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Top medical advisers to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration have recommended a slate of sleep apnea guidelines that would require truck drivers to participate in costly diagnostic sleep studies if they have a body mass index of 40 or higher, experienced excessive fatigue or sleepiness while driving or have been in a sleep-related accident.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s top medical advisers have recommended a slate of sleep apnea guidelines that would require truck drivers to take costly diagnostic sleep studies if they have a body mass index of 40 or higher, have experienced excessive fatigue or sleepiness while driving, or have been in a sleep-related crash.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s top medical advisers on Aug. 22 began a two-day review of obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment issues to offer their final recommendations for apnea regulatory requirements.

Federal regulators have extended until July 8 the comment period on an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking requesting certain information regarding the evaluation of safety sensitive personnel for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea.

Who better to talk about driver health and wellness than men who are tops in their field? Competitive powerlifter Ralph Garcia, a professional driver for ABF Freight System with 3.5 million accident-free miles, and world-class swimmer and triathlete Siphiwe Baleka, a driver/trainer from Prime Inc., head up our LiveOnWeb panel on Driver Health and Wellness From A to Zzzzz. Watch the replay.

More than half of drivers who have been asked to participate in sleep apnea studies paid more than 150% of their median weekly pay to do so, a survey released by the American Transportation Research Institute on May 26 revealed.

Christine Hydock, chief of the medical programs division for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, talks with TT's Eric Miller in this LiveOnWeb video excerpt about the agency's interest in a possible sleep apnea regulation.

Christine Hydock, Chief of FMCSA's Medical Programs Division, talks with TT's Eric Miller about the advance notice of proposed rulemaking regarding sleep apnea, and other driver health issues. Full LiveOnWeb program at bit.ly/TT-LOW0518.

Advances in technology are making it easier for fleets to screen drivers for a medical condition that’s believed to be a significant contributor to preventable crashes, while also enabling health care providers to monitor treatment while drivers are on the road.