HR2514-119

What This Bill Does

The Trucker Bathroom Access Act creates a federal restroom-access rule for commercial motor vehicle operators. A covered driver must be granted access to a covered restroom facility at a covered establishment where the driver delivers goods or cargo or waits to be loaded. Covered establishments include public-facing businesses and shippers, receivers, manufacturers, warehouses, distribution centers, and other businesses receiving or sending goods by commercial motor vehicle. The duty is limited: the restroom must be a customer or employee restroom on the premises, access cannot create an obvious health, safety, or security risk, and the business does not have to physically modify a restroom. Very small filling stations, service stations, or restaurants of 800 square feet or less with employee-only restrooms are excluded.

Who Benefits and How

Commercial truck drivers benefit because they gain a statutory right to use safe, available restrooms at delivery, pickup, warehouse, and distribution locations. Long-haul drivers benefit from fewer health and dignity problems while waiting for loading or unloading during hours-of-service-constrained trips. Women truck drivers benefit because reliable restroom access reduces a workplace barrier that can make trucking less accessible. Motor carriers benefit indirectly if driver retention and working conditions improve without requiring restroom construction.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Shippers, receivers, manufacturers, warehouses, and distribution centers must allow restroom access when the facility is safe and does not create an obvious security risk. Retail establishments receiving goods must manage driver access to customer or employee restrooms on their premises. Covered establishments must train staff not to deny access solely because a driver is not a customer or employee. Businesses with security-sensitive premises must determine when access would pose an obvious security or safety risk.

Key Provisions

• Requires covered establishments to grant restroom access to covered commercial motor vehicle operators during deliveries or loading waits.
• Defines covered restroom facilities as customer or employee restrooms where access does not create obvious health, safety, or security risks.
• Includes shippers, receivers, manufacturers, warehouses, distribution centers, and public-facing businesses receiving or sending goods.
• Exempts small filling stations, service stations, and restaurants of 800 square feet or less with employee-only restrooms and does not require physical restroom changes.