HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania Rep. Jason Silvis, R-Westmoreland/Armstrong/Indiana, has authored legislation that would require businesses to provide bathroom access to truck drivers when they are picking up or dropping off a shipment.
“As someone who has a commercial driver’s license (CDL), I understand the skill and long hours required as a CDL driver,” Silvis said. “Even before COVID, access to restrooms was a problem for these drivers who cannot easily park at a gas station due to the size of their vehicles. In addition, many times they are forced to wait in their trucks for hours for their turn to unload or be reloaded. Access to bathroom facilities is a sanitary issue that needs to be addressed.”
House Bill 2465 creates the Truck Driver Restroom Access Act that would require retail establishments, shippers, receivers and terminal operators to give truck drivers access to indoor or portable toilets during regular business hours. Those who fail to provide access would be issued a written violation for a first offense and a $300 fine for each subsequent offense.
he bill is currently in the House Transportation Committee awaiting review.
Similar legislation – House Bill 1706 – was introduced in the Washington Legislature earlier this year and was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee. It takes effect June 9.
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A sad comment that we need legislation that requires truck drivers to be treated like humans and a vital part of the supply chain.
Until drivers form an association to protect themselves from shippers ,receivers, trucking companies, etc. This will continue regardless of toothless laws. Having said that, I appreciate the lawmakers efforts.
Thank you senator (Penn)
How about legislation that minimizes wait time…
A driver can get penalized for a 15minute delay, but a shipper/receiver can ignore an appointment time 🤨 !?!
Indeed and 👍 agree. The airline industry has legislation and penalties to prevent over scheduling arrivals and departures and financial penalties for late departures. It’s long overdue to have legislation that penalizes shippers and receivers that eat up the truckers DOT hours with the loading and unloading process.
Goodyear Beaumont Texas take heed. You’re too big and time consuming to not accommodate the numerous truckers that visit daily. Just be considerate. I sympathize with the guards that work out in that “field” where the truckers stage and the port o potty is hidden in high grass.
This is a good example of why “real people”, so to speak, need to be in state and federal houses and senates and not just accountants and lawyers.