Pet Policy and Training Length to go Solo

Hello,
I am new to this forum,and left my company in Sept. due to a family illness.I have decided not to return to my previous employer,but am having a difficult time finding a company that will allow my very well behaved dog to go on truck with me.My previous company allowed a $750.00 deposit for pets with $150.00 non refundable charge. I turned my truck in absolutely spotless,no damage,and professionally detailed inside & out. I rescued my dog on the road and he was near death 2 years ago.He is now healthy, happy and beautiful,and he loves the truck!All i have to say is" Lucky wanna go bye bye on the big truck" and he jumps and runs around in circles runs and jumps on the truck trying to get in.
I used to stay out 12-16 weeks and then take 16 days off but now am searching for a company to run just mid west not 48 and that allows a dog,and get home every few weeks,or on weekends. Any advice would be appreciated.I am willing to pay any deposit required.Thanks

 

Kat,

Your last post was January of 2009. Can you provide an update on how things went with Werner, their pet policy and your recommendations?

I am currently evaluating the trucking industry as a new career option after 17 years in the car sales business and 10 years in newspaper advertising sales before that. I just don't want to sell anymore. Divorced for 13 years, no children, own my home and have two 30-40 pound Basset Hounds, I'm not going over the road if both of my "kids" can't come with me. I could make arrangements for a training period if that is necessary.

As it is my guys sleep on the water bed or couch or sun themselves all day between meals and they travel great. Frankly the inside of a cab is plenty of room for them. However it seems I've read more negative comments with an "edgy attitude" about dogs in trucks than I can understand? Maybe tough guy truckers don't think someone with a pet is serious or capable of doing their job professionally? My guys don't pee in vehicles and can "hold it" longer than I can. They're also clean because I keep them that way.

Covenant Transport is already out as an option. Covenant only runs teams west of I35 and allows one dog per driver up to 100 pounds. I'd like to go solo and don't want to ask another driver to vouch for my second dog as his own which would be the only way it could work.

Should anyone else like to comment on specific trucking firms that allow dogs (2) or have other positive feedback on pet policies, I'd appreciate it. My bottom line is, if I can't be home everyday, then my guys go with me! If I can't make this work out, I'll look at other career options. Driving a truck is something I'd like to do but not something I have to do. Kat I look forward to your recent real world feedback.

 

Hello,
In response to pet friendly companies I worked for Interstae Dist.Co out of the Lebonon TN yard for 2 years,and found that they are one of the best companies to drive for if you have a pet. I am no longer with them due to an illness in family,and having to get a job closer to home. They have a $750.00 pet deposit that they take out $100.00 a week from pay check,and refund $600.00 to driver when you leave the company.They have kennal cages or grass covered areas at all main driver terminals no pets allowed in buildings.There main driver terminals are great free laundry facilitys,showers,towels,excercise rooms,and nice drivers lounges.My dog was with me on truck entire time I worked there.I left Interstate over a year ago,and policies may have changed since then,but being a solo women driver they understood that I would not be on road alone with out my dog.Please note that I kept an immaculate truck I cleaned every day ,and kept my dog clean,groomed ,and spend a small fortune keeping him healthy and happy.I believe that any responsible pet owner can have an animal on a truck if they are willing to put in the extra effort it takes to keep it clean and neat.Also please note that if you are driving 48 states a pet owner needs to check different regions for vaccination requirements,for I had to get my dog vaccinated in TN for a disease that my home state Ohio did not require,and if you are traveling in the south heartguard to prevent heart worm is not an option,dogs must have it monthly as well as yearly testing.Heart worm is rampent in mosquitoes in the south.I hope this has been helpful,and good luck.

 

Dear Fawn,

Thank you for your kind contribution. I also believe a responsible pet owner takes care with their animals health and hygiene at all times and I know how expensive the vet bills get. In the past week I contacted nine companies by email inquiring about their pet policies. These companies web sites indicated they would take a student out of CDL school for training . I did this by email because I wanted written responses, not some recruiter phone call sales pitch. I had to contact seven of them twice due to a lack of response. The recruiters must be very busy or they don't know how to do email? To date I've received six responses which are as follows:

Arrow Trucking-no response.
Con-way-only one dog per truck.
C.R. England-pets allowed on leased trucks only.
FFE Transportation-only one pet per truck.
TMC Transportation-no pet policy.
TransAm Trucking-not hiring out of Nevada.
Swift-no response.
U.S. Xpress Inc.-no response.
Werner Enterprises-one cat or one dog per truck.
​

Unfortunately, it appears the trucking industry will not work for me at this time. I would need to take both of my dogs with me over the road. Currently I'm also caring for two additional foster Basset Hounds for the local Basset Hound rescue organization due to the foreclosure mess here in Las Vegas, NV so I've got my hands full.

Had I found a trucking company that would commit to allowing me to have both of my dogs with me once school and training were completed (without leasing a truck), I would proceed with going to school. As it is, there are plenty of other things to do for a living. I'll revisit a trucking career in another 4-6 years once I have said goodbye to one of my current dogs. They're more important to me and much better company than most people (immediate family excluded)!

 

I'm very tempted to get a chiwawa (I know, mispelled) or other very small breed to ride with me...
I'm semi-over the road and usually home daily...but none the less the hours are long and dull...I'm tempted to get a small pet to ride with me...I've done it before...

And no one ever knew or said anything...

The people you have to worry about most are other company drivers...their usually the ones who will 'rat' you out...

 

Hi all. Im in a very similar situation. Due to the struggling economy, I've decided to go back to trucking. I enjoyed trucking when I did it, but got burned-out, and needed a break. I found a good job, but got laid off 2 years ago, and have fallen into bad financial times. I'm looking forward to driving again with a different attitude, and a clearer mind this time.
Here's my dilemma. I have 8 years driving experience. Four of it is OTR (reefer with KLLM, and Rocor, which is now owned by Prime), and four of it is as a local gas tanker driver (Kenan Transport in Ga....I curently reside on Long Island now though). It has been just over 10 years since I drove a Semi., and yes (I know I shouldn't have done this, but at the time I never intended to go back to driving), I FORFEITED my CDL! Ugh! Getting my CDL back shouldn't be all that long of a process, or that expensive, as I'll just need a few"refresher courses" with a trainer from an accredited Driver Training School. My question is - Even with my 8 years experience, will I still be consided a student driver? I'll assume I'll have to go out with a trainer once I get hired on with an OTR company, but how long do you think they'll expect me to train for. I'm hoping it shouldn't be any longer than 3 weeks , or so.
This leads up to the second part of my question. I'm also needing to take my 12 year old dog with me.(not wanting, although I do want my pet with me. Long story - Due to my living, and financial situation, she basically has to come with me). So, will I, having the experience I have (not recent though) still have a problem with having to wait: 90 days; 6 months; a year, until I can get her on the truck? I'm having to move back in with family soon, and I want (need) to try and make this transition as quick as possible, and get back behind the wheel.
What do you all think? Anyone have any valid info.?

 

Hey SkiMania, All I can tell you is that it may be very tough getting back into the industry especially with the economy the way it is. I had been away from trucking for 14 years, got my CDL back on my own. But still couldnt get hired, I had to go back to driving school, which in my opinion was a good thing. I went to Watkins/Shepard's school in MT, but they have suspended the school for now. You might give them a call, they might be willing to give you a road test. We have a terminal in Sayreville,NJ. As far as pets go, you can have one after 90 days, with a $500 deposit. Hope this helps.

 

Why is it hard to get back if you have driving experience?

 

Because you dont have "recent" experience, so the insurance people are reluctant to give you a chance.