The life of a trucker can seem exciting or even romantic, depending on who you are. The realities of truck driving, however, are often more mundane. Most of us have probably experienced at least one long car ride where we seemed to have to stop every 20 miles for someone in the car to use the bathroom. Since truck drivers spend so much time on the road and big rigs often seem well-equipped, one might wonder if those trucks ever have toilets.
Semi-trucks can have toilets, but more often than not, they don’t; built-in toilets do exist but typically are only included on very high-end rigs that cost much more than average models. So while it is possible for a rig to include a toilet, and sometimes even a shower, most do not have built-in toilets.
So what do truckers do when they need to use the bathroom? One way a trucker might tend to this need is to carry a portable toilet in their truck. These are often small enough to fit easily into a sleeper cabin. Often, though, truck drivers just stop somewhere to use the bathroom. Rest areas abound on major highways, and truck stops offer safe places to pull in and “use the facilities.”
Do Semi-Trucks Have Toilets?
Indeed, some semi-trucks do have toilets. They are generally in high-end semis, but they can certainly add a considerable amount of comfort and convenience to your life on the road as a truck driver.
The toilet system operates by flushing wastewater into a small holding tank, to which chemicals are added to reduce odors. The tank is can then be emptied and often is removable for this purpose. This video explains one truck toilet system in more detail.
Alternatives If a Semi Doesn’t Have a Toilet
Most truck drivers have to do without an onboard bathroom in their rig, using a few alternatives to get them by:
Portable Toilets
Often, a driver will carry a portable toilet similar to those used for camping that can provide relief on the road. These come in a variety of types.
- One is a chemical toilet that works similar to the built-in toilets described above, which has a holding tank that is chemically treated and stores waste for later disposal.
- Some simpler models just use a garbage bag to collect waste.
Public Rest Stops
Often, drivers just rely on using bathrooms at service areas along the road. These might be rest areas or truck stops, including chains such as Love’s, Flying J, and Pilot.
Even having an onboard toilet requires some consideration for how and where to dispose of the waste collected (often at RV waste dumps, which might not be available everywhere). So even these drivers might use the facilities at a service area when they can and save the onboard toilet for when the need arises, and a rest area isn’t around.
Diapers
Every minute you are not driving as a truck driver is losing potential earnings, so many truck drivers will go to considerable lengths to stop as little as possible—even if that means wearing an adult diaper.
According to one woman who worked as a truck driver for some time, there are truck drivers who actually do wear diapers. However, it’s safe to assume this is not that common, and most truck drivers just learn to “hold it” for longer than the average person.
Plastic Bottles
It is also reported that drivers will use an empty plastic bottle for “emergencies,” about which the less said is probably for the best. Of course, if all else fails, the driver can look for a safe place to pull off the road in a wooded area to take care of business.
Final Thoughts
The life of a truck driver definitely has its ups and downs, but some love the trucking life and do very well in it. Others will try it for a while and move onto something else, deciding that the long hours, infrequent bathroom breaks, and time away from family and friends can be too much.
Truck drivers are just people with the same needs as the rest of us, and as you have read above, they often rely on resourceful solutions to meet those needs in a manner that fits their life on the road.