This may be a stupid question but...

[gryphon]

Do any of you folks that have been driving a while solo have a dog that you take with you?? Are there any laws against it? I have seen one company web site that said they do allow it... is that totally uncommon or is it generally acceptable?

[lifespalette]

Just depends on the company.............most will have some restrictions as to size and number, but most all will require some sort of non-refundable deposit from you.

[Sheepdancer]

There are quite a few companies that allow pets but here are a few problems you might run into.

Not all customers allow pets on their property. What happens if you get a hot load with great miles and it happens to be a customer that doesnt allow pets? You dont get the load and a driver who doesnt have a pet will get it.

What happens if your truck breaks down and your employer tells you to get a motel room for the night and the place doesnt allow pets?

Everytime you have to stop for the dog to "do its business" is time spent not running and not making money.

Dogs sometimes get sick and need a vet. Most employers are not going to think very highly of the excuse "I cant get the load there on time, my dog is sick and I have to take it to the vet"

Pets can be a saftey issue and liability issue.

Personally, I think pets in trucks should be left up to owner ops who are running their own authority.
But thats just my two cents.

[ken_o]

you know whats the most amusing about the people i c with dogs. some anti idling states want your pet to be comfortable exempting you from the norm rules. but if your a human being you fd

[Sabine]

Thank god there are still companies that will allow pets. Let the JB's in this world go to he**, and find a company that doesn't mind.

While I realize time not running is lost money, but I get out of the truck every 3 hours or so anyhow, to stretch my legs. Any company that thinks they own you to the point of telling you that there is no time for a potty break is not the job for me.

I don't want to work for the mega carrier where you as a person don't count.
We all have lives outside of truck driving, but the big companies would like you to think that they are your life. NOT!!!

So, there are companies that will accomodate you, that accept the fact that life is lonely and difficult out here, and that a pet does make it more easy for some of us.

Good luck.

[ben45750]

Any pet is a good pet when your in a anti-idling state!!! It will save you from getting a hefty ticket.

[Sheepdancer]

Dont get me wrong....as a recruiter I would love it if we were able to accept pets. That would just mean i could hire more drivers. I just understand why many companies dont allow pets. Hell, we used to allow pets over here at JB and after 100s and 100s of customer complaints we stopped allowing them. And when it comes down to it, the customer pays ALL OUR PAYCHECKS.

[JBenson2]

ben45750 said

Any pet is a good pet when your in a anti-idling state!!! It will save you from getting a hefty ticket.

That is an interesting twist on the anti-idling laws.

It's OK to let a truck driver freeze or roast in a truck, but if you do that to a dog... you're in big trouble. Kind of a sad commentary on what the wacko left-wing PETA is doing to the country.

I saw a funny sticker on the back of a truck hauling steers.
People Eat Tasty Animals

[dk132]

Can anyone name some states that have the anti-idle law. That's a pretty lame law for truck driver living in a truck in the dead of winter in the north or summer in the south. What about generators? Can you run one?

[Rev.Vassago]

I used to have a Basset Hound in the truck with me. One day, he decided he didn't want to be in the truck anymore, and he would just sit between the seats staring up at me while I drove, panting away.

[mike3fan]

That's a pretty lame law for truck driver living in a truck in the dead of winter in the north or summer in the south

Most idle laws do not apply below 32 and above 80 degrees

[Big John]

Get a Sheep!

Not to steal the thread but, how are you doing Sabine?

[Malaki86]

Can anyone name some states that have the anti-idle law. That's a pretty lame law for truck driver living in a truck in the dead of winter in the north or summer in the south. What about generators? Can you run one?

New York, California, parts of Texas - off the top of my head

I heard on Landline now (on XM) that some areas are even banning the generators.

Would you happen to know lets say, in New York what the fine is and how it works. If the fine is a $25 ticket, is that good for the whole night or would they keep coming back and giving another ticket every hour or whatever? I'm just wondering if a $25 ticket would buy you heat for the whole night?