We are often asked about FMCSA sleep apnea regulations. Here are a couple of those questions and their answers as they apply to FMCSA sleep apnea regulations.
Who can serve as a Medical Examiner and perform DOT physical exams?
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations define Medical Examiner as a person who is licensed, certified and/or registered in accordance with applicable State laws and regulations to perform physical examinations. The term includes but is not limited to doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathy, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses and doctors of chiropractic.
Is Sleep Apnea disqualifying?
Drivers should be disqualified until the diagnosis of sleep apnea has been ruled out or has been treated successfully. As a condition of continuing qualification, it is recommended that a CMV driver agree to continue uninterrupted therapy such as CPAP, etc. / monitoring and undergo objective testing as required.
A driver with a diagnosis of (probable) sleep apnea or a driver who has Excessive Daytime Somnolence(EDS) should be temporarily disqualified until the condition is either ruled out by objective testing or successfully treated.
Narcolepsy and sleep apnea account for about 70% of EDS. EDS lasting from a few days to a few weeks should not limit a driver’s ability in the long run. However, persistent or chronic sleep disorders causing EDS can be a significant risk to the driver and the public. The examiner should consider general certification criteria at the initial and follow-up examinations:
~ Severity and frequency of EDS
~ Presence or absence of warning of attacks
~ Possibility of sleep during driving
~ Degree of symptomatic relief with treatment
~ Compliance with treatment.
For additional information on FMCSA sleep apnea regulations follow the links for information on our site or visit the FMCSA website at www.fmcsa.dot.gov.