FMCSA Adds Sleep Apnea Page to Website

The FMCSA has added a page to its website with links to information about sleep apnea and its potential effects on CDL drivers.
Although the driver qualification regulations in 49 CFR Part 391 do not specifically list sleep apnea as a disqualifying condition, a response to a Frequently Asked Question on the FMCSA website states that “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.”
The FMCSA also states, “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.”
The FMCSA makes it clear that the information on the new sleep apnea page is not considered to be regulations or even guidance. A disclaimer is included, stating: “The materials contained on this page were developed under a contract with the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) and are being disseminated by the FMCSA in the interest of information exchange. The FMCSA assumes no liability of the contents or use thereof. The materials contained on this page do not establish FMCSA policies or regulations, nor do they imply an endorsement or partiality by FMCSA of any product, the NSF, or the conclusions and/or recommendations contained in the materials. Trademarks or manufacturers’ names may appear herein only because they are considered essential to the object of the materials.”
The concerns about sleep apnea among the CDL driver community continue to garner a great deal of controversy. I encourage you to share your thoughts on the subject by commenting on this article.
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