Trucking with 21 Month Old Daughter
 

My husband is an owner-operator. We live in Idaho and are thinking about making a run east (West Virginia, Michigan, etc.) because my husband's father is not in good health.

My question is, how do we do this legally with a 21-month old daughter? We make local day runs with her and she does great! Of course, I'll be along to take care of her. I'm just wondering if anyone knows the laws for different states. For example, in Idaho it is legal for her to be in the sleeper or even on my lap in the passenger seat. Our truck is older so it doesn't have passenger air bags to worry about.

I don't recall a law with the fmcsa concerning a minimum age for passengers. If you are leased to a carrier you should get permission from them. If you run your own authority it is not a problem. It is mostly an insurance issue. Everyone is afraid of getting sued. If you run your own authority, you may want to put a letter together giving yourself permission to have your child in the truck. If you are leased to a carrier, it would be good to have a letter from them giving their permission to have a child in the truck. I would not recommend crossing a scale with a child on your lap. Children are required to be in a child restraint seat in most states. You could check with a dot scalehouse near you and ask them. Good luck. Let us know what you find out.

laws regarding a 3rd passenger vary from state to state. as said, child restraints must be used. i cannot (right now) think of a way you can secure a child safety seat in a big rig. unlless the child stays in the passenger seat, and you in the sleeper. again now, there will be 3 passengers. not usually allowed as far as i know.

sure you can ask one DOT scale house near you, in your state, or maybe just over the state line.....but what about the other states..????

and for the record, all passengers must be seated and safety belted, no such thing as "on your lap".......!!!!!

you wouldn't do that in your car...right..???

so don't even think about doing it in a truck.

must be best if you get a train or bus ticket, or even fly, the rates from i think, Southwest, are under $100 one way, each person, as seem on tv ads.

Why not to rent a car? it is the easiest way, if you do not want to take a plane.