At least 27 US trucking companies let drivers bring a dog in the truck, including Halvor Lines, CFI, Crete Carrier, Prime and Melton. Pet deposits run $200 to $1,000 (usually deducted weekly), weight caps range from 25 to 90 lbs, and several carriers restrict breeds. The table below compares every policy we could verify, with a source for each row. Sort by any column to shortlist carriers that fit your dog. See our pet policy statistics for how this compares across trucking, airlines, hotels, and apartments.
✓ Policies verified August 30, 2026 Every row links to its source. Policies change — confirm with the carrier before you commit.
| Carrier | Deposit / fee | Weight limit | Max pets | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halvor Lines | — | — | 2 dogs | Official policy ↗ |
| Conditions: Dogs and cats from day one, including trainees; discounted pet insurance; some customer sites bar pets | ||||
| Roehl Transport | $650 total ($400 deposit) | 60 lbs | — | Source ↗ |
| Deposit refundable: Partial Breed rules: No pit bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Chows, wolf hybrids Conditions: Dogs under 60 lbs and cats; spayed/neutered, carrier and shot proof required; approval via Pet Passport program; open to experienced drivers (1+ yr tenure) after eligibility review | ||||
| Schneider National | $300 cleaning fee | — | 1 dog or cat | Source ↗ |
| Deposit refundable: No Breed rules: Non-aggressive breeds only Conditions: Team drivers only; secured in sleeper when moving; not allowed during orientation | ||||
| CFI | — | — | 1 small dog or cat | Official policy ↗ |
| Conditions: Pro-pet rider policy since 1995; no pets at orientation - CFI routes you home to pick up your dog after truck assignment | ||||
| Prime Inc | $1,000 company ($300 first week, then $50/week) | 40 lbs (company); none for owner-operators | 1 | Official policy ↗ |
| Deposit refundable: Yes Conditions: Owner-operators: no limit, no deposit; refund after truck inspection less damage; terminal kennels and pet washes | ||||
| Melton Truck Lines | $750 ($37.50/week) | 90 lbs | 1 dog or cat | Official policy ↗ |
| Conditions: Pet Pass approval from Safety required before riding | ||||
| Bay & Bay Transportation | $500 ($50/week) | 50 lbs | 1 dog or cat | Official policy ↗ |
| Deposit refundable: No Conditions: No fee for service or support animals; cats OK | ||||
| Decker Truck Line | — | — | — | Official policy ↗ |
| Conditions: Pet policy confirmed but no public specifics - ask the recruiter | ||||
| Crete Carrier / Shaffer | $750 ($25/week) | 60 lbs combined | Up to 2 dogs or cats | Official policy ↗ |
| Deposit refundable: No Conditions: Same policy across Crete, Shaffer and Hunt divisions; pay reduced $0.005/mile with a pet | ||||
| J.B. Hunt | $300 | 60 lbs | 1 dog | Source ↗ |
| Deposit refundable: No Breed rules: Non-aggressive breeds only Conditions: Dogs only; current vaccination records; select locations per some sources; pet insurance benefit offered | ||||
| Knight Transportation | $400 ($200 refundable) | 50 lbs | 1 pet + 1 passenger | Source ↗ |
| Deposit refundable: Partial Breed rules: No aggressive breeds Conditions: Reported: after training plus 30,000 miles; policy has changed over time - verify with recruiter | ||||
| Swift Transportation | $300-$500 (reported) | 40 lbs | 1 dog | Source ↗ |
| Deposit refundable: No Breed rules: Non-aggressive dogs only Conditions: Confirmed actively promoted in 2026 via Swift's own TikTok account and a Glassdoor Pet Friendly Workplace benefit listing; dogs under 40 lbs, non-aggressive, reported ~$300 non-refundable fee; exact figure not on an official numbered page - verify with recruiter | ||||
| Werner Enterprises | $250 + $5/week | No limit | 1 dog or cat | Source ↗ |
| Breed rules: None Conditions: No breed or size limits; vaccinations must be current | ||||
| Covenant Transport | $500/year | 50 lbs combined | Up to 2 (combined 50 lbs) | Source ↗ |
| Deposit refundable: No Conditions: After training period; annual fee, sometimes weekly deductions | ||||
| Stevens Transport | $500 | 40 lbs | — | Reported ↗ |
| Breed rules: Approval by size and breed Conditions: Small Pets Program; application plus shot records; reportedly ~90 days employment first | ||||
| PAM Transport | Unspecified | 10 lbs | — | Reported ↗ |
| Conditions: Reported teams only (not solo drivers); employee reports conflict - verify with recruiter | ||||
| U.S. Xpress | $500 ($50/check) + $10/week | — | 1 dog or cat | Source ↗ ⏱ Recheck due |
| Deposit refundable: No Breed rules: No aggressive breeds Conditions: Shot records filed with safety dept and kept in truck; leash required off-truck | ||||
| Dart Transit | — | — | — | Official policy ↗ ⏱ Recheck due |
| Conditions: Pet and rider policy from day one; no public specifics | ||||
| Navajo Express | None listed | 25 lbs | 1 dog | Official policy ↗ ⏱ Recheck due |
| Breed rules: No pit bulls Conditions: Dogs only (no cats); official FAQ lists no deposit | ||||
| Western Express | — | — | — | Source ↗ |
| Conditions: Official site currently (2026) advertises 'Pet & Rider Policy — Bring loved ones along for the journey' under driver benefits, confirming the policy is active; no numeric weight/deposit/breed terms published on-site — call recruiting for exact figures | ||||
| Wil-Trans / Jim Palmer | None (Jim Palmer) | None (Jim Palmer) | 4 "heartbeats" (people + pets) | Reported ↗ ⏱ Recheck due |
| Breed rules: None (Jim Palmer) Conditions: Wil-Trans: 1-2 pets after training plus ~2-month solo period | ||||
| Millis Transfer | — | 50 lbs | — | Source ↗ |
| Conditions: Dogs and cats; current vaccinations required | ||||
| Marten Transport | $500 ($50/check) | — | — | Source ↗ ⏱ Recheck due |
| Conditions: Dogs meeting company requirements | ||||
| Hirschbach Motor Lines | — | 50 lbs | — | Official policy ↗ ⏱ Recheck due |
| Conditions: Cats or dogs; vaccinated, harness-secured; driver liable for pet cleaning/repairs | ||||
| Ozark Motor Lines | $200 ($50 x 4 checks) | 50 lbs | 1 dog or cat | Source ↗ |
| Deposit refundable: No Breed rules: Non-vicious breeds only Conditions: Shot records required; one-time fee covers entire employment | ||||
| Anderson Trucking Service | Non-refundable (amount not stated) | — | 1 dog or cat | Official policy ↗ ⏱ Recheck due |
| Deposit refundable: No | ||||
| Barr-Nunn Transportation | — | — | 1 small dog | Source ↗ |
| Conditions: Confirmed via the carrier's own hiring site that team drivers may travel with one small dog, restrictions apply; resolves the prior 'older sources said no policy' flag. Solo-driver pet policy still unconfirmed. | ||||
— means the company doesn’t publish that detail. Tap a column header to sort, or a carrier’s arrow for breed rules and conditions.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a typical trucking pet deposit?
Most carriers charge $300 to $1,000, usually deducted from your paycheck weekly rather than paid upfront. The low end: Ozark Motor Lines at $200 and Werner at $250. Jim Palmer charges nothing. Source
What is the most common pet weight limit?
40–50 lbs is the most common cap (Hirschbach, Millis, Covenant, Ozark at 50; Prime and Swift at 40 for company drivers). Navajo cuts off at 25 lbs, Melton allows up to 90 lbs, and Jim Palmer and Werner set no weight limit at all. Source
Are trucking pet deposits refundable?
It depends on the carrier. Many charge a non-refundable fee (Ozark, ATS, U.S. Xpress, Schneider’s cleaning fee). Others refund all or part of it (Prime and Roehl for company drivers, half of Knight’s reported deposit). Confirm refund terms with the recruiter before you sign. Source
Do carriers allow cats or only dogs?
Most pet-friendly carriers take both cats and dogs (Hirschbach, Millis, Schneider, Roehl, Bay & Bay, Werner). Several are dogs-only: Marten, Navajo, J.B. Hunt and Swift. Source
Can new drivers bring a dog right away?
Usually not. Many carriers make you finish training first — Wil-Trans requires about two months solo, Knight reportedly 30,000 miles, and Schneider limits pets to team drivers. Halvor Lines and Dart are the exceptions, allowing pets from day one. Owner-operators face the fewest restrictions everywhere. Source
Is there a federal rule about pets in trucks?
No. The FMCSA has no regulation on pets in commercial trucks — each carrier sets its own policy. That’s why terms vary so widely, and why local/LTL and refrigerated carriers most often say no. Source
Which major carriers do NOT allow pets?
C.R. England, Heartland Express, Maverick, TMC, System Transport and K&B Transportation all bar pets for company drivers (service animals excepted). Driver reports say the same of Averitt and USA Truck. Some allow human riders but no animals — always ask before orientation. Source