In one embodiment, network nodes coordinate recording of In-Situ Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (IOAM) data in packets traversing the network nodes, including a node adding IOAM data of another node to packets on behalf of the another node. After receiving a particular packet, a network node adds first IOAM data and second IOAM data to the particular packet, with the first IOAM data related to the first network node and the second IOAM data related to a second network node. The packet is then sent from the first network node. The coordinated offloading of the adding of IOAM data to packets allows a node to free up resources currently used for IOAM operations to be used for other packet processing operations, while still having IOAM data related to the node recorded in packets. The coordinated offloading may include control plane communication (e.g., via a routing or other protocol).