Hay Delivery 101: Pickup vs. Delivered, and When Each Makes Sense
Free pickup or paid delivery — which is the right call for your barn? It comes down to bale count, distance, your time, and your trailer. Here's the math.
The basic question
Pickup at our farm is free. You pay only for the hay.
Delivery is $2–$4 per loaded mile, where loaded miles are the one-way miles from our barn to you (the return trip isn't charged). Under 50 miles is $2/mile; 50 to under 100 is $2.50/mile; 100 to under 150 is $3/mile; 150 through 200 is $4/mile. Above 200 miles, contact the farm:
- 25 miles one-way = 25 loaded miles × $2 = $50 delivery
- 50 miles one-way = 50 loaded miles × $2.50 = $125 delivery
- 100 miles one-way = 100 loaded miles × $3 = $300 delivery
At what point does it make sense to drive yourself?
Pickup costs (your real expenses)
Picking up hay isn't free either, even though our gate doesn't charge. Your real cost includes:
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Truck fuel (round trip) | $0.20–0.25 per mile |
| Truck wear and tear | $0.10 per mile (IRS standard rate) |
| Your time | $25–50 per hour, depending on what you bill |
| Trailer use / rental | $0 if owned, $50–80 if rented |
For a 50-mile one-way trip (100 miles round trip) in your own truck:
- Fuel + maintenance: $30
- Your time (2 hours): $50–100
- Real pickup cost: $80–130
Compare to our delivery price for the same distance: $125.
In that example, picking up yourself is dramatically cheaper IF:
- You already own a trailer
- Your time is best used here
- You can fit the load in one trip
When pickup wins
- You're within 50 miles of Cottondale
- You own a trailer that fits the load
- You have a half-day available
- You like to inspect bales before they leave
- You're buying 50 bales or fewer
When delivery wins
- You're more than 75 miles away
- You don't own a trailer (rental + drive time = $200+)
- You're buying 100+ bales (needs gooseneck or flatbed)
- Your time is worth more than $40/hr
- You have a barn manager but no trucking
- You want a locked monthly schedule (standing order)
Trailer capacity by load size
| Trailer | Max bales (55 lb each) | Total weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pickup bed only | 15–25 | ~1,400 lb | Watch tongue weight if hauling other things |
| 6×10 utility trailer | 30–40 | ~2,200 lb | Strap well, can shift |
| 6×12 utility trailer | 40–60 | ~3,300 lb | Common boarding-barn size |
| 16-ft bumper-pull | 60–80 | ~4,400 lb | Standard, most popular |
| 20-ft gooseneck | 100–140 | ~7,700 lb | Best for monthly orders |
| 24-ft flatbed | 150–200 | ~11,000 lb | Commercial / multi-barn |
Always check your trailer's GVWR before loading. Hay bales weigh more wet than dry — assume 60 lb each for safety.
The breakeven math
Roughly, picking up beats delivery when:
- Your round-trip drive < 3 hours
- You own the trailer
- The load is under your trailer's capacity
Delivery beats picking up when:
- Round-trip exceeds 4 hours
- You'd need to rent
- The load needs multiple trips by truck
What we recommend
We have customers on all three patterns:
Local pickup (< 30 miles)
Drop in on a Saturday morning. We help load. You're home by lunch. Most efficient for 20–50 bale orders.
Mid-distance delivery (30–100 miles)
Schedule for Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday delivery. We bring 50–100 bales right to your barn. You don't lose a workday.
Long-haul standing order (100–200 miles)
Lock in monthly delivery on a fixed day. We coordinate routing to keep your cost per bale lowest, often combining with other customers in your region.
Pickup logistics at McDaniel Farms
- Address: 4154 Peanut Rd, Cottondale, FL 32431
- Hours: Mon–Sat 8am–6pm, Sundays by appointment
- Call ahead for orders over 50 bales (so we have the load ready)
- We help load anything — pickup truck, trailer, gooseneck
- Cash, check, Venmo, or PayPal accepted at pickup
- Tarp recommended for trips over 30 miles
Delivery logistics
- Days: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday — standing orders get a locked day
- Routing: GPS-measured from our barn to your address
- Unloading: Bring trailer help or count on us for unload assistance (usually 30 min per 50 bales)
- Payment: confirmed before driver leaves the farm
- 48-hour rejection window if anything is out of spec
See current pricing and inventory → or call (850) 573-0470 or (850) 573-0471 to discuss which option works best for your barn.