Volvo Trucks North America and the Center for Pet Safety have released new recommendations for professional drivers who travel with dogs and cats, including guidance on restraints, emergency preparation, and extreme temperatures.

According to Volvo, an estimated 800,000 pets travel in truck cabs across the U.S. More than 60% of commercial truck drivers are pet owners, according to the company, and nearly 40% of those drivers bring their pets along on the road.

The new Safe Travels With Your Pet guide is designed to help drivers keep those companions safer.

“For many professional drivers, a dog or cat can be more than a pet waiting at home. They are a constant companion through thousands of miles, long shifts, and nights on the road,” said Maddie Sullivan, product marketing manager at Volvo Trucks North America.

How Truck Drivers Can Keep Pets Safer

The guide includes recommendations on choosing and using crash-tested harnesses and carriers, preparing for emergencies, managing hot and cold weather, and safely handling overnight stops.

It also covers pet first-aid kits, seasonal hazards, and emergency preparedness.

One of the most basic recommendations: Pets should be properly restrained whenever the truck is moving.

Practical Pet Safety Answers

“Professional drivers spend more hours behind the wheel than almost anyone, and for many of them, their pet is part of that daily routine,” said Lindsey Wolko, founder and CEO of the Center for Pet Safety.

“The new guide gives them real, practical answers, from picking a harness or crate that actually protects in a crash to knowing what to do if something goes wrong.”

The guide is intended both for drivers taking a pet on the road for the first time and those who routinely travel with a dog or cat.

Volvo released the guide in conjunction with National Dog Day on August 26.

Volvo VNL Put Through Pet Safety Evaluation

The recommendations follow an evaluation conducted last year at the Volvo Customer Center in Dublin, Virginia.

Center for Pet Safety experts examined the Volvo VNL’s anchor points, restraint options, and climate-control systems from a pet-safety perspective. They also tested dogs secured in Center for Pet Safety-approved harnesses and carriers on Volvo’s test track.

The evaluation found that the VNL’s strength-tested anchor points are compatible with Center for Pet Safety Certified harnesses and carriers.