New legislation would for the first time require commercial warehouses, retailers and ports to allow truck drivers to use their restroom facilities when picking up or dropping off freight.
The Trucker Bathroom Access Act, introduced Thursday by U.S. Reps. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Penn.), adds language to federal law to ensure such access while drivers are working.
“American truckers are this nation’s backbone, and we owe them a debt of gratitude for the tremendous contributions they made during the pandemic,” said Nehls in a statement, noting that the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) and the Women In Trucking Association (WIT) lobbied for the bill.
“We’ve heard from countless drivers who have been forced to ‘hold it’ because they were not allowed to access the bathroom when they were picking up or delivering freight,” said OOIDA President and CEO Todd Spencer in thanking Nehls for sponsoring the legislation. “The men and women of America’s trucking industry keep our supply chain moving, and it’s only reasonable that their most basic needs be accommodated while they are on the job.”
Ellen Voie, president and CEO of WIT, also thanked Nehls for his effort.
“As more women enter the trucking industry, the need for restroom access increases while access to facilities has decreased,” Voie said.
Houlahan commented that the bipartisan legislation “will give all truckers, and female drivers in particular, the confidence of having access to a restroom when they deliver goods to businesses and American families. Ultimately, keeping more drivers on the road means fewer supply chain delays and lower costs.”
According to the bill’s language, facilities covered under the legislation include “a place of business open to the general public for the sale of goods or services,” and “a shipper, receiver, manufacturer, warehouse, distribution center or any other business entity that is receiving or sending goods by commercial motor vehicle.”
Places not covered include rail facilities, as well as “any structure such as a filling station, service station or restaurant of 800 square feet or less that has a restroom located within such structure that is only intended for use by employees.”
Restroom access requirements at seaports for drayage truckers are outlined in a separate section of the bill. It states that marine terminal operators — and port authorities, if they directly operate the terminal — shall provide:
- Access to existing restrooms while covered drayage truck operators are on port property and when such access does not pose an obvious safety risk to such truck operators and other employees of the terminal operator in the area.
- Additional restrooms, if necessary, at locations where there is the most need.
- A place for covered drayage truck operators to park vehicles while accessing such restrooms.
Nehls’ legislation is based on similar proposals introduced in Washington state and Pennsylvania earlier this year. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee in March signed into law a scaled-down version that applies only to drayage truckers and marine terminals that became effective in June. Pennsylvania’s proposal, introduced in March, has not advanced.
Marxh
Bathroom access? Drivers will still piss in bottles and sh!t in a bag and leave it where – literally everyone can see. Most Drivers really don’t care.
tyrone d cox
I’ve been a driver sitting in truck long periods of time at receivers yes there are pigs in trucks but most are not it was nothing to wait 5 to 8 hrs to unload 3 to 2 get stuck in traffic can’t be late rest area s can pull in rv s uhaul with trailors in restarea parking spots that were for big trucks can’t pull to exit ram to pee indecent exposed for real not getting paid at docks from employers then you run out of hrs and have to take a d o t forced brake you were forced to sit at shipper 8 hrs on duty and can’t use rest room your trailors in a dock locked in so this bill is good for the ones that do good
Colin white
Porta John’s shouldn’t be the washroom source for these companies. They shoul all supply adequate facilities for both men and women.thx
Donna
I’ve been a driver for 37 years, 2020 is the first time I’ve ever seen companies warehouses say no to drivers and they’ve made that a permanent can’t wash your hands can’t use the restrooms. And especially when you run out of hours and have to stay there waiting for them you can’t even use the restroom. We drivers have been treated worse than dogs. And thank you very much for your effort and your help to try to get back our human rights.
KENNETH
Truck driver need to be paid for on duty time not driving hourly just like every other American that work in this country by the company they are employed by or contracted with.
Frank Patton,Jr
First of all, why would a company refuse truck drivers the access to restrooms at all. Secondly, after you figure in fuel cost, repairs on your truck and maintenance, with the high cost of living. How the hell do you think a man can support his family on 69,000.00 a year? You expect to have supplies and materials delivered but you don’t want to pay for them to be delivered. That doesn’t make since in any economy. So please take into concideration that all truck drivers are not necessarily single individuals. Some are married and away from their families for several weeks or months a year just to provide a living for their families. To all of our truckers and first responders thank you for your services. I salute you. I have steadily been on the Frontline doing my part during the epidemic and I will continue to do what I have to to keep Our country safe and secure. Moving my America.
Mickey
We brought this on ourselves Walmart used to let us park in the parking lot. We destroyed it with trash so they put up barricades. We are abused are right to park. I’ve been driving for 50 years it used to be fun. The shippers and receivers were great people back then, but we abused their property I can’t blame them. Thank you very much the truck driver is his own worst enemy.
Frank
You guys are fighting for scraps when we can all have powerful UNION that when Truckers said a word can be taken seriously. Stop the abuses. UNION,UNION,UNION……