What facilities must provide bathroom access under the new law?

The bill requires 'covered establishments'—including shippers, receivers, manufacturers, warehouses, distribution centers, and any place of business open to the general public—to grant bathroom access to commercial motor vehicle operators making deliveries or waiting for cargo to load. Terminal operators must provide a sufficient number of restrooms for drayage truck operators in areas typically accessible to them. Importantly, facilities do not need to make physical alterations to existing restrooms to comply.

How does the bill expand truck parking funding?

The bill codifies and improves Jason's Law, which requires federal surveys of truck parking availability and permits federal funding for parking. The new authorization allows the Department of Transportation to award grants to state/local governments and private entities (in partnership with government) for commercial vehicle parking projects. These can include new parking on federal highways, parking in freight facilities, and additions to existing locations like weigh stations. This represents a significant expansion of funding mechanisms for addressing the nationwide parking shortage.

What new requirements apply to freight brokers and lease agreements?

The bill mandates that the Secretary of Transportation issue final rules implementing broker and freight forwarder qualification requirements within two years—a reform the Transportation Intermediaries Association has advocated for over a decade. Additionally, lease agreements between carriers and independent owner-operators must include a disclosure form containing weekly compensation data, average weekly mileage and schedules, driver completion rates, and deduction details (fuel, insurance, etc.). The DOT will also conduct awareness campaigns on standard lease-purchase programs.

How does the cabotage provision impact cross-border trucking?

The bill directs the Transportation Department to study 'the safety and economic impacts of cabotage violations using commercial motor vehicles.' Currently, foreign carriers can transport foreign-originated goods to U.S. destinations and return with goods to their home country, but cannot make domestic shipments between U.S. locations. The study will document violations—long alleged to be common—and provide the government data to strengthen enforcement and fair competition measures in cross-border trucking segments.

What is the timeline for implementation and what happens to the current law?

The bill provides a 5-year authorization period, replacing the previous surface transportation authorization. The existing authorization legislation expires September 30. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is expected to release its companion bill in the coming months. Once both chambers pass their versions, a conference committee will reconcile differences before final enactment.

Trade Policy & Tariffs

High Impact

House Passes Major Trucking Bill: Driver Access, Parking & Regulations

May 27, 2026

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The signal

The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee overwhelmingly approved the BUILD America 250 Act, a sweeping 5-year surface transportation authorization that addresses critical pain points for the trucking industry. The bill passed 62-2 with rare bipartisan support from both the Owner Operator Independent Driver Association and the American Trucking Associations, signaling broad industry backing despite historically divergent agendas. Key provisions directly affecting driver welfare and operational logistics include mandated bathroom access at loading facilities and distribution centers, codification of Jason's Law to expand truck parking funding, enhanced broker qualification requirements, and a government study on cabotage violations by foreign carriers. This legislation represents a structural shift in how federal law addresses driver conditions and competitive fairness in trucking.

The restroom access provision (Section 5102) compels shippers, receivers, warehouses, and distribution centers to provide bathroom facilities without requiring physical modifications, directly addressing long-standing driver complaints. Terminal operators now face explicit requirements to ensure drayage operators have access to adequate restroom facilities. Simultaneously, the bill expands federal funding mechanisms for commercial vehicle parking through grants to state/local governments and private-public partnerships, addressing the critical shortage of safe parking that undermines driver safety and retention. For supply chain professionals, this law signals tightening regulatory expectations around driver conditions, facility compliance, and fair competition.

Shippers and receivers must prepare for implementation timelines and operational adjustments. The mandate for standardized lease disclosures and broker qualifications will increase transparency and compliance costs for carriers and intermediaries. Additionally, the cabotage study and enhanced enforcement messaging indicate the DOT's commitment to leveling the playing field against illegal cross-border operations, which could reshape pricing dynamics in cross-border and intermodal segments.

#transportation-legislation

#supply-chain-regulation

#freight-industry

#jasons-law

#broker-qualifications

#cabotage-study

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Simulation Suggestion

this month

What if restroom access mandates increase facility operating costs for shippers?

Model the impact on distribution center and warehouse operating budgets if facilities must significantly increase restroom availability and maintenance for truck drivers. Simulate cost pass-through to carriers and shippers, and evaluate how this affects carrier margins and service pricing across regions.

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Simulation Suggestion

strategic

How will expanded truck parking funding reshape freight facility economics?

Simulate the competitive and pricing effects as federal grants increase truck parking supply in previously underserved regions and freight corridors. Model how improved parking availability affects driver retention, detention charges, route optimization, and regional freight rate compression.

Run this scenario

Simulation Suggestion

this month

What if stricter cabotage enforcement reduces cross-border carrier supply?

Simulate the impact on cross-border and near-border freight rates and availability if the DOT cabotage study leads to stricter enforcement against foreign carriers. Model effects on Mexico-US and Canada-US trade lanes, carrier pricing, and supply chain routing strategies in border regions.

Run this scenario

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