In March the Department of Transportation (DOT) published its sleep apnea “pre-rule” paper asking for feedback from the trucking industry about the prevalence of sleep apnea among drivers. A recent study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) found that 28% of commercial truck drivers have mild to severe sleep apnea.
 
Sleep apnea is a serious condition that could end a driver’s career if the condition becomes severe enough over time. Currently most drivers can continue driving after being diagnosed with sleep apnea. However, the rules could change in the future. The FMCSA, along with the Federal Railroad Association, is asking for comments from drivers until June 8th.
 
What is sleep apnea?
 
Sleep apnea is a common chronic condition in which you have one or more pauses in your breathing while you’re sleeping. Pauses typically last for a few seconds to minutes and can occur up to 30 times or more an hour. You tend to move out of a deep sleep when your breathing pauses and into a light sleep.
 
How does sleep apnea affect you?
 
Sleep apnea mostly affects your quality of sleep leaving you tired and mentally foggy during the day. If sleep apnea continues to remain untreated, it could increase your risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, obesity, and diabetes. Additionally, it also leads to arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeats. Most importantly, sleep apnea increases your chances of having work-related or driving accidents.   

 
 
How is sleep apnea treated?
 
Depending on the severity of the sleep apnea, it is treated with lifestyle changes, mouthpieces, breathing devices, and surgery. If you suspect you might have sleep apnea it is important to talk with your doctor. Often times obesity is the leading cause of sleep apnea so lifestyle changes are generally the first line of treatment.
 
If weight loss and other lifestyle changes don’t work, then other treatment methods are tried. In severe cases a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is used to gently blow air into your throat while you’re sleeping.  
 
Why sleep apnea is bad for drivers?
 
Sleep apnea primarily affects your sleep leaving you feeling tired during the day. Truck drivers need to be alert and awake while driving. Untreated sleep apnea can make it difficult for you to stay awake and focused while driving, which increases your risk of being involved in a fatigue-related motor vehicle accident.
 
Can you still drive if you are diagnosed with sleep apnea?
 
Yes, you can still drive if you are diagnosed with sleep apnea. The FMCSA regulations currently do not specifically address sleep apnea. However, they do state that a “person with a medical history or clinical diagnosis of any condition likely to interfere with their ability to drive safely cannot be medically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce.” 
 
If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea it is important that you or your doctor contact the medical qualifying examiner to determine your fitness to operate a commercial motor vehicle. If you are seeking treatment then chances are you will still pass your medical test. However, if you have moderate to severe sleep apnea then you may be disqualified.
 
What is this new FMCSA pre-rule?
 
The FMCSA has not made any rulings yet on sleep apnea. However, the pre-rule does cite several sleep apnea-related incidents that have been investigated by the NTCB in both the trucking and rail industries so the potential rule could negatively affect many truck drivers.
 
The FMCSA is currently looking for information and feedback from individuals in the truck industry on the potential economic impact and safety benefits associated with “regulatory actions that would result in transportation workers in these positions, who exhibit multiple risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), undergoing evaluation by a healthcare professional with expertise in sleep disorders, and subsequent treatment.”
 
For more information about the pre-rule and if you would like to provide the FMCSA with feedback, please read the document here.
 
Sleep apnea affects about 28% of commercial truck drivers. However, the prevalence is probably much higher as many go undiagnosed. The potential new rule could affect many drivers in the future so it is important that you provide feedback. 

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May 04, 2015