Lawmakers Reintroduce Bill to Ensure Truckers’ Bathroom Access

A bipartisan effort to guarantee truck drivers access to restrooms at pickup and delivery locations has been revived in the U.S. House of Representatives. Representatives Troy E. Nehls (R-TX) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) have reintroduced the Trucker Bathroom Access Act, aiming to provide truckers with the right to use restroom facilities at businesses where they deliver or pick up goods.

The proposed legislation mandates that truck drivers be allowed to use the same restroom facilities available to customers and employees at these locations. However, businesses will not be required to construct new restrooms, only to permit access to existing ones.

This initiative comes as a response to long-standing complaints from truckers, which became especially apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic when many establishments restricted access to their restrooms. The bill seeks to improve working conditions for drivers, addressing both dignity and basic needs. Supporters believe that ensuring bathroom access could also help attract and retain more drivers, particularly women, in an industry facing workforce shortages.

Several trucking industry organizations, including the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), the American Trucking Association (ATA), and the Women In Trucking Association, have voiced their support for the bill. These groups emphasize that restroom access is a fundamental necessity for the professionals who keep the nation’s supply chain moving.

This is not the first attempt to pass such a measure. Representatives Nehls and Houlahan introduced similar versions of the bill in previous congressional sessions. The latest push signals a continued commitment to addressing the needs of truck drivers and improving their working conditions.

Source: The Katy News

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