[Hook paragraph] Truckers love bringing their four‑legged companions on the road, but a loose leash or an unsecured carrier can turn a routine haul into a courtroom drama. Volvo Trucks and the Center for Pet Safety just dropped a no‑fluff guide that finally tells you how to keep Fido and Whiskers safe – and keep your DOT record clean.
What happened
Volvo partnered with the Center for Pet Safety to publish a 12‑page PDF outlining 7 concrete actions drivers should take, from using crash‑tested carriers to securing pets with seat belts. The guide cites over 300,000 pets traveling in cabs each year and points out that 28% of pet‑related incidents involve improper restraints, according to a 2025 NHTSA study.
Why it matters for dispatchers/drivers
Improper pet restraints are now a red‑flag in FMCSA inspections. In Q1 2026, 12% of safety audits flagged “unauthorized cargo” when a pet was found unsecured, leading to $5,000‑$15,000 fines and potential HOS violations if the driver is distracted. Dispatchers who allow drivers to haul pets without a documented safety plan risk liability and higher insurance premiums – many carriers have seen rates rise 7% after pet‑related claims.
My take
If you think a pet in the cab is a cute perk, you’re wrong – it’s a compliance risk. Volvo’s guide is a wake‑up call: treat pets like any other cargo, lock them down, and log the restraint in your load‑board notes. Dispatchers must make pet‑safety a standard SOP, or they’ll be the ones paying the price.
What you should do
- Adopt the **7‑step checklist** from the guide and embed it in your dispatch software (EK Dispatch Academy’s tools let you add custom safety fields).
- Require drivers to submit a photo of the secured pet carrier before departure; store it in the load file.
- Update your insurance broker on the new pet‑safety protocol to avoid premium hikes.
*— Ekjot Singh, Founder, EK Dispatch Academy*