CALTRANS
LEGAL TRUCK SIZE & WEIGHT
EXEMPTIONS
Implements of Husbandry Exemptions (Farm Equipment)
Per California Vehicle Code (CVC) Sections 36000 - 36800, farm equipment (or "implements of husbandry") have certain exemptions. Following are selective sections of the CVC. They are not guaranteed and may be subject to change. To guarantee accuracy, click on the link above to the official CVC website.
36000. An "implement of husbandry" is a vehicle which is used exclusively in the conduct of agricultural operations. An implement of husbandry does not include a vehicle if its existing design is primarily for the transportation of persons or property on a highway, unless specifically designated as such by some other provision of this code.
36005. An implement of husbandry includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(a) A lift carrier or other vehicle designed and used exclusively for the lifting and carrying of implements of husbandry or tools used
exclusively for the production or harvesting of agricultural
products, when operated or moved upon a highway.
(b) A trailer of the tip-bed type when used exclusively in the
transportation of other implements of husbandry or tools used
exclusively for the production or harvesting of agricultural
products.
(c) A trailer or semitrailer having no bed, and designed and used
solely for transporting a hay loader or swather.
(d) A spray or fertilizer applicator rig used exclusively for
spraying or fertilizing in the conduct of agricultural operations.
This subdivision does not apply to anhydrous ammonia fertilizer
applicator rigs which have a transportation capacity in excess of 500
gallons.
(e) (1) A trailer or semitrailer that has a maximum transportation
capacity in excess of 500 gallons, but not more than 1,000 gallons,
used exclusively for the transportation and application of anhydrous
ammonia, if the vehicle is either equipped with operating brakes or
is towed upon a highway by a motortruck that is assigned a
manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of 3/4 ton or more.
(2) These vehicles are subject to Section 24603 if the stoplamps
of the towing vehicle are not clearly visible.
(3) For purposes of this subdivision, a combination of vehicles is
limited to two vehicles in tandem.
(f) A nurse rig or equipment auxiliary to the use of and designed
or modified for the fueling, repairing, or loading of an applicator
rig or an airplane used for the dusting, spraying, fertilizing, or
seeding of crops.
(g) A row duster.
(h) A wagon or van used exclusively for carrying products of
farming from one part of a farm to another part thereof, or from one
farm to another farm, and used solely for agricultural purposes,
including any van used in harvesting alfalfa or cotton, which is only
incidentally operated or moved on a highway as a trailer.
(i) A wagon or portable house on wheels used solely by shepherds
as a permanent residence in connection with sheep raising operations
and moved from one part of a ranch to another part thereof or from
one ranch to another ranch, which is only incidentally operated or
moved on a highway as a trailer.
(j) Notwithstanding subdivision (f) of Section 36101, a trap
wagon, as defined in Section 36016, moved from one part of a ranch to
another part of the same ranch or from one ranch to another, which
is only operated or moved on a highway incidental to agricultural
operations. The fuel tank or tanks of the trap wagon shall not exceed
1,000 gallons total capacity.
(k) Any vehicle that is operated upon a highway only for the
purpose of transporting agricultural products and is in no event
operated along a highway for a total distance greater than one mile
from the point of origin of the trip.
(l) A portable honey-extracting trailer or semitrailer.
(m) A fertilizer nurse tank or trailer that is not self-propelled
and which is moved unladen on the highway and auxiliary to the use of
a spray or fertilizer applicator rig.
(n) Any cotton trailer when used on the highways for the exclusive
purpose of transporting cotton from a farm to a cotton gin, and
returning the empty trailer to such farm, except that Section 5014
shall apply to such trailers.
(o) A truck tractor or truck tractor and semitrailer combination
specified in this subdivision which is owned by a farmer and operated
on the highways, (1) only incidental to a farming operation, (2) not
for compensation, and (3) for a distance of not more than two miles
(on the highway) each way. This subdivision applies only to truck
tractors with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating over
10,000 pounds that are equipped with all-wheel drive and off-highway
traction tires on all wheels, and only to semitrailers used in
combination with such a truck tractor and exclusively in production
or harvesting of tomatoes. The vehicles specified in this subdivision
shall not be operated in excess of 25 miles per hour on the
highways.
(p) An all-terrain vehicle used in agricultural operations.
36010. A "farm trailer" is either of the following:
(a) A trailer or semitrailer owned and operated by a farmer in the
conduct of agricultural operations, and used exclusively to
transport agricultural products upon the highway to the point of
first handling and return.
(b) A trailer or semitrailer equipped with rollers on the bed,
with a frame not taller than 10 inches high, and with a gross vehicle
weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less, that is owned, rented, or
leased by a farmer and operated by that farmer in the conduct of
agricultural operations, used exclusively to transport fruit and
vegetables upon the highway to the point of first handling and
return, and that was manufactured and in use prior to January 1,
1997. These vehicles may also be operated on the highways without a
load for the purposes of delivering a rented or leased vehicle to the
renting or leasing farmer's farm, or returning empty to the owner's
premises.
36011. An "automatic bale wagon" is a motor vehicle capable of transporting property on a highway and equipped with apparatus specifically designed to pick up single bales of hay or straw from a field and to load and unload baled hay or straw.
36012. A "cotton module mover" is a motortruck, semitrailer, or a truck tractor, in combination with a semitrailer, that is equipped with a self-loading bed and is designed and used exclusively to transport field manufactured cotton modules to a cotton gin.
36015. "Implement of husbandry" includes any farm tractor, otherwise an implement of husbandry used upon a highway to draw a farm trailer carrying farm produce, or to draw any trailer or semitrailer carrying other implements of husbandry, between farms, or from a farm to a processing or handling point and returning with or without the trailer.
36016. A "trap wagon" is a trailer or semitrailer used exclusively in the conduct of agricultural operations to fuel, service, or repair implements of husbandry. A trap wagon may be equipped with tools, spare parts, lubricating supplies, or fuel tanks.
36017. For the exclusive purpose of this division, empty bins, pallets, and tiedown straps shall not be considered a load when transported within the parameters of agricultural operations. Any farm trailer or other vehicle transporting these items shall continue to be regulated pursuant to this division. The total outside width of any of the transported items shall not exceed 102 inches.
REGISTRATION OF IMPLEMENTS OF HUSBANDRY
36100. Implements of husbandry which are only incidentally operated or moved over a highway and implements of husbandry listed in Section 36005 or 36015 are exempt from registration.
36101. The following farm vehicles are exempt from registration, if
they have and display an identification plate as specified in
Section 5014, and the vehicles shall not be deemed to be implements
of husbandry and they shall be subject to all equipment and device
requirements as if registered:
(a) A motor vehicle of a size so as to require a permit under
Section 35780 owned and operated by a farmer, designed and used
exclusively for carrying, or returning empty from carrying, feed and
seed products of farming, and used on a highway between one part of a
farm to another part of that farm or from one farm to another farm.
(b) A vehicle equipped with a water tank owned by a farmer and
used exclusively to service his or her own implements of husbandry.
(c) A water tank truck that is owned by a farmer, not operated for
compensation, and used extensively in the conduct of agricultural
operations, when used exclusively (1) for sprinkling water on dirt
roads providing access to agricultural fields or (2) transportation
of water for irrigation of crops or trees.
(d) (1) A cotton module mover, as defined in Section 36012.
(2) In order to maintain the exemption from registration granted
under this subdivision for a truck tractor, when combined with a
semitrailer, the owner of that truck tractor shall not operate it
during the exemption period in any manner other than as a cotton
module mover, as defined in Section 36012, and shall do all of the
following:
(A) Register the vehicle with the department before operating it
as a commercial motor vehicle.
(B) Apply to the department on a yearly basis for any renewal of
the exemption from registration.
(3) Exemption from registration under this subdivision does not
exempt a truck tractor, when combined with a semitrailer, operating
as a cotton module mover pursuant to Section 36012 and this
subdivision from the applicable safety requirements of this code or
any regulation adopted pursuant to any statute, including, but not
limited to, equipment standards, driver licensing requirements,
maximum driving and on-duty hours provisions, log book requirements,
drug and alcohol testing, maintenance of vehicles, and any driver or
vehicle standards specified in Division 14.8 (commencing with Section
34500).
(4) Truck tractors exempt from registration under this subdivision
are subject to the fees imposed under Sections 9250, 9250.8, and
9250.13, and to any other vehicle fees that are imposed by statute on
or after January 1, 1998, that are deposited in the Motor Vehicle
Account.
(e) A trailer that is equipped with a plenum chamber for the
drying of agricultural commodities.
(f) Except as provided in subdivision (j) of Section 36005, a trap
wagon, as defined in Section 36016, that is equipped with a fuel
tank or tanks. The fuel tank or tanks shall not exceed 3,000 gallons
total capacity.
(g) A forklift truck, operated by a farmer not for compensation.
For purposes of this section, a hay-squeeze shall be deemed a
forklift.
(h) A truck tractor or truck tractor and semitrailer combination
specified in this subdivision that is owned by a farmer and operated
on the highways only incidental to a farming operation and not for
compensation. This subdivision applies only to truck tractors with a
manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating over 10,000 pounds that
are equipped with all-wheel drive and off-highway traction tires on
all wheels, and only to semitrailers used in combination with that
truck tractor and exclusively in the production or harvesting of
melons. The vehicles specified in this subdivision shall not be
operated in excess of 25 miles per hour on the highways.
The Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol may, by
regulation, prohibit the vehicles specified in this subdivision from
operating on specific routes. These vehicles shall not be operated
laden on the highway for more than two miles from the point of origin
and shall not be operated for more than 30 miles unladen on the
highway from the point of origin. These vehicles shall not be
operated for more than 15 miles unladen on the highway from the point
of origin, unless accompanied by an escort vehicle to the front, and
an escort vehicle to the rear.
(i) A motor vehicle specifically designed for, and used
exclusively in, an agricultural operation for purposes of carrying,
or returning empty from carrying, silage that is operated by a
farmer, an employee of the farmer, or a contracted employee of the
farmer between one part of a farm to another part of that farm or
from one farm to another farm, on a highway for a distance not to
exceed 20 miles from the point of origin of the trip. This
subdivision does not include a vehicle that is used for the
transportation of silage for retail sales.
For the purposes of this subdivision, "silage" includes field
corn, sorghum, grass, legumes, cereals, or cereal mixes, either green
or mature, converted into feed for livestock.
36102. The following vehicles are exempt from registration if they
have and display identification plates, as specified in Section 5014;
and these vehicles, except when operated pursuant to subdivision (k)
of Section 36005, shall not be deemed to be implements of husbandry
and they shall be subject to all equipment and device requirements as
if registered:
(a) An automatic bale wagon operated unladen on a highway.
(b) An automatic bale wagon when transporting baled hay or straw
for a distance of not more than five continuous road miles on a
highway from one parcel of property owned, leased, or controlled by a
farmer to another parcel of property owned, leased, or controlled by
such farmer.
(c) A motor vehicle which is designed for, and used exclusively
to, haul feed for livestock and which is owned and operated
exclusively by a farmer or an employee of a farmer. A vehicle
exempted by this subdivision may be operated only on those highways
that are maintained by local authorities, only pursuant to a permit
issued as provided in Section 35780 by the local authority having
jurisdiction over the highways used, and only for a distance of not
more than five continuous road miles from one parcel of property
owned, leased, or controlled by the farmer to another parcel of
property owned, leased, or controlled by the farmer. This subdivision
does not apply to transportation for compensation.
36105. A trailer or semitrailer owned and used exclusively by a farmer to haul his own implements of husbandry, or a portable sanitary facility, or tools used exclusively for the production or harvesting of agricultural products is exempt from registration.
36109. "Farm trailers," as defined in Section 36010, having a gross weight of 10,000 pounds or less, are exempt from registration except that Section 5014 shall apply to such trailers.
36115. (a) Any person who owns an implement of husbandry which is
exempt from registration may obtain an identification plate as
provided in Section 5014 for the implement.
(b) The department shall issue an identification plate as applied
for to any manufacturer or dealer of an implement of husbandry which
is exempt from registration as provided in Section 5016.5. That
manufacturer or dealer may obtain more than one plate.
36130. (a) On and after January 1, 1986, original applications for
identification plates on vehicles specified in Division 16
(commencing with Section 36000) shall be submitted pursuant to
Section 5014 or Section 5016.5.
(b) Effective January 1, 1986, identification plates that expired
on December 31, 1983, shall not be eligible for renewal. Applicants
shall apply for identification plates pursuant to Section 5014 or
Section 5016.5.
(c) Commencing with 1987 renewals, all expiring identification
plates are canceled and owners of vehicles defined in Division 16
(commencing with Section 36000), that are required to display these
plates, shall submit applications pursuant to Section 5014 or Section
5016.5.
36300. Any person, while driving or operating an implement of husbandry incidentally operated or moved over a highway is not required to obtain a driver's license; except that the driver of any farm tractor while being used to draw a farm trailer carrying farm produce between farms or from a farm to a processing or handling point and return, and the driver of an automatic bale wagon which is being operated as specified in Section 36102, but is not being operated as provided in subdivision (k) of Section 36005, shall be in possession of a driver's license of the appropriate class other than a junior permit.
36305. The driver of any implement of husbandry shall possess a valid class C driver's license when operating a combination of vehicles at a speed in excess of 25 miles per hour or towing any implement of husbandry as specified in subdivision (d), (e), or (j) of Section 36005.
36400. No person shall move or drive a lift-carrier or other vehicle designed and used exclusively for the lifting and carrying of implements of husbandry or tools used exclusively for the production or harvesting of agricultural products at a speed in excess of 35 miles per hour.
EQUIPMENT OF IMPLEMENTS OF HUSBANDRY
36500. The provisions of Sections 24012, 24250, 24251, 24400 to 24404, inclusive, and Articles 3 (commencing with Section 24600), 4 (commencing with Section 24800), 5 (commencing with Section 24950), 6 (commencing with Section 25100), 9 (commencing with Section 25350), 11 (commencing with Section 25450), and 13 (commencing with Section 25650) of Chapter 2 of Division 12 shall not apply to implements of husbandry. Such vehicles shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 24254, 24615, 25803, and 25950, and Article 12 (commencing with Section 25500) of Chapter 2 of Division 12.
36505. Farm tractors as defined in Section 36015, and trailers displaying an identification plate, as provided for in Section 36115 or 36130, when operated during darkness shall not be exempted from the provisions of Sections 24400 and 25100.
36508. After July 1, 1970, no new implement of husbandry designed or intended by the manufacturer to be operated or moved at a speed not in excess of 25 miles per hour shall be sold in this state unless it is equipped by the manufacturer with a slow-moving vehicle emblem as prescribed by Section 24615, and such an emblem shall thereafter be displayed and maintained on such implement of husbandry while the implement is able to be operated upon a public highway.
36509. (a) An implement of husbandry, a farm vehicle, or any
vehicle escorting or towing an implement of husbandry or farm
vehicle, may display flashing amber warning lamps or flashing amber
turn signals:
(1) When the vehicle is required to display a "slow moving vehicle" emblem as defined in Section 24615.
(2) When the width, length, height, or speed of the vehicle may
cause a hazard to other traffic on the highway.
(b) An implement of husbandry, a farm vehicle, or any vehicle
towing an implement of husbandry or farm vehicle, when the load upon
the vehicle exceeds 120 inches in width, shall display either:
(1) Flashing amber warning lamps.
(2) Flashing amber turn signals.
(3) During daylight hours, red flags, each of which shall be not
less than 16 inches square, mounted at the left and right outer
extremities of the vehicle or load whichever has the greater
horizontal dimension.
36510. Implements of husbandry are not subject to stopping distance requirements contained in Section 26454, but if any such vehicle cannot be stopped within 32 feet from an initial speed of 15 miles per hour, it shall not be operated at a speed in excess of that permitting a stop in 32 feet.
36515. The provisions of Section 26700 relating to windshields shall not apply to implements of husbandry.
36520. The provisions of Section 26706 relating to windshield wipers shall not apply to implements of husbandry.
SIZE, WEIGHT AND LOAD OF IMPLEMENTS OF HUSBANDRY
36600. (a) The limitations as to width as set forth in Chapter 2
(commencing with Section 35100) of Division 15 do not apply to
implements of husbandry incidentally operated, transported, towed, or
otherwise moved over a highway.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), when an implement of
husbandry is transported or moved over a highway which is a part of
the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways (as referred
to in Section 108 of the Federal-aid Highway Act of 1956) as a load
on another vehicle, if the load exceeds 102 inches in width, the
vehicle and load shall not be operated for a distance in excess of 25
miles from the point of origin of the trip. The operator of the
transporting vehicle shall be a farmer or a person regularly employed
by a farmer or farm corporation, and the operator transporting the
load shall have in his or her immediate possession a writing signed
by the farmer or farm corporation agent which states the origin and
destination of the trip.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), when an implement of
husbandry is transported or moved over any other highway as a load on
another vehicle, if the load exceeds 120 inches in width, the
vehicle and load shall not be operated for a distance in excess of 25
miles from the point of origin of the trip. The operator of the
transporting vehicle shall be a farmer or a person employed by a
farmer or farm corporation, and the operator transporting the load
shall have in his or her immediate possession a writing signed by the
farmer or farm corporation agent which states the origin and
destination of the trip.
36605. The limitations as to width, as set forth in Chapter 2
(commencing with Section 35100) of Division 15, do not apply to any
trailer or semitrailer, including lift carriers and tip-bed trailers,
used exclusively for the transportation of implements of husbandry
or tools used exclusively for the production or harvesting of
agricultural products by farmers or implement dealers, except as
follows:
(1) With respect to any trailer or semitrailer transporting a
grain-harvesting combine, that vehicle shall not exceed a width of
144 inches.
(2) With respect to any other vehicle described in this section,
that vehicle, or the load on that vehicle when that load consists of
tools, shall not exceed a width of 120 inches.
(3) With respect to any trailer or semitrailer described in
subdivision (c) of Section 36005, that vehicle, when towed upon a
highway shall not exceed a width of 174 inches and shall be subject
to subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 36600.
36606. (a) The limitations as to width, as set forth in Chapter 2
(commencing with Section 35100) of Division 15, do not apply to
automatic bale wagons while operated as specified in Section 36102,
except that such vehicles or the load thereon may not exceed 120
inches in width.
(b) This section shall have no application to highways which are a
part of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways (as
referred to in subdivision (a) of Section 108 of the Federal-Aid
Highway Act of 1956).
36610. (a) The limitations as to height of vehicles contained in
Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 35250) of Division 15 do not apply
to implements of husbandry incidentally operated, transported,
towed, or otherwise moved over a highway.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), when an implement of
husbandry is transported or moved over a highway as a load on another
vehicle and the load exceeds 14 feet in height, the vehicle and load
shall not be operated for a distance in excess of 25 miles from the
point of origin of the trip. The operator of the transporting vehicle
shall be a farmer or a person regularly employed by a farmer or farm
corporation, and the operator transporting the vehicle shall have in
his or her immediate possession a writing signed by the farmer or
farm corporation agent which states the origin and destination of the
trip.
36615. The limitations as to length of vehicles contained in Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 35400) do not apply to implements of husbandry operated or moved over a highway incidental to agricultural operations. Notwithstanding Section 36626, when an implement of husbandry is operated in a combination of vehicles that exceeds the length requirements of Section 35401, the combination is limited to two vehicles in tandem.
36625. The provisions of Section 21715 do not apply to any vehicle drawing or towing unladen implements of husbandry.
36626. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 21715, a motor truck with an unladen weight of not less than 3,500 pounds and a gross weight of not less than 4,200 pounds may tow a combination of two cotton trailers operated on the highways for the exclusive purpose of transporting cotton from a farm to a cotton gin and returning the empty trailers to such farm. Extra weight or ballast may be added to meet the requirements of this section and shall be in the form of 100-pound bags of sand.
36627. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 21715, a motortruck with an unladen weight of not less than 3,500 pounds and a gross weight of not less than 4,200 pounds may tow a combination of two almond trailers operated on the highways for the exclusive purpose of transporting almonds from a farm to an almond huller and returning the empty trailers to such farm. Extra weight or ballast may be added to meet the requirements of this section and shall be in the form of 100-pound bags of sand.
36700. All implements of husbandry, farm trailers or any other vehicles subject to the provisions of this division, and any owner, operator or driver of such vehicles, shall also comply with and be subject to all other provisions of this code which are not in conflict with the specific provisions contained in this division.
36705. No automatic bale wagon exceeding 96 inches in width or carrying a load in excess of 100 inches in width may be operated on any highway during darkness.
36800. The provisions of this division, unless otherwise provided, apply to all vehicles, whether publicly or privately owned, when upon the highways.
CONTACTS
Caltrans Legal Truck Size & Weight Work Group
Casey Robb
Manuel Fonseca
General number (916) 654-5741
E-mail: Truck Size & Weight Unit.
Return to the Caltrans "Office of Truck Services" page.
Revised 1/24/13.