Answer: Yes, but only if certain rules are followed. 

Many tree planters bring dogs to work for companionship or to provide a sense of safety in the woods. However, when dogs are carried inside the passenger compartment of a work vehicle, steps must be taken to ensure the dogs do not pose a hazard to the driver or passengers. Section 17.7 of the BC Occupational Health and Safety Regulation requires that “appropriate facilities” be provided for carrying any animal inside a truck cab. The Guidelines for this part of the regulation lists examples of appropriate facilities as including a secured cage, a seat belt designed for animal restraint, or a barrier screen.

Very few companies use secured crates for dogs, as that takes up cargo space in the back. If a dog is carried in the back bed of a truck, Section 72 of the BC Motor Vehicle Act requires the use of a secure lead or other system that prevents the dog from reaching the edge of the truck bed to ensure the safety of the animal.

A screen between the front and back seats is seldom useful, as it may separate the dog from the driver, but not from any other passengers in the back seat. The most common method of securing dogs in truck compartments is a seatbelt designed for dogs. It is notable that Transport Canada does not stipulate any standards for seatbelts for dogs; only for people. Therefore, the dog must be secured in a manner similar to cargo.

Just to be clear, dogs are NOT cargo, and I love my dog as much as the next person. However, we need to think about what happens to the dog in the case of a sudden stop or collision and ensure it does not become an airborne projectile that can injure people (or the dog). The exact type of harness used for a Malamute may be different than what is used for a wiener-dog, but whatever choice is used, it must be effective. Regardless of the dog, body harnesses should always be favored over collars, as a dog can slip loose of its collar or be severely injured if attached only by their neck in a sudden stop.

Given that baby seats utilize child-safety anchor points, it may be reasonable to also use these for securing a dog. It is also possible to get harnesses that clip directly into seat belt receptacles. Whatever method is chosen, it must be appropriate and prevent the animal from moving freely about the truck.

A major benefit of securing your dog inside the truck is that it prevents your dog from jumping out into traffic when you open the door, and stops it from easily  bolting to chase wildlife. A well-trained and securely tethered dog will wait patiently until the owner ensures it is safe for the dog to exit. A properly tethered dog is also a lower liability in an emergency or motor vehicle incident and is less able to run off or go missing in a stressful situation.  

Dog owners should also be aware that not everyone looks at their slobbery muddy mutt with the same unfettered affection and loving devotion as they do. In fact, there are people that <gasp> do not like dogs. Some people in fact have legitimate fears of dogs from negative experiences or not growing up around them. Therefore, a conscientious dog owner (and employer) will take all steps possible to contain their dog, and not allow it to sprawl across other passengers in the truck…..unless of course they all want that, and the dog is cute and friendly.