I will most likely be picking up a road bike tomorrow
I have a truck, will it hurt anything if I just lay it on its side?
Is is better to strap it in standing upright?

Thanks!

Lay it down with the drive side up. Might use an old blanket to protect the paint.

Great, Will do
Thanks!!

I was able to fit my bike into the back seat of my old F350, depending on what you're driving you may be able to do the same. Failing that, no1mad's advice is sound

I carry mine in the back of my truck regularly with no problem. I put a towel under the handlebars to keep them from getting dirty as the bed liner seems to create a black mark. Otherwise, no issues.

(Carrying two bikes, you need to watch that the pedals of one don't scratch the frame of the other. This was never a problem when my wife had an older gifted Trek. But as soon as I transported her brand new bike, I put a couple of scratches on it.)