Probe-A-Load, Inc.

McCrabb’s also manufactured fertilizer toters, fertilizer tenders, fire truck water tenders, and many drying bin and aeration parts that agriculture dealers needed for sales.

In 1968 one of our contacts was saying what a hassle probing trucks with a hand probe is and how dangerous it is. This was the spark for the idea of a mechanical probe.

The product known as Probe-A-Load was born in 1969 when we started marketing in Iowa and Illinois. This was the beginning of the evolution of the truck probe known as Probe-A-Load. We have since sold hundreds of probes in the United States, Canada, Mexico and 28 other foreign countries.

In the late 70’s , a seed company contacted us to provide a probe that was intended strictly for seed. Changes in 1980 from a round to a square mast and handheld controls became the newest way of operating the machine.

The shape changed, the power changed, and many minor improvements were made and continue to be made as per our customers demand.

This step in evolution opened many new doors and created the need to have a federally approved sampling device that could be used at any sight. In the mid 80’s, this was accomplished with the FDA (Federal Department of Agriculture) coming to Iowa and conducting several hundred truck tests to determine the accuracy of the core sampler vs. gated and other types of sampling devices.

This was accomplished with the assistance of Charlie Herberg from Iowa State University and the representatives from the FDA doing testing at Conroy, Iowa. This approval for federal sampling still stands and is available to any elevator desiring to be a federally approved market sight.

In 1984, the company downsized and made the probe the primary product that was produced by McCrabb Probe-A-Load.

This has brought to the market place an all electric, mechanical, plug-in appliance that is delivered to the customer ready to be plugged in to a standard dedicated line. Then the probe assembly is fastened in place, the air hoses are hooked up, and it’s ready to operate.

Our 2012 model is the 43rd year of production for this product. We often take a number of probes in trade for new ones that are over 40 years old. This represents the quality construction and type of equipment built by Probe-A-Load Inc. for the grain industry worldwide.