Motorists traveling Minnesota roadways this fall should use caution around large farm equipment moving between fields, farms and markets during harvest season, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
Minnesota recorded 392 crashes involving farm equipment from 2023 to 2025, resulting in 12 deaths and 167 injuries.
Farm equipment is large and heavy, making it difficult for operators to accelerate, slow down and stop. Equipment also makes wide turns and may cross over the center line. Large farm vehicles can create blind spots that make it difficult for operators to see approaching vehicles.
Motorists should slow down and watch for farm equipment, particularly at dawn and dusk on two-lane rural roads. Drivers should use caution when approaching farm equipment, watch for debris dropped on the roadway, drive with headlights on at all times and wait for a safe place to pass.
Farm equipment operators should use lights as required and flashing lights as allowed to make equipment more visible. Equipment traveling less than 30 mph should display slow-moving vehicle emblems.
Operators should also check the height of loaded vehicles to ensure they are below the legal height limit of 13 feet, 6 inches. Vehicles or loads exceeding 13 feet, 6 inches may require a permit from the agency that owns the road.
Source: Minnesota Department of Transportation, "MnDOT asks motorists and farm equipment operators to safely share the road during harvest season"