Driving Your Tractor on the Road

Your tractor handles a lot of the work that crops up on your farm and sometimes you might need to get your machine from one place to another. As with most big and slow-moving vehicles, you need to keep safety in mind when driving a tractor on the road. To help you out with that, we at Bobcat of Pittsburgh/Erie/Indiana County have compiled this short guide to help you get going. For all your farm equipment needs, visit us at one of our dealerships located throughout Pennsylvania. If you’re looking for tractors for sale around Indiana or Ohio, get in touch with us today!

Be Aware of Other Vehicles

Safety should be your top priority when driving any kind of vehicle, and tractors are no exception. One of the biggest concerns when it comes to driving a tractor on the road is its speed. These machines aren’t built to reach high speeds, which is a major cause of accidents. That’s why you’ll want to carefully monitor other commuters around you, and make sure to avoid areas you think might be a problem for your tractor.

Proper Signage

Tractors don’t need a license plate. However, you’ll need to install a slow-moving vehicle (SMV) sign somewhere that’s easily visible so that other drivers clearly see it and can slow down in time. If you’re towing something that blocks the sign, make sure your attachment has its own SMV to be safe.

Lights

For tractors to be street-legal, they must have two headlights in the front, a red tail light that’s continuous and visible for 500 feet, and hazard lights. Those hazards must be turned on when you’re on a public road to let other drivers know that you may not be up to the speed limit. Like with the SMV, any towed equipment that might block your hazards must have hazards of its own.

Safe Practices

While driving a tractor, all rules of the road must be strictly followed, so you must wear a seatbelt, signal correctly, and drive cautiously. If you plan to drive on the highway, rollover protection may also be a good idea. Use your turn signals properly as sometimes motorists assume a tractor that has slowed down is letting them pass, while it might just have slowed down to take a turn. Whenever it’s possible, pull off the road to let cars pass you safely. Use hand signals to let motorists know you’re letting them pass you.

We’d recommend familiarizing yourself with the official rules of operating a tractor on the road as explained by the Department of Public Safety. Remember that your local area may have certain conditions or extra rules that you must know.

We hope that you’ll find these tips useful while driving your tractor on the road. If you’re looking for quality tractors for sale in Pennsylvania or Indiana, head to Bobcat of Pittsburgh/Erie/Indiana County. We have a wide inventory for you to choose from and our expert staff will address all your questions and concerns. We welcome all our patrons from Ohio, so stop by today!