Safer rides, happier pets, more focused drivers.
For many professional drivers, life on the road includes more than logbooks and loads—it includes a four-legged companion riding shotgun. Recognizing that reality, Volvo Trucks North America has partnered with the Center for Pet Safety (CPS) to take a closer look at how long-haul trucks can better protect everyone inside the cab.
Putting pet safety to the test
As part of the partnership, CPS conducted a first-of-its-kind pet safety evaluation of the Volvo VNL at the Volvo Customer Center in Dublin, Virginia. This wasn’t a lab-only exercise; it was a real-world look at how pets actually ride in a working truck.
Using CPS-approved harnesses and carriers, dogs were secured inside the cab while evaluators examined interior layout, securement points, and overall in-cab design. The focus was on how everything works together once the wheels start turning.
Why design details matter
Cab design plays a big role in safety, especially when pets are involved. Where a harness attaches, how much space a pet has to move, and even how air flows through the cab can affect comfort and driver focus.
“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 Lindsey Wolko, founder and CEO of the Center for Pet Safety. “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.”
That last part is key—fewer distractions mean safer miles for everyone on the road.
"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.”
Safety is in Volvo’s DNA
For Volvo Trucks North America, the partnership fits naturally into the company’s long-standing safety philosophy.
“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.”
Features like compatible anchor points and Volvo’s Parking Cooler system, which helps maintain comfortable cab temperatures without idling, support both comfort and peace of mind when pets are along for the ride.
“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.”
Looking ahead
The partnership doesn’t stop with testing. Volvo Trucks North America and the Center for Pet Safety plan to develop educational resources that share best practices for pet travel in trucks, giving drivers practical, research-backed tips they can actually use.
At the end of the day, it’s about recognizing real life on the road—and designing trucks that support it.
Because when safety works for everyone riding along, the whole journey gets better.
