OOIDA Applauds Bipartisan Bill to Allow Truckers Access to Restroom Facilities

Washington, DC… The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has  announced its strong support for bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Representatives Troy Nehls (R-TX) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) to ensure that truckers have access to restroom facilities when they are picking up or delivering cargo.

“The men and women of America’s trucking industry keep our supply chain moving and it’s only reasonable that their most basic of needs be accommodated while they are on the job,” said Todd Spencer, President and CEO of OOIDA. “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. We thank Representatives Nehls and Houlahan for showing tremendous leadership on this issue and we look forward to continue working with him and our coalition partners to get this legislation signed into law.”

Congressman Troy Nehls (R-TX-22) said, “I am proud to introduce legislation to ensure our great American truckers have basic access to restroom facilities while 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. I thank OOIDA and the Women In Trucking Association for partnering with me on this important legislation.”

“Time and again, we’ve seen that when we include more women in our workforce, our economy prospers—that’s true for the trucking industry, too,” said Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA). “But restricted access to bathrooms is putting that progress in jeopardy. In response, our new 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. Especially as the trucking industry continues to face employee retention challenges, we must ensure that we are providing truckers a working environment that honors the vital role they play in growing our economy. Ultimately, keeping more drivers on the road means fewer supply chain delays and lower costs. I’m proud to partner with Rep. Nehls on this straightforward effort.”

 “As more women enter the trucking industry, the need for restroom access increases while access to facilities has decreased. We applaud Rep. Nehls’ support to require shippers and receivers to offer our drivers this very basic need,” said Ellen Voie, President and CEO of the Women In Trucking Association. 

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.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is the largest national trade association representing the interests of small-business trucking professionals and professional truck drivers. The Association currently has more than 150,000 members nationwide in all fifty states that collectively own and operate more than 240,000 individual heavy-duty trucks. OOIDA’s mission is to promote and protect the interests of its members on any issues that might impact their economic well-being, working conditions, and the safe operation of commercial motor vehicles on our nation’s highways. OOIDA was established in 1973 and is headquartered in the greater Kansas City, Mo. area.