The U.S. Department of Transportation opened the door for feedback this week. In a notice published Monday, July 21, in the Federal Register, the DOT called on the public—especially those who keep America moving—to weigh in on what should take priority in the next surface transportation bill.

“The Request for Information is intended to gather feedback, ideas and recommendations to help inform legislative priorities and ensure future infrastructure programs focus on delivering safe and efficient surface transportation, without attaching unnecessary requirements,” the DOT stated in the notice.
“The reauthorization effort will focus on modernizing America’s infrastructure by improving safety, streamlining federal processes, promoting economic growth and strengthening partnerships.”

The current highway bill will expire on September 30, 2026, but lawmakers are already laying the groundwork. That’s why now is the time for truck drivers to share what matters most.

Back in March, Lewie Pugh, executive vice president of OOIDA, addressed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to outline truckers’ top concerns. He’ll take those same priorities to the Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation on Tuesday, July 22.

At the March hearing, Pugh emphasized several key issues for drivers across the country:

• More safe and accessible truck parking
• Guaranteed restroom access
• Smarter, more effective driver training
• Broker transparency
• Realistic hours-of-service rules

OOIDA also reiterated its opposition to changes that could make life harder for drivers—such as increases to truck size and weight limits, raising minimum insurance requirements, lowering the CDL age for interstate driving, or adding more one-size-fits-all mandates.

How Drivers Can Share Their Feedback

If you’re a trucker with opinions on any of these topics—or others that impact your job—you can have your say.

Submit your comments by going to Regulations.gov and entering Docket No. DOT-OST-2025-0468 in the search bar. The public comment window closes on August 20, 2025.

Source: Land Line

The post Truckers, Your Voice Matters in the Next Highway Bill appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Last week, Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., joined as a co-sponsor of the Trucker Bathroom Access Act (HR3869), originally introduced by Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas. This bill mandates that shipper and receiver facilities with accessible restrooms for customers and employees extend the same access to truck drivers during deliveries or pickups, without necessitating new restroom construction.

Pappas’ endorsement brings the total co-sponsors to six, evenly split between Republicans and Democrats. Despite shared agreement on the issue, securing co-sponsors has been a gradual process. Nehls initially introduced the bill in the previous Congressional session and reintroduced it last June.

Instances of truck drivers being denied restroom access surged at the onset of the pandemic in 2020, with many facilities maintaining restrictions since then. Nehls has labeled the act a “no-brainer” due to its zero cost to businesses. However, he noted during a House hearing last year that certain lobbyists had attempted to thwart the bill’s progress.

“I just want to put on the record to all the lobbyists and trade associations that are trying to sink this bill, ‘I really don’t care what you think on this issue,’” Nehls said. “Just imagine if Congress banned lobbyists from using restrooms as you wait outside these committee rooms or offices. Imagine if you were told – all you lobbyists – ‘Go outside and find a tree.  Go find a fire hydrant. Go outside and relieve yourself, because we’re not going to let you do it in here.’ How long do you think that would last? What do we want to do, treat our truckers like cats and dogs?”

Several trucking organizations, including the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, the Women in Trucking Association, and the American Trucking Associations, endorse the Trucker Bathroom Access Act.

“If a business provides restroom access to customers or employees, they should provide the same access to truck drivers who are loading or unloading cargo at the business,” OOIDA wrote.

Truckers are urged to visit OOIDA’s Fighting For Truckers website to rally support from their lawmakers.

Source: Land Line

The post Sponsors, Support Given to Trucker Bathroom Access Act appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

“I am proud to reintroduce legislation that supports our nation’s truckers,” Nehls said June 6. “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, facilities across the country have shut down their bathrooms, which have caused essential employees, like our truckers, not to have access to use the restroom at work. Truckers are this nation’s backbone, and we owe them for the tireless contributions they continue to make to keep our country moving.

“I am glad to once again partner with Rep. Houlahan on this common-sense legislation to allow our nation’s truckers access to bathrooms while they are transporting goods on the road.”

Truck drivers make our economy run smoothly, but recruitment and retention pose constant challenges. According to Houlahan, addressing these obstacles is crucial for keeping our economy on track.

“One unique and unnecessary challenge these drivers face is lack of restroom access at delivery points while on the road. This is especially difficult for female drivers, which are a growing demographic of truckers who helped power our economic recovery from the pandemic,” she said.

“I’m proud to reintroduce this bipartisan legislation to ensure every truck driver has the certainty that a restroom is accessible as they do their jobs. There’s no reason truckers shouldn’t have the same rights that other employees experience in their own workplaces,” she added.

The bill would require businesses to provide restroom access for truck drivers that is comparable to what customers and employees have. This new bill is being supported by groups like the American Trucking Associations and has been referred to a committee for further consideration.

“Truck drivers are the heartbeat of our economy and critical to supply chain continuity,” ATA President Chris Spear said. “When they stop to make pickups or deliveries — which can take hours on end while the truck waits to be loaded or unloaded — drivers should have access to restroom facilities. Such basic accommodations are more than just common courtesy; this is about ensuring the dignity of drivers and supporting the men and women who do the heavy lifting to provide for everyone in this country. It can also help reduce a major barrier to retaining and recruiting more truck drivers, particularly women, at a time when they are desperately needed.”

Spear added, “ATA appreciates the leadership of Reps. Nehls and Houlahan in addressing this challenge faced by professional truck drivers, and we look forward to working with them to ensure that drivers’ most basic needs are met while they do the important work of delivering the nation’s goods.”

“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, CEO of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. “OOIDA and our 150,000 members thank Reps. Nehls and Houlahan for showing tremendous leadership on this issue, and we look forward to working with them and our coalition partners to get this common-sense, bipartisan legislation signed into law.”

Source: Transport Topics

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