Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/873209
September 2017 | Overdrive | 17 A rulemaking meant to establish criteria and processes for sleep apnea screening requirements for truck operators was withdrawn last month by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. A sleep apnea rule would have provided clarity to medical examin- ers, carrier employers and drivers about what criteria or combination of criteria would prompt a driver to be referred for an in-lab apnea test, as well as treat- ment protocol. Currently, medical examiners rely on any one of different sets of screen- ing protocols to determine apnea test referrals, which has caused confusion industry-wide. Some cases have brought charges of unwarranted referrals from drivers who see apnea testing companies, treatment device manu- facturers and doctors all cashing in on a gray area of regulation. FMCSA worked on a sleep apnea rule persistent- ly in 2016, including pub- lishing a pre-rule and con- ducting listening sessions around the country and apnea-focused meetings by two of its prominent advi- sory committees. However, the agency did not gather enough data to warrant a rulemaking, it said in a July regulatory update. In its Federal Register notice to withdraw the rulemaking, FMCSA says the current protocol in place for apnea screening is sufficient. That protocol, spelled out in a bulletin is- sued by the agency in Janu- ary 2015, puts the onus on drivers' medical examiners, encouraging them to refer drivers for apnea testing if they "believe the driver's respiratory condition is in any way likely to interfere with" safety. – James Jaillet and Todd Dills The rule's withdrawal preserves the system of giving medical examiners the discretion to determine which truckers are referred for apnea testing. THE TRUCKERS' VOICE Dave Nemo, who has been behind the mic on trucking radio programs for nearly 30 years, received three awards in a surprise ceremony at last month's Great American Trucking Show in Dallas. Nemo received a Lifetime Achievement award from an informal group of drivers, as well as a large plaque from TA/Petro and a crystal microphone from the St. Christopher's Fund. He also was given a free vacation to Hawaii. Nemo hosts a daily show on SiriusXM's Road Dog Trucking station. Top truckers will receive $25,000 each The contests for Owner-Operator of the Year and Company Driver of the Year opened Sept. 18 and will close Nov. 10. The winner of each contest will receive $25,000, while runners-up receive $2,500. The contests are sponsored by Love's Trav- el Stops and Cummins. The Truckload Carriers Association organizes the contests with Overdrive for the owner-operator award and with Truckers News for the company driver award. Visit truckload.org/DOY17 to access contest criteria and the application. Finalists for each contest will receive a trip to the TCA annual meeting, March 25-28 in Kissimmee, Florida, where the winners will be announced. DOT withdraws apnea screening criteria rulemaking