Trucking organizations are praising bipartisan legislation reintroduced by Representatives Troy Nehls (R-Texas) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pennsylvania) that ensures truckers have access to restroom facilities when they are picking up or delivering cargo.
The legislation would:
- Require retailers, warehouses, and other businesses to give truckers access to bathroom facilities when they are picking up cargo or making deliveries
- Not require businesses to construct new restrooms. It only requires that if a business has a restroom available to their customers or employees, truckers should have the same access
- Require the operators of ports and terminals to provide bathroom access to drayage drivers
Original cosponsors of the legislation include Representatives Brian Babin (R-Texas) and Hillary Scholten (D-Michigan).
This legislation is supported by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), the American Trucking Association, the Women In Trucking Association, She Trucking, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
“Over 70% of America’s freight is exclusively carried by trucks, yet every single day men and women truck drivers are forced to ‘hold it’ because they aren’t allowed access to the restroom when picking up or delivering freight,” said OOIDA President Todd Spencer. “OOIDA and our 150,000 members thank Representatives Nehls and Houlahan for showing tremendous leadership on this issue and we look forward to working with them and our coalition partners to get this commonsense, bipartisan legislation signed into law.”
The Women In Trucking Association added its support of the bill, saying it was "grateful for the leadership of Representatives Nehls and Houlahan in recognizing this basic necessity for drivers." Jennifer Hedrick, president and CEO of WIT added, "Changes like these encourage more women to enter the trucking profession and boost the safety, security, and efficiency of our supply chain.”
Congressman Nehls said, “Our nation’s hardworking truckers keep our country moving and should have access to bathroom facilities while they are on the road—it’s common sense. I’m proud to join my colleague, Congresswoman Houlahan, in reintroducing legislation to ensure that truck drivers have access to the restroom at work.”
Houlahan said, "Truck drivers are the backbone of our economy, but inhospitable working conditions have caused challenges with recruitment and retention. As female drivers are increasingly filling essential trucking positions, they face a lack of restroom access while making deliveries and pickups. I’m proud to reintroduce this bipartisan legislation to ensure every truck driver is guaranteed access to a restroom while they do their critical jobs, breaking down a systemic barrier that has kept women out of the industry. Truck drivers are essential for our economy and should not have less access to restroom facilities than other employees in their own workplaces."
