we took our corn planter to a place to get worked on over 2 hrs away and around 100+ miles and when we go to pick it up i have to haul another planter down with me for another farmer. i dont do much hauling and was wondering how much i should charge. i will be useing my truck and my dads 20ft gooseneck flat trailer.

I guess how far out of the way do you have to go to get to the planter and unload??? How good of a friend etc is he??? If hes real close do it for fuel money, if not id say since its a back haul if you dont have to go far out of your way 1.50 a mile.

It would depend if he was a friend or a nieghbor. If it is not out of the way and he might repay the favor someday be a good nieghbor and do it for free. If you don't know him then charge enough to cover all your fuel and expenses.

I would only do it for the cost of fuel. Never pass up a chance to help out a fellow farmer, they're good people.

I usually charge between $1.50 to $2.00 a mile. Except for a friend then its Food and Fuel. Im going to Chicago from Maryland next week for a friend to pick up a Fire Truck for the Christian Fireman's Assoc. Food , Fuel and a Hotel. If he wasn't coming with me cancell the Hotel. I can sleep in the truck and get a shower at a Pilot:)
Cosgr:D ve

Your Dad will know the answer. Mine always does. I'm very happy to have my dad around still, for advice.

Good advice. If you know him or he's a neighbor, cost of fuel. Because he will help you out some day also. In farming you always have to stick together. It's an expensive profession and sometimes you need to lean on a neighbor or friend to get you through the season.

However, if it is someone who you know won't help out or that you don't know really well, I would say that 1.50 a mile would be fair.

I would say cost of fuel + $44.5 CENTS per mile wear and tear on truck. That seems to be the standard, but some will be cheaper. Totally up to you in the grand scheme of things.

yea i asked my dad and he told me what ever i fell like charging. i asked a couple hauler around here and they all say around $2 a loaded mile. the farmer is a mennonite and when he called the place he asked if anyone from around him had a planter there that way he could get the phone# and call to see if they could haul when ours was done.

Funny thing about life. . . the guy you help today will be there to help you with something tomorrow.

If you need the money then it IS fair to ask for compensation. If not, I would think .60/mile should pay for fuel and wear and tear for a short run. $1.50 to $2 is closer to what you would charge if you had a business.

Are you insured for it?

What hapens if there is a loss of HIS equipment during the haul? If you are doing him a favor make sure you have him sign a note that you are not insured for losses or are liablie for any losses. This is why the professionals get paid the big-bucks!

What hapens if there is a loss of HIS equipment during the haul? This is why the professionals get paid the big-bucks!


Exactly!!! If something happens your screwed, its not worth a couple hundred bucks to put thousands at risk. Pass on it!!

We farm as well here in Nebraska. If it were me, I would do it for nothing as you are going there anyway to pick your planter back up. And like mentioned before, there will probly be a time later on where he will help you out. But, farming is a business, and should be treated as such, so you would not be out of line to at least ask for compensation for fuel and wear and tear. just my $.02