Big Rigs & Barking Co-Pilots - Volvo: Raising the Bar on Pet Travel Safety
On this episode of Best Bets for Pets, host Michelle Fern tackles an important topic for anyone who travels with their pet — especially the more than 800,000 U.S. truck drivers who bring their dogs (and sometimes cats) along for the ride. Volvo Trucks North America has partnered with the Center for Pet Safety to conduct the first-of-its-kind evaluation of pet safety in a Class 8 long-haul truck — and the results may surprise you.
Michelle speaks with Chris Stadler of Volvo Trucks about the all-new Volvo VNL, which passed the pet safety assessment, including strength-tested anchor points compatible with CPS-certified harnesses and carriers, an industry-leading battery-powered Parking Cooler that keeps pets comfortable up to eight hours without idling, and innovative sleeper-cab design features that support safe pet travel.
Whether you drive a big rig or a family SUV, this episode highlights crucial lessons about securing pets, managing temperature, and raising the bar for travel safety for our four-legged co-pilots.
If you've ever wondered what the living space of Volvo truck drivers is like:
The interior of the Volvo VNL upgraded living space of drivers
Listen to Episode #365 Now:
BIO:
Chris Stadler is a Product Marketing Manager for Long Haul at Volvo Trucks North America, where he helps define the strategy, positioning, and customer messaging for Volvo’s Class 8 long-haul truck portfolio.
Based in Volvo Trucks’ HQ in Greensboro, North Carolina, Chris brings a strong blend of marketing expertise, sales insight, and real-world customer understanding to his work, translating advanced vehicle technology into clear, compelling value for fleets and drivers.
Chris was part of the Volvo Trucks team that conducted the “Pet Test” on the Volvo VNL Class 8 semi-truck during the Center for Pet Safety evaluation at the Volvo Customer Service Center in Dublin, Virginia in December 2025. Chris also drove the Volvo VNL on the test track at the Volvo Trucks facility with golden doodle co-pilot, Theo, harnessed in the passenger seat, as seen here in this photo.