Diagnosing Sleep Apnea in CMV Drivers

Sleep apnea is a major health epidemic among long-haul truck drivers. Untreated, OSA, or obstructive sleep apnea, can make it difficult for truckers to stay awake, focus, and react quickly while driving. It is a potentially life-threatening condition because not only can it reduce the flow of oxygen to organs and cause irregular heart rhythms, it also affects daytime alertness and performance.

The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) is very clear about its stance on sleep apnea – a motor carrier may not permit a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle if the driver has OSA, which would affect his or her ability to safely operate the vehicle.

Factors contributing to sleep apnea include obesity, lack of physical fitness, bad diet, smoking and poor sleep patterns. Complications from OSA include fatigue, cardiovascular problems, eye troubles and complications with medications and surgery.

Are you a Certified DOT Medical Examiner and are interested in additional OSA Training? NADME.org’s Obstructive Sleep Apnea Diagnosis and Treatment CDL Examiner Certification training program provides the tools you need to identify drivers with OSA.

This course will help explain the guidance issued by the DOT/ FMCSA for examiners to use to detect, suggest treatment options, and provide certification options for commercial drivers who have been identified with OSA. Contact us today at (855) 695-0688 to learn how you can obtain a CDL examiner certification with a specialty in identifying and treating OSA.