Modes of Transportation

Farm Machinery: What the Law Says

When travelling on public roadways, operators of farm machinery and combinations of farm vehicles wider than 2.6 m must comply with certain special obligations to ensure their safety and the safety of other road users.

In brief

What is farm machinery?

Any equipment, whether motorized or not, designed and used solely for agricultural purposes.

Within the meaning of the Highway Safety Code, farm machinery includes, for example, farm tractorsA tractor that is equipped with tires and is generally used for agricultural purposes, whether or not it is authorized for use on public roads. The tractor must belong to an individual or company that owns or leases a farm and whose principal occupation is farming, or that is a member of an association certified under the Farm Producers Act..

What is a combination of farm vehicles?

A combination consisting of a farm machine or vehicle drawing a farm machine or a farm trailer.

Main obligations

Road safety

Regulation respecting the visibility and traffic of farm machines wider than 2.6 metres (CQLR, c. C-24.2, r. 52.1)

This regulation came into effect on December 1, 2013. It aims to protect operators of farm machinery and combinations of farm vehicles wider than 2.6 m travelling on public roadways and ensure the safety of other road users.

Prohibition from operation

Operating farm machinery or a combination of farm vehicles wider than 5.3 m is prohibited:

• when visibility is less than 500 m
• in school zones, at class arrival and dismissal times

Mandatory equipment

Farm machinery and combinations of farm vehicles that belong to a farmer, depending on their width, must:

• be equipped with flashing amber lights
• be equipped with reflective material
• be accompanied by 1 or 2 escort vehiclesEither one of the following:1° A vehicle whose gross vehicle weight rating is under 4,500 kg, except a moped, a motorcycle or a three-wheel vehicle2° A vehicle whose gross vehicle weight rating is 4,500 kg or more and whose net mass is 4,000 kg or less that originally had an open truck box and a tailgate or is a sport utility vehicle – ahead or behind – equipped with a rotating amber beacon or light bar

Failure to comply with obligations

Owners and operators of farm machinery or combinations of farm vehicles and escort vehicle drivers who fail to comply with obligations are liable to a fine. The list of fines is included in the guide (PDF, 2.4 Mo).

For a clear overview: the guide to the Regulation

To help farmers who own farm machinery or combinations of farm vehicles wider than 2.6 m adapt their equipment, we have prepared the Guide to the Regulation respecting the visibility and traffic of farm machines wider than 2.6 metres (PDF, 2.4 Mo) in cooperation with the Union des producteurs agricoles, the ministère des Transports, de la Mobilité durable et de l'Électrification des transports and Contrôle routier Québec.

Passing farm machinery

To pass farm machinery, you may encroach upon:

• a solid single line
• a solid double line
• a double line with one solid line and one broken line

However, you may do so only if:

• you can carry out the passing manoeuvre without endangering other road users

Registration

Farm machinery – other than tractors used on public roadways – is exempt from vehicle registration.

For more information, see our section on registering a tractor or another farm vehicle.

Driver's licence

The minimum age for operating farm machinery is 16. To operate a farm tractor for agricultural purposes, you must hold at least a Class 8 driver's licence.

For more information, see our section on obtaining a licence to operate a tractor (Class 8).

Last update: November 14, 2021