A Tribute to Diesel Farm Trucks and Their Kin

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Here's an interesting article about Farm Trucks that was originally published in the Idaho edition of Ag Proud. The article by Allen Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum is packed with information about this very specific application of diesel technology. The DTF is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of diesel engines, fuel and technology. The article is titled simply "What is a farm truck?"

Now you'd think everyone would know this, but when you read a little further you'll see that nothing is really as simple as it seems, especially when you get into legal matters and governmental explanations. 

Wikipedia describes a farm truck as "a vehicle designated for agricultural use, and may include anything from small pickup truck or even vehicles fashioned out of old parts, to class 8 eighteen-wheeler trucks."

Mr. Schaeffer's definition is more detailed: "According to the U.S. DOT Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)a farm vehicle is one that is: registered in a state with a license plate that identifies it as a farm vehicle … transporting agricultural products, livestock, farm machinery or supplies to or from a farm, and is not used in for-hire motor carrier operations."

The next sentence amplifies the initial definition. "Some states in the United States have a special registration for farm trucks that includes restrictions such as distance the vehicle may travel from the farm." This is where it gets complicated because some states have restrictions that others do not. There are also licensing issues. That is, certain vehicles require a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) in some situations and in others you do not.

In 1900, when the nation was 60 per cent rural, trucks didn't exist yet. Horses did all the grunt work of bringing produce to market. Today, all the horsepower come from under the hood. 

"The most iconic farm truck of course is the pickup truck: half-ton, full-size, extended bed, crew cab, dually, fifth wheel – the list of options and configurations is near endless," he writes. And for the past few decades the Ford F-150 has been the leader of the pack.

Just how much of a leader Ford has been was revealed in a Great American Truck Survey involved 2000 truck owners. Here are some facts that you'll enjoy if you are a loyal Ford fan.

--More than 3,000 TV shows mention Ford trucks.
--Over 180 songs also mention Ford trucks.
--79% said they would give up alcohol for an entire year rather than give up their truck.
--15% have tattoos that reference a truck or their favorite brand.

Photo by LC Rebelo on Unsplash

Farm trucks usually arrive on the farm after undergoing wear and tear by a previous owner or two. Because these vehicles are used seasonally, they often don't accumulate as many miles as daily drivers. Schaeffer spends time explaining that despite limited season use farm trucks still require maintenance. Brakes, filters, fuel systems all need attention. The importance of fuel stabilizers and cold-weather additives can't be ignored either.

The article goes into detail regarding the tendency to overload trailers and truck beds when bringing in the sheaves, or whatever else you're harvesting. Be careful. Old equipment can suffer in those situations. A groaning engine is one thing, breaking a belt is much bigger issue. Having a tire go flat while carrying a heavy load across the middle of nowhere is something you just don't want to do. In fact, the author experienced that situation himself once. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that he's been warning farmers ever since, as he did here.

Diesel enthusiasts, he notes, received some uplifting news entering the 2021 season. It is the first year that all of the big three manufacturers offered a diesel engine option on all full-size pickup trucks. Pickups are today's workhorses for farmers, no question about it.

His closing statement shows how much the author is a real truck guy. "The FT/farm truck designation has real meaning – both to those behind the wheel and those in the motor vehicle enforcement world. But one thing is for sure, we all love (and need) our trucks, farm or otherwise." 

Read the full story here: 
https://www.dieselforum.org/files/dmfile/what-is-a-farm-truck-0721ap.pdf