Towing larger farm equipment

Because farm equipment has increased in size, so must state statute governing its transport.

A new law, effective Aug. 1, 2012, will modify brake requirements for implements of husbandry, so that the implement does not need to have brakes if it is part of a combination of vehicles and the towing vehicle’s brake capacity meets state standards. It was signed April 18 by Gov. Mark Dayton.

“As farm equipment has grown larger and larger over the years, several of these pieces of equipment are technically not even legal to have on the highway. If they’re over 24,000 pounds, they can’t be there,” said Rep. Dan Fabian (R-Roseau), who sponsors the law with Sen. John Howe (R-Red Wing). “I’m just trying to update laws that regulate farm machinery that’s towed by either a farm tractor or a truck.”

Fabian said the state patrol and the Department of Transportation support the law.

“If a farm implement dealer sells a piece of equipment that weighs over 12,000 pounds, they are required under current statute to pull that to the farm where they’ve sold it with a tractor,” Fabian said. “This language updates it so they can tow it with their semi provided the semi tractor has the braking capacity to be able to stop the vehicle should it need to.”

HF2775/ SF2394*/CH172