Don’t be a victim of fraud. Make sure that you know who you are paying deposits to and that they are a reputable transporter. Beware of haulers that ask for deposits in untraceable currencies or debit cards, or request making electronic payments through apps, or the internet.
HAULING COMPLIANCE
RECOGNIZING AN ILLEGAL HAULER
Federal Law requires that all persons and/or companies that operate a commercial motor vehicle, i.e. those that haul horses for a fee or ANY kind of compensation, must have the following:
- Their name, city and state prominently displayed on both sides of their vehicles.
- Their D.O.T. # on the vehicle that is readily legible from a distance of 50 feet.
- A Motor Carrier (M.C.) # which identifies them as an Authorized “For Hire” carrier that has insurance on file with the D.O.T.
BEWARE of any hauler who:
- Is unmarked or are placarded with a “Private” or “Not For Hire” sign.
- Does not use a Bill of Lading (a contract that is signed by the shipper and receiver of your horse).
- Requires some form of pre-payment or deposit for shipping.
- Claims that his truck is a “recreational vehicle” or “farm vehicle” and therefore exempt from any and all regulations.
A business that does not operate as a commercial enterprise, or falsely puts forth that they are not engaged in commerce, will not be in compliance with the rules and regulations set by the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration. Their drivers will not be subject to drug and alcohol testing. They will not be required to do any vehicle inspections (pre-trip or roadside inspections by the USDOT). They will not be using logbooks, or be regulated as to the number of hours they can legally drive in a day or a week. They will not be required to carry valid medical cards, or be subject to any of the other regulations set forth by the FMCSA that keep our highways safe.
If a hauler is stopped for any traffic violation, and is found to be transporting horses illegally, they will be shut down by the DOT on the spot. This could mean that your horse will be stranded on the side of the road until other arrangements can be made.
NY THOROUGHBRED BREEDERS FUND – MOVEMENT NOTICE
Whether your mare is leaving the state to be bred, or for a sale, the New York Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund needs to know. Since the rules regarding eligibility require that the broodmare be seen at her New York residence by the Registry Compliance Team, you must report a change in your mare’s location within ten (10) days of the move, or within ten (10) days of her arrival in NYS.
To protect their New York State “resident mare” status, in-foal broodmares may be granted a “leave of absence” when leaving the state for bloodstock sales. If returned to NYS within the guidelines of the leave of absence, the mare will be considered a resident mare regarding her in-utero foal.
It should be noted that failure to provide this information within ten (10) days could result in a finding that a resulting foal is not eligible to be registered.
Some forms available include:
- New Mare Form – for new mares placed into service
- Broodmare Leave of Absence Form – for protecting in-foal broodmares NY resident status when they leave the state for bloodstock sales
- Mare Movement (Departure) Form – for notifying of mare departures
- Mare Movement (Arrival) Form – for notifying of mare arrivals
- Foaling Form – for notifying them that a mare has given birth to a live foal
You will find all of the necessary forms on the New York Thoroughbred Breeders website at www.nybreds.com or click the links below…
Here are some helpful links to answer your questions about transporting your horses:
Florida Department of Agriculture
(Regulations for shipping to FL.)
Kentucky Department of Agriculture
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (kyagr.com)
New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc.
New York Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund
Maryland Horse Breeders Association
Home – Maryland Horse Breeders Association (marylandthoroughbred.com)
Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association
Keeneland Sales & Racing
Fasig-Tipton Sales
http://fasigtipton.com/
Ocala Breeders Sales
Our insurance carriers: Transportation Insurance Advisors
http://tiadvisors.net/
Give us a call (800) 441-9441 or email us to inquire about our Cargo Insurance or any other question that you may have regarding your horse transportation needs.