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Apnea Solutions

Sleep Apnea Graphic
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has directed their Certified Medical Examiners (CMEs) to back off diagnosing borderline or mild cases of sleep apnea and to concentrate their efforts on moderate to severe cases. The consequences of this guideline has perhaps been felt the hardest, by our industry’s hardest & longest working CDL drivers.

According to the FMCSA’s website:
A study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania and sponsored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the American Transportation Research Institute of the American Trucking Associations found that almost one-third (28 percent) of commercial truck drivers have mild to severe sleep apnea.1

Risk Factors for Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea occurs in all age groups and both sexes, but there are a number of factors that may put you at higher risk:

  • A family history of sleep apnea
  • Having a small upper airway
  • Being overweight
  • Having a recessed chin, small jaw, or a large overbite
  • A large neck size (17 inches or greater for men, 16 inches or greater for women)
  • Smoking and alcohol use
  • Being age 40 or older
  • Ethnicity

Symptoms of  Sleep Apnea

 

  • Loud snoring
  • Morning headaches and nausea
  • Gasping or choking while sleeping
  • Loss of sex drive/impotence
  • Excessive daytime sleepiness
  • Irritability and/or feelings of depression
  • Disturbed sleep
  • Concentration and memory problems
  • Frequent nighttime urination

NASTC’s Sleep Apnea Solution allows companies to have their driver pool screened for sleep apnea issues in advance of their DOT recertification dates.

This program offers an overnight pulse ox screening. This one-night screening test will give the CME the information that they need to make an informed decision concerning the likelihood of the presence of sleep apnea. The driver is given a copy of their screening test results with recommendations by a board certified sleep doctor. These recommendations will span from no sign of sleep apnea, to borderline sleep apnea, to sleep apnea suspected with the recommendation of a 4-channel confirmation test (HST).

Upon completion of the pulse ox screening, if signs of sleep apnea were found, a 4-channel confirmation test (HST) is available through NASTC for fractions of the cost from an overnight sleep laboratory. Our NASTC Medical Director will then be able to discuss the results directly with the driver via mobile device and the results will be given to the driver so he/she can also discuss with his/her primary care physician.

Should CPAP therapy be indicated, NASTC can help with the purchase of a “Trucker Tested CPAP” at a very affordable price.

If a CPAP is purchased through NASTC we will help with data downloads for your driver and a letter of compliance to assist with their DOT recertification process.

Being proactive on this issue is important, the more time we have to help you or your driver through this, generally the better.

For More Information Please Contact:

Skip Williams
skip.williams@nastc.com

Reference
1. Pack A.I., Dinges D.F, & Maislin G. (2002). A study of prevalence of sleep apnea among commercial truck drivers (Report No. DOT-RT-02-030). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation, FMCSA

"As a driver of 30+ years, at age 52 I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. At that time, I was a driver for Wal-Mart’s private fleet. Now, as an owner/operator for my own company I was introduced to Skip Williams after joining NASTC. I could not recommend them any higher based on my experience. Their service has gone above and beyond my expectations. From phone calls, voicemails and personalized emails, to data chips and masks being overnighted, Skip and the team at NASTC are top notch!"

Terry Morgan, Morgan Trucking Enterprises 1 Truck, Missouri