By Amy Sienicki
October 22, 2009
WHITE CITY, Ore. - A sleeping disorder is raising concerns about safety on the road.
The National Transportation Safety Board is recommending changes to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration which regulates the trucking industry. Those recommendations include implementing a program to help identify and treat truck drivers with sleep apnea.
Rogue Community College Truck Driving Teacher George Collins says it could require a lot of time and money to test for sleep apnea.
"The cost of that is about $2,000 a sleep study. And the waiting list for some sleep studies is as much as six months," RCC Truck Driving Teacher George Collins said.
Meanwhile, the Oregon Department of Transportation is checking truck driver's log books and qualifications at both the Ashland and Klamath Falls ports of entry.
Earlier Thursday, six truck drivers received 10 hour suspensions at the Ashland port. Five of those 6 were sited for not taking their necessary sleeping break. By law, truck drivers must take a 10 hour break every day they work.
Comments
Sleep Apnea in Truckers
Thanks to KDRV for covering this critical issue. In the article, George Collins mentioned a serious concern that could block the industry's goal to provide "testing to treatment for sleep apnea", specifically that tests cost $2,000 and wait lines at sleep laboratories can be six months long. In regard to that "historic" problem, there is now a clear and convincing solution.
Just as the capabilities, size and cost of cell phones and computers have taken giant leaps forward in the last ten years, so have the methods for testing and treating sleep apnea. Portable sleep studies that can be done right in your own bed (or truck cab) are now covered by Medicare and many insurance companies. These small "Type III" test devices, about the size of a Blackberry phone, have been used for more than 14,000 successful tests at Kaiser, been adopted by the VA system (who has too few lab beds), and have become the primary method of testing across Europe over the last decade. Why? Because they are accurate, less than half the cost, and there is basically no wait for the tests. So, the cost and wait time issues have effectively been solved.
Further, the FMCSA's Medical Review Board mentioned specifically that portable/Ambulatory sleep tests were acceptable for testing drivers previously screened with questionnaires for sleep apnea (FMCSA-MRB Recommendations 1/2008). Our company, SleepSafe Drivers, has created a new "On-Site" testing program designed specifically for truckers in which we actually deliver and set up the test device with the driver at their terminal where they are going to sleep in their cab (or commute to their home), and then download and score the test early the next morning. If the driver does have sleep apnea, we'll have them set up and trained on their new APAP device and mask before noon the next day. Then, our "Sure Compliance" program follows up with and coaches the driver to help ensure they can adjust to therapy and gain all the health and safety benefits from treatment. We'll also provide drivers a certificate of compliance to present at their next DOT physical exam.
We have implemented this program at numerous companies, and are doing a full clinical study with a top-ten fleet to document the total savings from reduced accidents, reduced health expenses, reduced turnover of employees, etc. In fact, fleets will save more than the cost of the testing and treatment just in the first year due to lowered accident and health expenses.
Interested fleets can contact Alan Mann, VP of Risk Mitigation at 858 414-3418, or alansleepsafe@gmail.com, or visit www.sleepsafedrivers.com
Most importantly, the cost of testing has dropped by more than half, the process can be done in one night and morning with no wait times, and truckers can reap the benefits of greater health, alertness, energy, weight loss, and safety. It's a win for the drivers, fleets, and driving public.
Regards,
Dana Voien
President
SleepSafe Drivers
www.sleepsafedrivers.com
While some valid points
While some valid points might have been made by "at fault," the real responsibility for drivers not taking proper sleep breaks rests the reason truck drivers r getting sleepy on the road is very simple.... you are given a 14 hour window in which you must complete your shift.... no allowances for rest (extension of drive time after rest )....SO DRIVERS KEEP DRIVING instead of stopping to take a break INSIDE their 14 hour window in which they may drive 11 hours.... OUR GOVERNMENT is run by criminal minded idiots who are 100 PERCENT AT FAULT and they KNOW this. And also forget about cheap car insurance for drivers from our goverment.
A CPAP machine could be the answer
I know many people who suffer from sleep apena use a CPAP machine to help them sleep. Maybe that could be a solution for some of these truck drivers?
test for sleep apnea
I think it a great idea to get these truck drivers tested for sleep apnea because it is crucial to everyone's safety that these people get a good nights rest. I used to have sleep apnea until I used a CPAP machine and now I get the best sleep of my life. I would recommend it to anyone!
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Driving and operating trucks
Driving and operating trucks is a serious job.They should have lot of stamina and knowledge in directions, and some skill in dealing with clients.
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