Start with the vehicle and your dog's space in it
Ask to see the actual vehicle or clear photos of the setup your dog will travel in, not a brochure image. He should have his own secure crate or compartment sized so he can stand, turn, and lie flat, with ventilation that works when the vehicle is parked as well as moving, and temperature monitoring the driver can see from the cab. Ask how the crate is fixed so it cannot slide under braking, what bedding is used, and whether you may supply a worn item carrying home scent. Ask how many dogs travel together, whether unfamiliar dogs can see and reach each other, and how a nervous traveller is positioned away from a barking one. A company that answers with specifics about airflow, anchoring, and spacing has thought about the journey from the dog's side.
Walk the route, stops, and overnight plan in detail
Ask for the planned route, total journey time, and where stops happen — how often your dog gets out for toilet and water, on a lead, in what kind of location, and whether he is ever left alone in the vehicle during driver breaks. For a journey spanning a night, ask where he sleeps: in the vehicle, at a partner facility, or in a driver's home, and who stays with the dogs. Ask what happens if traffic, weather, or a vehicle fault adds hours — where is the contingency stop, and at what point do they call you? Check whether the quoted arrival time is a window or a promise, and arrange your receiving person around the honest version.
Check the people, paperwork, and the paper trail
Ask who will actually drive and handle your dog, their experience with dogs who are anxious, elderly, or strong on the lead, and whether the same person does collection and delivery or the dog is handed between drivers. Ask what documents they require from you — vaccination proof, microchip details, vet contact — and what documents travel with the dog. Ask how identity is verified at collection and delivery: what stops your dog being handed to the wrong household at a busy address, and what proof of delivery you receive. Also confirm insurance and what it covers during loading, transit, and stops, in plain language rather than a certificate you cannot interpret.
Agree updates and the emergency plan before departure
A dog travelling without you earns you regular news, so agree it in advance: tracking link or check-in calls at set points, a photo at each major stop, and immediate contact if he refuses water, is sick, or becomes distressed. Ask what vet they would use en route if he were injured or unwell, who authorises urgent treatment if you are unreachable, and how costs are handled. Give them your vet's details, your emergency contact, and clear instructions for a dog who will not eat from a stranger or who needs a familiar cue to toilet. Write down the driver's direct number for travel day; a call centre is no use when you are watching a tracking dot stop moving.
Prepare your dog and the handover itself
Help the journey start well: a normal meal well before collection, a proper walk, and a calm handover without a long emotional goodbye that tells your dog something is wrong. Hand over his usual lead, enough food in labelled portions if the journey is long, and any comfort item agreed. Confirm the receiving person knows the window, has your number, and will confirm arrival to you directly. Travelling with his records together in a KinsLe Pet Passport means the driver, and whoever collects him at the far end, can check the same identity and care details at every handover.