Need to move a tractor, combine or excavator in Iowa?
Send the machine, both ZIP codes and how to reach you. We'll email you back and look for an Iowa carrier who can haul it. It's free, and we don't haul anything ourselves.
Picking up in Iowa and taking it out of state, or the other way around? Send it too.
- Legal limits 8 ft 6 in wide and 13 ft 6 in high, loaded. 80,000 lb gross, set by axles
- Iowa DOT permit $35 state fee for a single trip, good 5 days
Rules checked Oct 27, 2026 at iowadot.gov. Check your machine
What happens after you send your haul details?
You send the machine, both ZIP codes and how to reach you. We email you back and look for an Iowa carrier, and if we find one and you say yes, we share your details with that carrier.
- You send the machine, both ZIP codes and how to reach you. It's free.
- We email you back and look for an Iowa carrier.
- If we find one and you say yes, we share your details. The carrier sets the price and terms, and you decide whether to book.
How much does it cost to transport heavy equipment in Iowa?
uShip's Iowa heavy equipment page says most jobs average $2 to $4 per mile. That's a published average, not an Iowa quote, and the hauler you hire sets the real price.
Source: uShip's Iowa heavy equipment page, read Oct 27, 2026. For a real number, send your haul details and ask the carrier for a written quote.
| Distance | Longer trips cost more in total. Ask about a minimum charge on short hauls. |
|---|---|
| Size and weight | They decide the trailer and whether a permit is needed. |
| Permits | $35 Iowa DOT single-trip fee. Over 12 ft wide, Iowa's escort chart may call for an escort vehicle or amber lights, depending on the road. |
| Loading | A machine that doesn't run may need a winch. |
Will your machine need an Iowa permit?
A load generally needs an Iowa DOT oversize or overweight permit when the loaded truck is wider than 8 ft 6 in, taller than 13 ft 6 in, or heavier than its axle count and spacing allow, which Iowa DOT sums up as 80,000 lb gross.
| Width | 8 ft 6 in wide |
|---|---|
| Height | 13 ft 6 in high, loaded |
| Weight | 80,000 lb gross (axle count and spacing set the exact limit) |
The Iowa DOT single-trip permit fee is $35, good 5 days on state and interstate highways. A permitted move on county roads or city streets also needs those local permits. These are general rules from Iowa DOT, checked Oct 27, 2026. Farm implements driven on the road follow different rules.
Check your machine
Enter your machine's own numbers. Each line shows whether the machine alone already tops the limit or whether it depends on the truck and trailer. The numbers carry into your request.
How do you check a hauler before you hire one?
Look up the hauler’s USDOT number on FMCSA SAFER, ask to see proof of its cargo insurance, get the quote in writing, and ask whether it’s a carrier or a broker.
- USDOT number: look it up free on FMCSA SAFER for size, safety rating, inspections and crashes.
- Cargo insurance: ask to see the hauler's proof of coverage. The federal $750,000 minimum for for-hire interstate carriers of property (49 CFR 387.9) is liability insurance, not cover for your machine.
- Written quote: it should say whether loading, permits, escorts and fuel are included.
- Carrier or broker: a broker arranges the haul and must hold a $75,000 bond or trust fund (49 CFR 387.307).
What should you measure before you move a machine?
Measure the machine the way it will ride: width at the widest point and height from the ground to the highest point, with any attachments that stay on. Look up the operating weight on the spec sheet or ask your dealer, and note whether it runs.
More on farm equipment transport and construction equipment hauling in Iowa.
