Bringing a dog or cat on the road is a major quality-of-life upgrade for OTR drivers, and an increasing number of carriers have introduced formal pet policies in the past decade. Each carrier's program has its own rules, fees, and weight limits — read the fine print before committing.
Carriers with formal pet programs
Schneider National (one dog or cat, up to 65 lb, $50 deposit + $300 cleaning fee at termination), US Xpress (one pet up to 30 lb, no deposit), Werner Enterprises (limited program with breed and weight restrictions), Roehl Transport (program varies by division), Marten Transport, Heartland Express, and several smaller regional carriers. Programs change frequently — verify with the recruiter before accepting a job.
Common requirements
Vaccinations up to date (rabies, DHPP for dogs); spay/neuter status (some carriers require, most don't); pet weight limits (typically 30 to 65 lb maximum); breed restrictions (many carriers exclude pit bulls, Rottweilers, and certain other breeds for insurance reasons); pet kept in the cab at all times when not on a leash; cleanup responsibility entirely on the driver.
Hidden costs
Many programs require a refundable deposit ($100 to $500) or a non-refundable cleaning fee ($300 to $750) at hire or termination. Some programs deduct a small per-week fee from settlements ($5 to $15). All programs require you to clean up at every truck stop and rest area — pet waste left at company terminals or shipper property is a quick path to program termination.
Truck stop facilities
Major truck-stop chains (Pilot Flying J, Love's, TA-Petro, Sapp Bros) increasingly offer pet-friendly amenities: dog-walking areas, pet-relief stations, and in some flagship locations, fenced dog parks. The TruckStops.com app and the Park-It-Pup app maintain crowdsourced lists of pet-friendly truck stops and rest areas.
Veterinary care on the road
Plan ahead — many highway-corridor cities have 24-hour emergency veterinary clinics (CareCredit accepted at most). Carry a copy of your pet's medical records in the truck. If your route is consistent, identify a regular vet near your home terminal for routine care.
Practical considerations
Pets significantly improve driver mental health and reduce loneliness on long runs. They also restrict where you can park (no extreme cold without an APU, no extreme heat without idle privileges, careful planning around shipper "no pets" rules). Most pet-owning OTR drivers consider the trade-offs worthwhile.