Trucker restroom bill needs more support
This should have been signed into law a long time ago.
Think about it. All the Trucker Bathroom Access Act does is make sure that truck drivers who are waiting at a shipping or receiving facility are able to use the restroom provided there for employees. The bill does not require the businesses to construct new restrooms. Simply, all it requires is an extremely basic level of human decency.
When Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, first introduced the bill in 2022, he thought getting it passed would be a breeze.
“I don’t believe I’m going to have a problem getting enough support to get this through the House of Representatives,” Nehls told Land Line Now in December 2022. “Again, this isn’t throwing another unfunded mandate on businesses. There’s really no cost to this thing. It’s actually just a courtesy these businesses are going to provide to the truckers – the men and women who are delivering cargo to that business … I think this is very simple. This should be something that should have a great deal of support in the House of Representatives, and then it should slide right through the Senate and get signed.”
Nearly two years later, however, the Trucker Bathroom Access Act still hasn’t cleared the House.
Although the bill comes with no cost, support for the effort has come at a slow pace since it was reintroduced in June 2023. At a House hearing, Nehls called out lobbyists for trying to kill the bill.
“I just want to put on the record to all the lobbyists and trade associations that are trying to sink this bill, ‘I really don’t care what you think on this issue,’” Nehls said. “Just imagine if Congress banned lobbyists from using restrooms as you wait outside these committee rooms or offices. Imagine if you were told – all you lobbyists – ‘Go outside and find a tree. Hell, go find a fire hydrant. Go outside and relieve yourself, because we’re not going to let you do it in here.’ How long do you think that would last? What do we want to do, treat our truckers like cats and dogs?”
The fact that these words even need to be uttered is troubling. No one can say they are concerned about improving the trucking profession and lowering the turnover rate if they’re not even willing to support legislation that allows truck drivers access to a restroom.
The good news is that the bipartisan bill has gradually grown its support. In August, Rep. Yadira, D-Colo., became the 10th co-sponsor of HR3869.
A huge thumbs up goes out to Nehls and every lawmaker who has expressed support. However, there should be so many more.
“Truckers are this nation’s backbone, and we owe them for the tireless contributions they continue to make to keep our country moving,” Nehls said when the bill was introduced.
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association helped craft the legislation.
During the height of the pandemic, truck drivers were hailed as heroes for keeping the nation’s supply chain moving. At the same time, however, they were repeatedly denied restroom access at shipping and receiving facilities.
“Over 70% of America’s freight is exclusively carried by trucks, yet every single day … truck drivers are forced to ‘hold it’ because they aren’t allowed access to the restroom when picking up or delivering freight,” OOIDA President Todd Spencer said.
OOIDA members are encouraged to go to FightingForTruckers.com to contact their lawmakers about the Trucker Bathroom Access Act. LL