The notion that pets are family members has become the norm, and proof of this can be seen in the world of commercial truck drivers, where pets play a vital role as companions during their long journeys. That’s why it was important for Volvo Trucks to host experts from the Center for Pet Safety (CPS), which conducted an in-depth evaluation of company’s new long-haul truck, the Volvo VNL, in December at the Volvo Customer Center in Dublin, Virginia.
Volvo has long had a reputation for putting driver safety first, with the historic invention of the three-point seatbelt, a design that was pioneered and made available to all vehicle manufacturers in 1959. Today, the company is shifting its focus to include pet safety.
Chris Stadler, marketing manager for long-haul trucks at Volvo, noted that more than 60% of all truck drivers are pet owners and nearly 40% bring their pets on the road. It’s estimated that approximately 800,000 pets in the U.S. travel with their owners in commercial trucks each day.
During the evaluation, the Center for Pet Safety analyzed the Volvo VNL’s interior layouts, strength-tested anchor points and available connection options for pet restraint systems, along with climate control functionality, which is crucial for drivers who may need to leave their pets in the cab during short breaks under any weather conditions.
To bring the evaluation to life, dogs also took the ultimate ride around the Volvo Customer Center track, secured in CPS-approved harnesses and carriers. The hands-on experience allowed CPS experts to observe how pets ride in real-world conditions and how the truck cab supports safe, comfortable travel for four-legged co-pilots.
According to Lindsey Wolko, founder and CEO of Center for Pet Safety, a nonprofit research and advocacy organization headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Volvo passed the “pet safety test” in its newest trucks with flying colors.
“Evaluating the Volvo VNL in person allows us to examine how vehicle design, securement points, and cab layout all work together to impact pet safety,” said Wolko. “By working directly with Volvo’s engineers and product teams, we are able to evaluate real-world cab features, identify the safest places for pets to ride, and help drivers make choices that keep pets secure while reducing distractions. Our goal is to support Center for Pet Safety-certified products that drivers can use. These are things like harnesses, crates, and carriers that pet owners will purchase and use in a truck. And we want to ensure that these products are safe options for pet owners.”
“To my knowledge, our Volvo VNL is the first heavy duty truck ever to pass a pet safety test,” said Maddie Sullivan, product manager at Volvo Trucks North America. “Safety is in our DNA at Volvo, and that commitment extends to everyone who shares the road, including the pets that so many drivers consider family. The Volvo VNL was designed to support life on the road, and working directly with the Center for Pet Safety helps us better understand how our design choices can support safer, more comfortable travel for drivers and their furry co-pilots.”
According to Wolko, few people realize that pets in vehicles are a legitimate safety issue that is overdue for real solutions.
“Pets can distract drivers, which increases the risk of a collision. They can become dangerous projectiles that are known as ‘backseat bullets’ if you have a crash,” she noted, adding that pet travel products have no regulatory oversight.
“There are no requirements as to the products being sold to protect people or the pets,” Wolko continued. “And they are often marketed with unverified claims of safety or crash protection.”
Additional analysis and educational development between Volvo and CPS will continue this year, culminating in a co-branded digital resource on safe travel with pets for professional drivers.
