Transporting industrial hemp is not the same as shipping conventional agricultural freight. Even though hemp is federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill, individual states maintain different rules, documentation standards, THC testing thresholds, and transport enforcement practices. Carriers moving hemp must understand these requirements or shippers risk cargo delays, detentions, seizures, and preventable legal complications.
This guide outlines the critical criteria every shipper should use when selecting a compliant hemp carrier.
Why Hemp Requires Specialized Carrier Vetting
Hemp often becomes subject to law enforcement scrutiny because it is visually similar to cannabis. To ensure uninterrupted transit, carriers must demonstrate:
- Proper federal and state-level authority and documentation
- Trained drivers who understand hemp compliance expectations
- Knowledge of routing considerations between state jurisdictions
- Cargo securement and chain-of-custody procedures
- Understanding of THC level requirements and Certificate of Analysis handling
When a carrier lacks these capabilities, the shipper assumes avoidable risk.
Core Compliance Documentation for Hemp Transport
Before moving hemp freight, carriers should be able to provide or accept the following required documentation:
- Bill of Lading listing hemp product classification
- Certificate of Analysis (COA) confirming THC level at or below 0.3 percent
- Licenses for the cultivator, processor, or distributor, when required
- Shipping manifest including contact information for shipper and receiver
- Chain-of-custody documentation for biomass and extract materials
- Driver instruction packet for law enforcement inquiries
Documentation quality and accuracy significantly reduce transit risk.
Carrier Vetting Requirements
A compliant hemp freight carrier should meet or exceed the standards below.
Authority and Insurance
Carriers should maintain:
- Active USDOT authority
- Valid MC authority for interstate transport
- Insurance coverage appropriate for cargo value
- Additional policy endorsements if moving high-value extracts
Safety Scores and Performance
Review metrics such as:
- CSA safety scores
- Inspection history and roadside violation trends
- Crash history and driver out-of-service rates
- Hazmat or agricultural commodity handling experience
Equipment Capabilities
Equipment should align with product type:
Equipment should align with product type:
| Freight Type |
Suitable Equipment |
| Raw hemp / super sacks |
Dry van, walking floor, flatbed (tarped) |
| Biomass for processing |
Vented dry van, bulk, reefer when required |
| Crude extract, distillate, isolate |
Dry van or reefer, high-value securement |
Chain-of-Custody Expectations for Biomass and Extracts
For post-harvest and processed hemp, chain-of-custody controls protect shippers and prevent product misclassification.
Controls may include:
- Secure loading and seal tracking
- Driver verification procedures at pickup and delivery
- Documented custody transfers
- Temperature monitoring when applicable
- Incident reporting procedures
Chain-of-custody failures can jeopardize load integrity and compliance.
Routing and State Jurisdiction Considerations
Not all states treat hemp transport the same way. Carriers should understand route planning variables including:
- States with stricter enforcement tendencies
- Permitted or restricted transit corridors
- Requirements for digital or hard-copy documentation
- Seasonal or agricultural inspection checkpoints
Strategic routing prevents traffic stops from becoming shipment delays.
Questions to Ask When Selecting a Hemp Carrier
Use these questions to evaluate carrier readiness:
- How do you train drivers on hemp transport regulations?
- Can you provide sample documentation packets?
- How do you handle law enforcement inspection requests?
- What insurance levels do you carry for high-value hemp cargo?
- Do you have experience with biomass, extract, or isolate shipments?
- How is chain-of-custody managed and recorded during transit?
- What is your claims and exception reporting procedure?
A carrier should be able to answer these questions directly and confidently.
Example Win
A biomass processor required weekly shipments between cultivation and extraction facilities across three states. DNLogistic:
- Matched the shipper with carriers trained in hemp transport procedures
- Implemented standardized COA and chain-of-custody documentation
- Reduced roadside inspection delays by providing driver instruction packets
- Delivered 67 consecutive loads without seizure, detainment, or documentation error
Consistent compliance translated into predictable delivery windows and uninterrupted production.
Why Shippers Use Distribution Network Inc. for Hemp Freight
DNLogistic provides:
- A vetted network of hemp-compliant carriers
- Standardized documentation and COA transport protocols
- Equipment options for raw hemp, biomass, crude extract, distillate, and isolate
- Secure, insured transport for high-value loads
- Routing guidance across state jurisdictions
- 24/7 support for time-sensitive freight
Hemp logistics is not a general freight category. It requires carriers who operate with compliance discipline.
Final Word
Hemp shippers can avoid the most common transit disruptions by choosing carriers with the right authority, documentation capability, equipment, and regulatory awareness. A structured vetting process reduces legal exposure, delivery downtime, and product risk.
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