Bathroom access allowed for business truck drivers in Washington state

Truck drivers in Washington state can be allowed to make use of an existing bathroom facility situated either on the premises of a shipper or consignee, under a bill signed into law earlier this month by Gov. Jay Inslee.

The brand new law stipulates that truck drivers be allowed to make use of an existing bathroom facility situated either on the premises of or operated by a shipper or consignee if the restroom can be intended to be utilized by its employees or customers.

Inslee signed into law House Bill 1457 after it passed each the House and Senate through the recently concluded 2023 session of the state Legislature.

The laws received broad bipartisan support as evidenced by its lead sponsor, state Rep. Eric Robertson, a Republican, and co-sponsors Reps. Liz Berry, Sharon Tomiko Santos, Julia Reed and Mary Fosse, all Democrats, in response to a broadcast report. The House bill succeeded over an identical companion bill introduced through the session within the Senate, the report said.

Bathrooms must not be situated in an area where providing access would create an obvious health or safety risk to the motor carrier, the shipper, receiver or employees, in response to language within the law. The state Department of Health can issue a warning letter for a primary violation of the brand new law and a fantastic of as much as $300 for a subsequent violation.

Washington became the primary state to push for laws that will allow drivers to make use of restrooms when picking up or dropping off cargo at an industrial facility. Typically across the nation, drivers are refused access to in-house restroom facilities despite doing business with that company. 

The state House last 12 months passed laws requiring bathroom access for drivers operating at ports. Nonetheless, it fell in need of mandating access for drivers operating at warehouses and distribution centers not situated at ports.

In keeping with the brand new law, shippers/receivers will not be required to make any physical changes to a restroom and can have an organization worker accompany a motor carrier to the restroom.

Sheri Call, president and CEO of the Washington Trucking Association and a key player behind the movement, said the industry was simply “asking for common courtesy” in pushing for lavatory access for drivers. Call also said the laws is critical to make sure that female drivers, a demographic the industry is trying to attract, have protected and unfettered access to in-house facilities.