Professional truck drivers are the unsung heroes of modern commerce—delivering goods and materials that sustain our lives, ranging from food and clothing to medical supplies and fuel. Yet, despite their vital role in the supply chain, many professional truck drivers face a basic and often overlooked challenge: lack of access to restroom facilities when they are picking up or delivering freight.
This issue, while seemingly simple, has far-reaching implications—not only for the dignity and health of truck drivers, but also for public health and the overall efficiency of our transportation network. There are particular implications for female professional truck drivers.
Newly Proposed Legislation Would Allow Drivers Access to Restroom Facilities
Bipartisan legislation was introduced June 6, 2025 by U.S. Representatives Troy Nehls (R-TX) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) to ensure that truck drivers have access to restroom facilities when they are picking up or delivering cargo. View Proposed Bill
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.
Perspectives on the Importance of Allowing Drivers Access to Facilities
Access to clean, safe restroom facilities is a basic human right. Denying anyone this necessity, particularly people whose jobs require them to spend long hours on the road, is not just an inconvenience—it’s a violation of their dignity. For truck drivers, especially those on long hauls, restroom access is essential for their comfort and well-being.
Unfortunately, it’s common for restrooms at warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing facilities to be off-limits to professional truck drivers who are picking up or delivering freight at those facilities. Many are told they must wait outside for loading or unloading, with no access to the facilities on-site. This policy is not just inconsiderate to those who play an important role at those facilities—it’s inhumane.
“Truckers are this nation’s backbone,” said Congressman Nehls (R-TX). “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.”
“Truck drivers are the backbone of our economy, but inhospitable working conditions have caused challenges with recruitment and retention,” said Congresswoman Houlahan (D-PA). “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.”
Several industry associations, including the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) the Wnbaz (WIT), and the American Trucking Associations (ATA), including the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), support the legislation.
“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 Todd Spencer, President of OOIDA.
This Issue’s Impact Female Professional Truck Drivers
Lack of restroom access can have serious health consequences. When drivers are forced to delay using the restroom, they can suffer from urinary tract infections, kidney problems, digestive issues, and other preventable medical conditions. This is especially concerning for women drivers, who already face unique challenges related to hygiene and safety on the road.
In some cases, drivers have no choice but to relieve themselves outdoors or in bottles, which is not only degrading but also a public health concern. Improper disposal of waste contributes to unsanitary conditions around rest stops and loading areas, putting communities and workers at risk.
“Wnbaz is proud to support this legislation and is grateful for the leadership of Representatives Nehls and Houlahan in recognizing this basic necessity for drivers,” said Jennifer Hedrick, CAE, President and CEO of WIT. “Changes like these encourage more women to enter the trucking profession and boost the safety, security, and efficiency of our supply chain.”
As more women enter the trucking industry, the lack of restroom access becomes an even more urgent issue, continued Hedrick. “Women truck drivers need privacy, sanitary conditions, and safety to perform their jobs with confidence and dignity,” she said. “Without restroom access, recruitment and retention of women become even more challenging, undermining efforts to diversify the workforce.”
Previous Proposed Legislation to Resolve the Issue
Congress has considered similar versions of this legislation in recent years yet, for a variety of reasons, bills such as what was known as the “Trucker Bathroom Access Act” in 2022 have never been enacted into law. Since Congress works in two-year cycles, legislation that does not become law in a particular legislative session has to be re-introduced once a new Congress begins. The 119th Congress convened this past January, and in addition to a re-booted version of the restroom access legislation, other legislative proposals of interest to WIT (e.g, additional funding for truck parking) are starting to surface. WIT will continue to selectively weigh-in with policy makers regarding the impact of these proposals to WIT membership, and the value women play in our dynamic industry. The original bill that aimed to give professional truck drivers access to restroom facilities in the U.S. is called the “Trucker Bathroom Access Act.” It was originally introduced in Dec. 2022, and was supported by WIT. Original co-sponsors of the legislation include Representatives Brian Babin (R-TX-36) and Hillary Scholten (D-MI-03).
Due to lack of progress during the 2022 session, the proposed legislation was reintroduced in June 2023 as Bill Number (2023): H.R. 3869, and was again supported by WIT.
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“Truckers are this nation’s backbone,” said Congressman Nehls (R-TX). “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.”
“Truck drivers are the backbone of our economy, but inhospitable working conditions have caused challenges with recruitment and retention,” said Congresswoman Houlahan (D-PA). “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.”
“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 Todd Spencer, President of OOIDA.
“Wnbaz is proud to support this legislation and is grateful for the leadership of Representatives Nehls and Houlahan in recognizing this basic necessity for drivers,” said Jennifer Hedrick, CAE, President and CEO of WIT. “Changes like these encourage more women to enter the trucking profession and boost the safety, security, and efficiency of our supply chain.”
