School, OTR Training And Pets

Hey everyone!

I'm new to the site and I am seriously starting to put together a plan to get out of restaurants and into trucking. I'm not necessarily ready to start talking to recruiters at this point unless I really have to. Just gathering info, researching and preparing myself to be 100% ready to jump into the deep end. One of the things kind of holding me back at this point is my dog. I am divorced and kids are grown and into their own lives. The rest of my family lives 2000 miles away and close friends are limited. I live alone with my dog who is not getting any younger. He might have a year or two left. Leaving him with friends or family isn't in the cards and leaving him in a kennel for 3 months is just not an option. I have pretty much narrowed my training companies down to Millis and Stevens for school due to my dog situation and residence in SW Florida because I can commute to Tampa and one week in GA with Millis I can work out pet wise. 8 weeks of OTR training out of state on the other hand is another story. Can anyone here tell me whether or not either of these companies, or any company for that matter, allow for pets during OTR training? Or I am I pretty much in the situation of having to accept the fact that my career change isn't going to happen until my best bud(dog) passes? :-(

Thank you all in advance for your replies,

Brad

Hello and welcome to the forum. You may need to wait. When you are on the road training you are in your trainer's truck. I do not know of a company that will allow the trainee to have a pet during training. It is a safety issue and distraction. Once solo it is possible to get to a shipper/receiver and find no pets or passengers are allowed through their gates. Then you need to find a local kennel or vet to take the pet to for the time you are at that customer. It could be very stressful for an older pet to adapt to the confines, noise and movement of a truck. With all of that said, there are drivers out here with all kinds of dogs. In the past two days I saw a standard poodle and a boxer.

You should also read through our starter pack.

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road CDL Training Program
• CDL Practice Tests

After that you can look at Paid CDL Training Programs. I went through CFI's training. It costs me zero and I have been happily driving for them for 14 months. They allow pets with a $500.00 pet deposit. You can also look in our diaries section to see first hand training experiences of our members. Good luck to you.

IMO no trainer or company will allow a pet during training. Not even for trainers in most cases. too many liability issues. what if it bites or scratches the trainer? what if the trainer claims he got bit but didnt? what if the trainer finds out hes allergic? you already wont get enough sleep, but then having to stop and walk the dog? if he is old, will he be able to jump in and out of the truck? and distractions is obvious.

many companies have breed and size limitations. at prime it is one animal up to 30 pounds and a $1000 pet fee.

as far as the customers, it is true many have signs saying pets must stay in trucks, especially at food places. sometimes we sit for hours waiting to get loaded. honestly, i wouldnt want my pet in some of these places anyway. i swear i picked up fleas at a slaughter plant. how does a cat who never leaves the truck become infested with fleas????

i left my cat in my apartment during training. my brother came in to feed him and i felt terrible. but i wasnt giving up my elderly cat to be put down in a shelter. i was told he wouldnt adjust, but he is fine and has me with him more than ever before. he never went through vomiting or diarrhea spells like some animals. now he thinks pulling the brakes means dinner time. he sits on the dash and when instart the truck he jumps down and gets in bed. my vet says he isnvery healthy and happy for an old cat.

IMO, wait. what if you found someone to care for him and he got sick and died while you are in training? you would feel terrible and probably blow your career.