Developed—primarily—for use in vegetable crops, labor transport machines consist essentially of a frame mounted across the rear of a wheel tractor to extend outward far enough to carry several laborers who ride in a prone position and perform such operations as thinning, weeding, trimming and planting. The length of the frame can be varied to carry as many as eight men—one man per row. The beds for the workers can be moved to match the row spacing of the crop. The frame is attached to the power lift of the tractor to permit the operator to adjust its height above the ground.

Growers Tom Imaizumi, Valley Center, and Fred M. Yasukochi, San Luis Rey, constructed the equipment and cooperated in the study reported here.