Taking children on the road?

Since he drives for an O/O, he would have to clear it with them and the insurance carrier. Most companies that allow riders only allow them if 12 or older. I don't know if that's an insurance thing or a company thing.

Your concern points are valid, especially for a child of that age. For a short ride with a car seat in the passenger seat, it would be one thing. To take the kid out for a couple of weeks, would probably be a bit too difficult with a child of that age.

I have three boys, and the oldest got to ride along with his grandpa when he was about 7 years old once but that was on a linehaul gig dealing with air freight. The middle son never had much interest, and no one in the family was driving when he was old enough. The youngest went out with dad this summer for 2 weeks. He was 13. He was ready to come off the truck at the end of that two weeks.

 

We have taken our kids, the boys when they were older and didn't need a car seat or booster seat with permission from the company he was driving for. Our little girl was in a car seat. Her car seat was buckled in the passenger seat and I sat on the bed. We took her for a couple of days, she was only 2 at the time. We took my grandson overnight he was 5, he liked it to begin with, but when it got dark he wanted to go home. He was also in a booster seat. But I would make sure that the O/O says okay. They will have to have a written letter to have riders. That is what DOT requires. We have a letter from the company my husband works for. It is just for me, it has no dates, we are suppose to fill in the date if Dot ever stops us.

 

Another issue that hasn't been mentioned is homesickness. I don't know what her relationship is with these people, but two weeks is an awfully long time for a little one to be away from mommy and daddy (which you and your wife are) and in a small space with strangers (even if they are biologically mom and dad).

 

I was going to post the same thing, if you have raised this child are the parents able to care for her?.....there must be some reason you have done it for the last 5 years. Do you TRUST these people ....there are just way to many things that could way wrong IMO to let this happen.

I raised my nephew for 4 years and it wasnt because his parents were all that great at making choices for him (themselves either for that matter) or because they were responsible people......I had guardianship through the courts for a reason.

It would make me physically ill to let that baby go for 2 weeks and not know everything was ok. IF you have her in your home and one of them is ticked about it, if they take her out of state will you see her again???

 

i know with my hubby and the company he is with now he can take my son and they have to be 12 and we have papers we have to fill out also and we have to pay a little for inc on him when he goes . and they as to be 2 beds he dose have 2 beds in this truck . but i with some of the other make sure its the right thing for her she is so young and little may scare her some .

 

"Bonding" with a 5-year-old for two weeks in
a Big truck?
That ain't bonding --- that's bondage.
Or at least forced bonding.

How well does your niece know her birth parents now?

I'm against it, for what it's worth.
But I suspect the birth parents are all for it, probably
more for them than for your niece.

You might try reasoning with them by pointing out that their
attempt to "bond" could just back-fire, and the child could
wind up resenting them for it.
Are they willing to take that chance?

YOU'RE that child's REAL parents.
Shame on THEM for putting you betwixt a
rock and a hard place.

 

AfterShock has it right, IMHO. Sounds like a sticky situation - If you have been primary caretakers for 5 years, you would be in a pretty good position, at least in CA, to prevent this. What is up with bio Mom and Dad? You provide all of the care, they are not together, now all of a sudden this trip is a good idea? If these people were concerned about the child, they would go to Target and buy a car seat - required in all 50 states I believe, and can be installed in the passenger seat. Tell them you want to enroll the child in some activity, but you understand their concern, and you will give them $ 200 so they can buy a camera and send photos/videos from their trip to the child. They will take the $$ and you will not hear from them for a while.