Another Dog related question

themagicoen · Dec 22, 2008

I didn't want to hijack the last thread to ask this so...
Why do some carriers, if you lease or use their trucks, charged upwards of a $500 non-refundable deposit for having a pet yet let a chain smoker go at it for free? Hands down, no question about it, a chain smoker will destroy a truck more that a dog - hair is one thing, a vacuum will take care of that - smoke? Good luck with that with out replacing the seats, carpet, mattress, etc I don't smoke btw.

gotta go · Dec 22, 2008

I was told that some of the companies that don't permit pets have that rule due to drivers abandoning the truck and pet. You can't take a pet on Greyhound. By the time they recover the truck, pet hair is not the problem. The $500 is likely for the same reason.

jaminjim · Dec 22, 2008

Had a couple with a dog in the truck for about five months, When they returned the truck it became apparent that they had several puppies in the truck. After removing the carpet (made two people puke) the smell could not be removed until the sub floor was replaced.

Based on your post it was a surprise that your a non smoker.

cheri1122 · Dec 22, 2008

Having seen with my own eyes the damage that a dog with an irresponsible owner can wreak, I offered to add a rider to the contract I drive under, addressing any potential damage - it's only fair. Of course, I don't expect to have to pay for damages, but if it happens, I will. I hope to get a dog who is content with toys, and the passing scenery, when left alone (for short periods) in the truck, but you never know, till it happens, right?

themagicoen · Dec 22, 2008

I understand the irresponsible owner thing, sure a dog can do a lot of damage but think of the damage a irresponsible smoker can do - burn down the **** truck by falling asleep smoking. That seems a lot worse than have to clean a huge mess. Dunno, may be it's I'm a responsible pet owner who took good care of the truck he has driven with his dogs and forgets to think about those who aren't. One last thing - Cheri, you said you will add a damage clause for your dog, that's great and that protects the owner and yourself. But what if, as I don't know, you smoke, are you required to sign a damage clause for that? Ok enough ranting, sorry.

Suds43 · Dec 22, 2008

When we drove straight truck, the first owner we drove for asked us if we wouldn't smoke in the sleeper. We honored his request. When we'd get back off the road we had to take the truck back to his house and drive our personal vehicle 80 miles home. While we were off the road, he'd go thru the truck looking for anything mechanical. He kept VERY good care of his trucks. Never had 1 breakdown in 3 yrs.!! Anyhooo, back to the subject. Everytime we knew we were headed home, we'd totally wash the interior to remove the smoke residue and smell. I mean we washed the entire interior. Dash, doors, floors, roof and all the walls and roof in the sleeper....... After cleaning it, you could never tell that anyone had ever smoked in there. He never had a problem with us smoking in his trucks always told us he appreciated keeping his truck clean. He had a problem with another driver and eventually put in the contract that there was absolutely no smoking in the sleeper.
We used a good chemical cleaner we bought at a truckstop just outside Atlanta, Ga. from some woman going truck to truck selling this cleaner. It worked really well!!!
If we wanted a pet in the truck (at the time we didn't have one), we had to give a $250 refundable deposit against damages.

cheri1122 · Dec 22, 2008

TMI: no, I wasn't required to sign a smoking clause, because the owner is a smoker, and he drove the truck before I did. (He also knows I keep a pretty clean truck). I wouldn't have a problem with signing such a clause, or paying any additional cleaning fee, if it were requested, because it seems fair to me.