Pet Policy Enforcement

My 2 cats have been with me since day 1 in the truck.

First company allowed pets implicitly, as there was no policy. After a year, they mentioned to me they were thinking about asking for a pet deposit and I said i wouldn't pay it, since my truck hadn't been inspected inside when I got it and it was dirty with broken armrests and cabinets and I had no intention of paying to fix it up. They left it alone.

The second company didn't have a written policy regarding pets either and nothing was ever said.

The company I work for now welcomes all pets, since happier drivers are better employers.

My advice would be to avoid the huge driver mill companies. At smaller companies you typically stay with the same truck as they aren't slipseating all the time and the boss gets to know the drivers and tend to be more laid back in general.

As far as trucking with that particular dog - it's your dog and you're the only people who know the dog. I wouldn't worry too much about what anyone else thinks.

As far as the people claiming it's too tight, at the first place I worked, there were a few trucks that were home and the drivers used the company address as a mailing address. In 1 midrise international Prostar there was the driver and his wife, in their 50s. Their oldest son, in his late 20s, their younger son in his early 20s, the younger son's girlfriend on her 20s plus their infant child, and there were 2 dogs living in the truck.

I'm not even kidding. They were as strange as the day is long, but the driver made enough to keep them all clothed and fed and they were living in "Paradise by the Dashboard Light" and while driver's talked (we're a miserable lot, generally) the company didn't care, as long as the truck was doing what it was supposed to.

 

And you know that the dyslexic atheist insomniac stayed up all night wondering if there really was a dog . . .

 

Understood. Don't take any advice from me, I'm just a dumb trucker that will get you fired from a company and lead you into all sorts of trouble . . . remember it's only a trucker forum - 98% of these people are actually unemployed office workers.

 

Similar to D33rhunter providing advice about trucking, Insomniac.

 

A few years ago, I would have said that I was surprised by the attitudes of the responses here.. in the last decade.. I'm not surprised by any of these responses. There is a reason that I flat don't even care about the stories of drivers being put out in the middle of nowhere due to doing dumb things that were clearly pointed out to them upon their hire.. When you lie to get your job then get fired and have to get the dog, yourselves and all your stuff home.. don't expect anyone to get misty eyed over your predicament.

 

Combined Transport lifted theyre pet policy and their pet deposit. I don't think that they have a limit anymore. They have reefer glass and heavy haul. But if your on multi axle no pets allowed.

 

This is just personal opinion on my part.

Just as I would prefer SOLO vs. a team driver, I would also prefer NOT having a pet inside the truck.

As stated in the forum, many shipping and receiving places do NOT allow pets onto their properties.
Also, if an OTR driver does find a motel or inn to sleep at for the night, quite often that same motel or inn will NOT allow the OTR driver to have his or her pet(s) with them.

If, GOD FORBID, an OTR truck driver does get terminated on the spot in the middle of nowhere, it is bad enough for the terminated driver trying to get back home.
It would be far worse trying to do all that with a pet with you, NOT being able to shelter or feed it, and having to find transportation for both the pet and the driver too, to get back home.

 

Earl Henderson Trucking Co. wants you to be in class Monday morning. Pack your bags!

 

@mje congrats on being selected by Henderson ! Look forward to the day I see you out here.

 

I got quite a chuckle on this one.