Travels with Fido: Best Trucker Dogs

It's a fact: life is better with a passenger pup. ABCO understands that the best drivers often come with the best trucker dogs.

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ABCO Transportation
March 19, 2021
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Dogs are much more than man’s best friend. In fact, we believe these furry, four-legged companions have a place in both your heart and the cab of your truck. The best trucker dogs make great driving partners and provide companionship, comfort, and even unconditional love as you travel the open roads together. 

So, how do you know if you’ve found one of the best trucker dogs? Look for a low-maintenance, small or medium-sized adult dog that doesn’t require a lot of exercise and get ready to enjoy life on the road with a great passenger pup. No matter whether you’re looking for a purebred pooch or a good, ol’ Heinz 57 mixed breed, the best trucker dogs are easy-going partners and always ready to hit the road. 

Life, both on and off the road, is just better with a dog. Long hours on the road can get lonely, and a dog can provide companionship, protection, and much more. Let’s learn more about how the best trucker dogs can make life on the road even better. 

Can Truck Drivers Have Dogs with Them?

Good truck dogs are good companions and it's easy to see why. A number of trucking companies conquering the roads today allow drivers to have dogs with them. These companies recognize the value and benefits of keeping drivers happy and allow them to travel with pets.

ABCO is among the companies that allow truckers to drive with their pets. This family-owned refrigerated trucking company truly cares about drivers and respects the fact that a dog can make life on the road much better. The best dogs for truckers make life on the road more fun and contribute to satisfaction with work and life.

Moreover, it's no surprise that truck drivers would prefer to drive with a dog. According to our poll, 95% of truck drivers like you prefer dogs to cats. Do you feel different? Fill out our poll and make your voice heard!

PetVotes
Dog95%
Cat5%
Results as of November 2023
Survey 1 - Cat or Dog

Benefits of Trucking with Your Dog

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Taking a dog on the road with you can do wonders for your health and well-being. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of trucking with your dog and having a pet on the road:

  • Companionship: Long haul and even regional routes can get lonely. You can only listen to so many audiobooks or podcasts before you need interaction with another living being. The best trucker dogs are faithful companions and always ready to provide friendship and comfort when needed.
  • Stress reduction: Traveling with Fido can do very good things for your stress level. Your dog might force you to pull over at rest stops for potty breaks, which also gives you a much-needed break from the stressors of the road.
  • Lower blood pressure, depression risk, and more: You have to be in great shape to pass a DOT physical, but that doesn’t mean you can’t reap all the benefits of traveling with your dog. The simple act of petting or snuggling with your dog releases the hormone oxytocin, which is known to lower blood pressure, reduce your risk of depression, and much more.
  • Safety: Dogs have long been known as faithful protectors. Some truck drivers feel safer on the road when traveling with their dogs. 

These benefits all add up to mean that trucking with your dog can be a great idea. With so many trucking companies, including ABCO, allowing dogs on the road, it is easy to see why a good truck dog will make life on the road less stressful and more enjoyable.

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Are Dogs Suited for the Trucking Lifestyle?

are-dogs-suited-for-the-trucking-lifestyle

It’s practically a universal fact: dogs love riding shotgun. No matter whether you’re making a trip down the block or trekking across the country, a dog is likely happy to come along. A good trucker dog will even enjoy the ride. This is one reason why dogs are suited for the trucking lifestyle.

Despite the commonalities that come with being a member of the Canidae family, the dog’s personality is the most important factor in determining if a dog is suited for the trucking lifestyle. The best trucker dogs are calm, cool canine companions. 

Dogs suited for the trucking lifestyle are calm and low maintenance. The best trucker dogs don’t require a lot of exercise, which is why toy breeds, small breeds, and even medium-sized dogs make great companions. Short hair dogs that don’t shed much are also suited for the trucking lifestyle, as they are less likely to leave dog hair all over the interior of your cab.

Who says you can’t teach old dogs new tricks? Older dogs are among the best trucker dogs. Older dogs are already housebroken and already trained. They’ve outgrown their rambunctious puppy phase and have burned off all their puppy energy.  They often have better manners than younger pups. You can form a deep bond with an older dog. The benefits of traveling with an older dog abound.

What Are the Best Trucker Dogs?

The best trucker dogs are calm and confident companions. You might find a low-maintenance dog that doesn’t require a lot of exercise and has outgrown the puppy stage makes a great trucker dog.

If you’re looking for a purebred pooch, you might consider a few specific breeds that are particularly suited for life on the road.

These dog breeds might include:

  • Boston Terrier
  • Bulldog
  • Corgi
  • Toy or Miniature Poodle
  • Yorkshire Terrier
  • Miniature Schnauzer
  • Chihuahua

Many of these breeds are very intelligent, which makes it easy to train your dog for life on the road. But are they the best trucker dogs? You might want to look to a mixed breed dog for an in-cab companion. Let’s see why mixed-breed dogs might make the best new best friend for your trucker lifestyle.

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You've found the right company! Join our awesome team today to upgrade your benefits and pay.

Are Mixed Breed Dogs the Best Trucker Dogs?

are-mixed-breed-dogs-the-best-trucker-dogs

Even though the specific breeds mentioned above can make good trucker dogs, the best trucker dogs might be a good, old mutt. 

Mixed-breed dogs make the best trucker dogs for a number of reasons. Reasons why a mixed-breed might make the best trucker dog include:

  • They’re one of a kind: Mixed breed dogs can be a genetic combination of the best traits of each breed to create a true one-of-a-kind companion. For example, a mutt that is a chihuahua-papillon mix might have distinctive (and adorable) oversize ears of a papillon combined with the loyal, friendly nature of a chihuahua. This unique mix can add up to a great trucker dog ready for life on the road.
  • They can live longer: Its science: mutts have a rich genetic heritage that creates what veternarians call a “hybrid vigor.” This means mixed-breed dogs are hardier, sturdier, and might even live longer than their purebred cousins. The best trucker dogs are healthy, enjoy a long life, and are easy to care for.
  • They have fewer health problems: Mixed-breed dogs have mixed genes. In many cases, this means that “bad” genes leading to genetic health problems are overcome by dominant healthy genes. Fewer trips to the vet can mean more time on the road, so healthy mutts are among the best dogs for truck drivers.

Another great reason to adopt a mutt for life on the road is the reduced expense. You can adopt a mixed-breed dog from a local shelter or rescue for just a few hundred dollars -- often less. This is a serious cost-savings when compared to paying thousands for a designer dog or purebred from a breeder. Mixed breeds also tend to be healthier, which can reduce vet bills over the course of pet ownership, too.

Rescue Dogs and Truck Drivers

rescue-dogs-and-truck-drivers

Not only are mixed-breed dogs great companions, but you can also save a life by adopting shelter dogs and rescue dogs. In fact, some animal rescues love the notion of adopting dogs to truck drivers, as it benefits both the trucker and the dog!

Just ask Lauren Carpenter, vice president and founder of Voices of Change Animal League (VOCAL) in Ocala, FL. In fact, she says the trucking lifestyle is “perfect for so many dogs.” 

“Oftentimes we have dogs in our care who need a unique situation. For example, where they are with “their person” all time because they have separation anxiety or perhaps they love people but aren’t great with other animals,” Mrs. Carpenter said. 

“A life on the road with their person is perfect for these types of dogs,” Mrs. Carpenter explained. “We are always looking for the perfect match for each of our dogs and working with truck drivers is a great, creative option.”

Dog rescues often have an abundance of older shelter dogs in their care. This means truckers might turn to rescue when seeking a canine companion for life on the road.

Another thing to keep in mind: not all rescue dogs are mixed breed. You can contact a breed-specific rescue to find the purebred animal of your dreams while still enjoying the good feelings that come with saving a life.

Drive with ABCO and Drive with Your Dog

From having fun playing fetch at rest stops to helping you cope with stressors on the road, there are many benefits to driving with your dog. 

Make the most of your time on the road by driving with ABCO. Our company understands that the best drivers on the road often come with the best trucker dogs on the road. 

In fact, ABCO is more than a Fido-friendly trucking company. Take a look at some of the benefits that come with driving for ABCO:

  • Great pay
  • Access to exclusive driver resorts in Florida and North Carolina
  • Both regional and over-the-road job options
  • Customizable home time
  • Great medical, dental, and life insurance benefits
  • And much more

Are you ready to get down to business and enjoy life on the road with ABCO? Get started by filling out our simple truck driving job application and start planning your next career move now.

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