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.
Bipartisan legislation was introduced April 1, 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:
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.
Several industry associations, including the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) the Women In Trucking Association (WIT), and the American Trucking Associations (ATA), including the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), support the legislation.
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.
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.”
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.
As a member of the Women In Trucking Association, stay on top of emerging trends and business issues impacting transportation and logistics; learn the importance of gender diversity in the workplace and the need for more women drivers; and see best practices in encouraging the employment of women in the trucking industry. Join today! Learn More