Congress, despite a government shutdown, has a sleep apnea bill ready for the President’s signature. While the trucking industry estimates that “the impact of screening, diagnosis, and treatment for obstructive sleep apnea could exceed $1 billion annually.” The industry failed to mention that $1 billion annually is a bargain compared to the death, carnage, and destruction caused by a fatigued truck driver behind the wheel of an 80,000 pound tractor trailer.

The legislation requires the FMCSA to go through a full rule making process which will add years of delay to the implementation of this much needed legislation.

Untreated sleep apnea can lead to fatigued driving and is thus a medically disqualifying condition for truck drivers. FMCSR 391.41(b)(5) see also: FMCSA Medical Advisory HERE