Two bills in the Washington State Legislature could address the availability of parking and restroom facilities for
truck drivers. Washington Trucking Association and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association are
supporting the pending legislation that would provide a tax incentive to the private sector to construct new truck parking spaces (HB 1657) and give truck drivers more access to restrooms at retail establishments and port facilities throughout the state (HB 1706).
House Bill 1657 cites a 2016 study by the Washington State Department of Transportation that found over 60% of
truckers reported spending an hour or more per day looking for parking.
Tax incentives would focus on the high costs of owning or leasing land for parking.
House Bill 1706 would require “retail establishments” to allow drivers to use their restrooms. Currently, no federal or state regulations address the lack of restroom access for commercial drivers.
Rep. Mike Sells, who introduced the bill, said, “The basic goal of this legislation is to bring truckers relief, literally,
by requiring retail establishments and ports to allow them to use restroom facilities.
WTA, OOIDA and the American Trucking Associations support these pieces of legislation as good first steps for giving drivers access to safe and necessary facilities while on the job. “Carriers and drivers need more places to park and use the restroom,” said Sheri Call, WTA president and CEO. “It’s really that simple. These are critical pieces to the supply chain puzzle that need to be addressed.”
