“A driver with sleep apnea could sleep for 10 or 12 hours and still awake feeling fatigued. This is because sleep apnea can prevent you from reaching the restful stages of sleep that you need to feel rested and refreshed. BMI is a marker for possible sleep apnea that DOT physicians will be looking for as they are required to actively screen for sleep apnea at the DOT Physical. Fatigue is directly related to sleep apnea and sleep apnea can cause impaired cognitive function and reduce reaction time, and therefore, increase the risk of accidents.
The FMCSA Medical Review Board (MRO) met June 30th to finalize the sleep apnea guidelines for the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners, and the Motor Carriers Safety Advisory Committee and the MBR will be meeting together on December 7th to “develop practical framework for Agency (FMCSA) to move forward on sleep apnea issues,” and the DOT is expected to have something in place by the end of the year or in early 2012.
This may not directly affect the carriers, but it will affect their drivers at the time of the medical physical, and if unprepared, could possibly take the driver out-of-service until the issue is addressed. This is why it is imperative that drivers become pro-active and address possible sleep apnea symptoms before going for their DOT physical.”
Source: American Trucking Association