Ensuring Basic Dignity: OOIDA Supports the Trucker Bathroom Access Act

For the third consecutive legislative session, lawmakers are pushing forward a crucial piece of legislation aimed at securing basic restroom access for truck drivers across the country.  The Trucker Bathroom Access Act has once again been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pennsylvania), continuing their advocacy for truckers’ rights.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has reaffirmed its strong support for the bipartisan bill, emphasizing its significance in not only addressing a longstanding issue but also improving conditions to attract more women into the trucking workforce.  The legislation seeks to mandate that truck drivers have access to restrooms at shippers' and receivers' facilities when picking up or delivering cargo, provided that those facilities already have restrooms available for employees or customers.

What the Trucker Bathroom Access Act Proposes

According to OOIDA, the legislation would:

  • Require retailers, warehouses, and other businesses to provide truckers with restroom access during cargo pickups and deliveries.
  • Not impose any construction mandates—businesses that already have restroom facilities for employees or customers must extend the same access to truckers.
  • Ensure that port and terminal operators provide restroom access to drayage drivers.

Widespread Industry Support

The proposal has garnered backing from key industry organizations, including the American Trucking Associations (ATA), the Women in Trucking Association, She Trucking, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT).  Their collective advocacy underscores the necessity of this legislation to support the truckers who keep the nation’s supply chain running.

Addressing an Industry-Wide Problem

Lack of restroom access has been a persistent issue for truck drivers, many of whom face long hours on the road with limited options for basic needs.  Over 70% of America’s freight is exclusively carried by trucks, yet truckers are frequently denied access to restroom facilities, forcing them to endure uncomfortable and unsanitary conditions.

Todd Spencer, President of OOIDA, highlighted the urgency of the matter: “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.  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.”


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