The story of Fred, Mike Crawford's beloved rat terrier, and her unwillingess to share in-cab space with Crawford's wife, Phyllis, placed first in the Best Dog Story contest. Courtesy of Mike Crawford

Mike “Mustang” Crawford, an owner-operator who resides in Long Lane, Mo., won first place in the Best Dog Story contest for his story, “A girl named Fred.” OverdriveRetro held the contest encouraging truckers to submit memories of their favorite in-cab companions as part of the website’s trucking history emphasis.

Joyce Griffin, of Walton, N.Y., placed second for her story, “Lady and the thief.” Malone, N.Y. resident Angela Duval won third place in the contest for the entry, “Travels with a king of the road,” and Bruce Wieser, former owner-operator and resident of Ayden, N.C, takes fourth place for his story, “Tasha and the inflatable mattress.”

Crawford gets a one-year free subscription to Custom Rigs magazine, an Overdrive T-shirt commemorating the magazine’s golden anniversary and a copy of “Smokey and the Bandit” film director Hal Needham’s memoir, “Stuntman! My car-crashing, plane-jumping, bone-breaking, death-defying Hollywood life.” All place winners will receive an Overdrive T-shirt and other prizes.

“Although animal stories are always entertaining, the relationship between a trucker and his dog is something special,” says Equipment World Managing Editor Amy Materson of judging the contest. “Reading about the mutual affection and loyalty was touching and inspiring.”

Also serving as judges were Overdrive and Truckers News Senior Editor Max Kvidera and Better Roads Editor-in-Chief John Latta. Kvidera, Latta and Materson are part of Randall-Reilly Media & Business Information’s editorial division.

In-cab pets Fred, Lady, Bugg Bandit, Tasha and Goodwill featured in the winning tales lightened the load of their owners’ daily travels. Read their tales on the OverdriveRetro links below:

“A girl named Fred”

“Lady and the thief”

“Travels with a king of the road”

“Tasha and the inflatable mattress”

“The secret is out”