Livestock hauling

Livestock Hauling Invoice Template (Free)

By ShowTheReceipts · Updated

Short answer

A livestock hauling invoice shows the route, head count, and loaded miles at your rate, plus wait time beyond a free window, layover, and fuel surcharge. Copy the template below, or use software with your per-mile and per-head rates saved so you can invoice from the truck the day of the haul.

Essential line items on a livestock hauling invoice

A professional livestock hauling and animal transport invoice serves as an official Bill of Lading, a CVI health inspection transit log, and a livestock carrier payment voucher under USDA/FMCSA transport regulations:

  • Livestock Carrier Header: Business name, logo, physical dispatch yard address, phone, email, USDOT number, MC transport authority permit number, USDA animal transport license, and commercial cargo/livestock mortality insurance.
  • Rancher / Sale Barn Metadata: Shipper/consignor name, receiving ranch/stockyard name, pickup origin, destination livestock market, and transport date.
  • Animal Headcount & Species Class: Animal headcount (e.g. 45 Head), species (Feeder Cattle, Cow-Calf Pairs, Finished Hogs, Registered Horses), average weight per head, and CVI (Certificate of Veterinary Inspection) health paper numbers.
  • Loaded Mileage & Trailer Specification: Loaded transport miles billed per loaded mile (using 53-ft aluminum livestock pot trailers or 24-ft goose-neck stock trailers).
  • Chute Wait-Time & Loading Delays: Billable chute loading/unloading wait time beyond a 1-hour free window.
  • Trailer Wash-Out & Bio-Security Sanitization: Mandatory trailer wash-out, bio-security disinfectant spraying, and fresh wood shavings/bedding setup.
  • Fuel Surcharges & Net Terms: Off-road/highway diesel fuel surcharge and sale barn settlement payment terms.

Free Livestock Hauling Text Template

Copy and paste the template below to build clear livestock transport invoices:

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             LIVESTOCK TRANSPORTATION INVOICE & BILL OF LADING
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LIVESTOCK CARRIER:                         INVOICE & PERMIT DETAILS:
[Your Livestock Hauling Business Name]     Invoice Number: LIVE-2026-0814
[USDOT # / MC Authority Permit #]          Haul Date: August 3, 2026
[Phone & Billing Email Address]            CVI Health Certificate #: CVI-99412
                                           Payment Terms: Due Upon Delivery (Net 0)

SHIPPER & DESTINATION LOCATION:            LIVESTOCK & TRAILER METADATA:
Shipper: [Oakridge Cattle Ranch]          Headcount: 48 Head (Black Angus Feeders)
Pickup Origin: [1200 Range Road]           Avg Weight: 750 lbs / Head (Total: 36,000 lbs)
Destination: [Midwest Livestock Auction]   Trailer: 53-ft Triple-Deck Aluminum Pot
Loading Time: 06:00 AM | Unload: 11:30 AM  Loaded Mileage: 260 Loaded Miles

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LINE ITEM DESCRIPTION & TRANSPORT RATES                         AMOUNT
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1. 53-ft Livestock Pot Transport (260 Loaded Miles @ $5.50/mi)  $1,430.00
2. Chute Loading Wait Time (1.5 Hrs Exceeding Free Window @ $85) $127.50
3. Certified Bio-Security Trailer Wash-Out & Disinfection       $120.00
4. Fresh Kiln-Dried Wood Shavings Trailer Bedding (4 Bales)      $40.00
5. Highway Diesel Fuel Price Adjustment Surcharge                $145.00
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SUBTOTAL SERVICE CHARGES:                                      $1,862.50
State & Local Livestock Transport Tax (Exempt for Ag Produce):    $0.00
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TOTAL AMOUNT DUE & PAYABLE AT STOCKYARD UNLOADING:             $1,862.50
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ANIMAL HEALTH & CONDITION AT UNLOADING:
All 48 head delivered in good health with zero transit mortality.
Accepted Payment Methods: Credit/Debit Card (Mobile Terminal), Check, Wire Transfer.
================================================================================

Livestock transport pricing math: Per-loaded-mile vs. per-head rates

Livestock transport pricing relies on trailer type, distance, and animal safety:

  • Per-Loaded-Mile Pot Rates ($4.50–$6.50 per loaded mile): 53-ft aluminum livestock pot trailers carrying 40,000–48,000 lbs of cattle or hogs bill per loaded mile. A $500 minimum trip fee applies to short runs (<75 miles).
  • Goose-Neck Stock Trailer Rates ($3.00–$4.50 per loaded mile): 20-to-28 ft goose-neck trailers hauling small herds (4–12 head of cattle or horses) bill lower per-mile rates for local ranch moves.
  • Per-Head Local Auction Rates ($15–$35 per head): Short haul routes to local livestock auctions or processing plants are often priced per head.

Itemizing chute wait time, bio-security wash-outs, and CVI papers

Protect carrier margins from long chute delays and disease prevention regulations:

  1. Chute Wait-Time Charges ($65–$110 per hour): Livestock trailers idling at crowded sale barn chutes burn diesel and waste driver hours. Include a 1-hour free loading/unloading window, then bill $85/hr for additional wait time.
  2. Bio-Security Wash-Out Fees ($85–$160 per wash): Preventing PRRS in hogs or Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) in cattle requires washing out bedding and spraying commercial disinfectant between loads.
  3. CVI Health Certificate Verification: USDA regulations require valid interstate CVI health papers and brand inspection certificates. Print CVI numbers directly on the invoice.

Stockyard card payment collection before unloading

  • Delivery Handoff Sign-Off: Verify headcount and animal condition with the receiving stockyard manager before opening the trailer gates.
  • Mobile Terminal Payment: Process card payments, ranch checks, or settlement drafts on a mobile tablet before pulling away from the chute.

If you transport horses or farm goods, check out our guide on agricultural fencing business invoicing app or review our guide on hay hauling invoice template.

Frequently asked questions

Per mile or per head?

Per loaded mile with a minimum for longer runs; per head for short local moves and sale-barn work. Save both so you can quote whichever fits without recalculating on the phone.

Should wait time really be billed?

Yes, after a stated free window. Waiting at a chute is the largest unbilled cost in this business, and a published rate changes how quickly people get organized.

What details protect me on a haul?

Origin, destination, head count, species and class, and load and unload times. It's your record if there's a question about condition, delay, or what was actually moved.

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