fm's humor piece on cattle travel documents.