The apnea
Since FMCSA's Medical Review Board formed in 2005, regulators have advocated more scru- tiny of conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea, which can be treated in- cab with use of continuous positive airway devices like the one shown here.
P
ending regulatory initiatives could make it much more difficult for truckers, especially those with
obstructive sleep apnea, to obtain or renew a medical certificate. One apnea proposal would tie
a Body Mass Index threshold to mandatory testing. Another would
24 OVERDRIVE FEBRUARY 2012
disqualify drivers on certain apnea- related scenarios, such as refusing treatment. The creation of a National Registry
of Certified Medical Examiners also promises to be a major regulatory move. A final rule on it was expected to be announced by the end of January.
Such certification would considerably reduce doctor shopping by truckers in poor health because only certified examiners, who would be trained and tested, could issue a CDL medical certificate. The registry will also bear on sleep apnea because drivers can expect more unified testing of the disorder
