An investigative report by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has stated the two primary causes of most large truck accidents are fatigue and lack of sleep. Even though truck drivers have regulations that monitor their Hours of Service (HOS), truckers are consistently violating their HOS due to schedule issues and other factors. In a recent survey, 21% of truck drivers admitted to falling asleep at the wheel. With these statistics, it is a necessity that the trucking industry as well as Congress gets to work to make our highways safer. FMCSA sleep apnea is addressed in detail on the FMCSA website.
Along with fatigue being a major safety issue, the trucking industry is concerned that sleep apnea will create legal risks for trucking companies involved in accident litigation, and rightfully so. The FMCSA sleep apnea guidelines are spelled out and need to be adhered to. If this condition is a known factor in a large population of its drivers, it could be concluded that the trucking companies are not managing the problem.
Anne Ferro, chief of the FMCSA, states “Three in 10 truck drivers suffer from mild to severe sleep apnea.” Sleep apnea is a truck safety issue as well as a health issue for the general public. Sleep apnea leads to fatigue, which is a major cause of accidents.
Signs of sleep apnea can include daytime sleepiness, loud snoring, lack of concentration, and sometimes morning headaches. Even though sleep apnea can occur at all ages, family history can put people at a higher risk. Being overweight, family members with sleep apnea, men having a neck size over 17 inches, and the use of alcohol and tobacco are all risks according to the FMCSA sleep apnea guidelines.
Why wait for the FMCSA sleep apnea ruling to address the issues? The industry is already aware of this serious safety concern and there are solutions available for trucking companies and drivers wishing to address the issue of sleep apnea immediately. Aeroflow Industrial Clinics has developed a program to screen, test, treat and manage compliance for sleep apnea in an economical manner.