Low Cost, Coast to Coast Transport for Combines, Headers, and Harvest Equipment
A modern class 7 to class 10 combine runs roughly 30,000 to 50,000 pounds without the header and stands close to 13 feet tall on its tires, so nearly every combine move is a permitted oversize load. The machine itself typically rides a removable gooseneck (RGN) or double drop trailer to keep total height legal, while the header, which can span 30 to 50 feet of cut width, travels separately on a header trailer or flatbed. On wide-tread and dual-tire machines we also look at pulling duals to shave transport width. This is standard work in the ag belt: the same planning moves combines out of Iowa soybean country in November and into the Kansas wheat harvest in June.
The header question decides the whole move. Left on the machine, a 12 to 18 foot transport width triggers the steepest permit tiers and escort requirements in most states; removed, the combine usually permits as a routine oversize load and the header ships legally on its own trailer. If you have a header trailer, it can often be loaded alongside or towed; if not, we arrange the second truck. Budget for two loads on most modern machines, and let your coordinator confirm whether your header folds or splits, because that detail alone can swing the quote.
We plan the header as its own load from the start, because pulling it off the combine is what brings the width and the permit bill down.
Wheat runs and fall corn do not wait, so pickup and delivery are scheduled around your cutting dates.
Every state permit, and escort vehicles where width requires them, is secured before the combine ever loads.
Combine freight is seasonal in a way most heavy haul is not. Custom harvest crews move machines south to north with the wheat from late May through August, and dealer trades and auction purchases surge after fall harvest wraps. Book ahead of those windows when you can; trucks with RGN trailers and combine experience get scarce at the peak, and lead time is what keeps the schedule and the rate under control.
Empty the grain tank completely, since carriers price and permit off real scale weight. Remove or secure the header, fold the unloading auger and tank extensions, and lock the cab. Power wash the machine before pickup, especially if it is crossing state lines, because dirt and crop residue can trigger agricultural inspection holds. Photograph everything, note the hour meter, and leave enough fuel to load and unload, about a quarter tank.
Every state writes its own oversize book. Loads over 8 feet 6 inches wide need permits everywhere, escort vehicles typically enter the picture somewhere between 12 and 14 feet depending on the state and the road class, and some states add height poles, curfews, or weekend travel bans on top. A combine that crosses three states needs three permits that all agree on the same route. That coordination is the quiet half of the job, and it is handled and confirmed before your machine loads.
Have the make and model, header size, tire setup, and both locations ready. Your dedicated coordinator confirms weights and dimensions, arranges the header trailer if you need one, and stays your single point of contact through delivery. We move the full harvest lineup, so if the fleet includes forage or specialty machines, see our harvester shipping page as well. Start with the freight shipping cost calculator or call (866) 821-4555 to lock in dates ahead of the season.
