sleep apnea
Nearly 49% of CMV Drivers Could Be at Risk for Sleep Apnea, Study Says
A man wears a C-Pap machine. (no_limit_pictures/Getty Images)
A new obstructive sleep apnea study of 20,000 drivers using a more comprehensive screening evaluation method estimated that nearly 49% of commercial motor vehicle drivers could be at risk for obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that can cause sleepiness while driving.
January 12, 2021Driver’s Untreated Sleep Apnea Contributed to 2018 Fatal Crash, NTSB Says
CPAP machine by cherrybeans/Getty Images
A National Transportation Safety Board investigation concluded that lack of a “robust medical certification evaluation process” on the federal level to identify and treat commercial drivers at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea was one of three safety issues that contributed to a fatal, multivehicle heavy truck-involved crash in 2018.
July 9, 2020Sen. Blumenthal Blasts Withdrawal of Sleep Apnea Policy
Blumenthal by Zach Gibson/Bloomberg
The determination by federal investigators that two high-profile train collisions in New York and New Jersey were the result of undiagnosed sleep apnea prompted a member of the Senate Commerce Committee to rebuke the Trump administration’s withdrawal of a potential new policy on the sleep disorder.
February 7, 2018Inaction on Sleep Apnea Draws Ire of NTSB
Rachel Tayse/Flickr
Just months after U.S. rail and highway regulators said they were withdrawing plans to screen truckers and engineers for a dangerous sleep disorder, accident investigators believe that it contributed to two New York-area transit crashes.
February 6, 2018Opinion: Debunking Common Myths About Sleep Apnea
As the National Transportation Safety Board cites sleep apnea as a factor in New York City-area train crashes, the need for sleep apnea testing and treatment regulations will once again come to the forefront. The NTSB has been advocating for measures to reduce fatigue-related accidents in the transportation industry for years.
October 2, 2017Senators Debut Bill Mandating Sleep Apnea Testing
A man with obstructive sleep apnea uses a CPAP machine. (Thinkstock)
U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Cory Booker have announced new legislation that would require the U.S. Department of Transportation to test train operators and commercial bus and truck drivers for obstructive sleep apnea.
September 29, 2017Editorial: Rules to Live By
Without rules for everyone to follow, the world would become a chaotic place. But uncertainty about which rules one must follow can itself create chaos.
August 24, 2017N.Y., N.J. Senators Press Chao on Halting Sleep Apnea Rule
The information that prompted the U.S. Department of Transportation to recently withdraw from a rulemaking process that would have eventually led to policy for sleep apnea workers is being sought by four U.S. senators from Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.
August 22, 2017Truck, Rail Regulators Withdraw Sleep Apnea Proposal
Thinkstock
Regulators for the FMCSA and FRA announce plans to formally withdraw a 2016 advance notice of proposed rulemaking regarding sleep anea.
August 4, 2017Powering Up: Fleets Investing in In-Cab Power for Driver Medical Devices
A Schneider driver shows off a machine he uses to treat sleep apnea. (Mike Roemer)
CPAP machines need a continuous source of power. This can be a challenge for drivers on the road, particularly as the required power draw on trucks has increased with the addition of onboard electronic control modules and drivers’ increased desire to operate the electrical components for comfort and enjoyment.
July 24, 2017