Last week, we discussed the relationship between trucking industry lobbyists and members of Congress. Trucking industry lobbyists have convinced federal lawmakers to roll back hours-of-service rules and to complicate efforts to test commercial drivers for sleep apnea.

Commercial truck drivers with sleep apnea are a major threat to public safety. Sleep apnea is a condition that causes multiple episodes of breathing cessation throughout the night. People with sleep apnea wake up several times each night, and can suffer from excessive daytime drowsiness and attention problems.

Sleep apnea creates a dangerous combination of symptoms for people driving large vehicles weighing tens of thousands of pounds. In fact, a recent study from the Harvard School of Public Health has discovered that truck drivers with sleep apnea are five times more likely to cause accidents than those without the condition.

Because sleep apnea is treatable, commercial truck drivers could be tested and treated for the condition before causing truck accidents. As it turns out, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has previously considered a rule to test and treat commercial drivers for sleep apnea, but faced opposition from lobbyists. Despite prior opposition, additional efforts to test and treat commercial drivers for sleep apnea may become a reality in the near future.

Sleep Apnea and Trucking: Will the FMCSA Create New Rules for Testing?

The FMCSA and Federal Railroad Commission (FRC) are seeking public feedback for a possible sleep apnea rule. Last month, the FMCSA and FRC held listening sessions in Washington D.C., Chicago and Los Angeles to encourage public discussion and gather more information on this safety issue.

People who are interested in contributing to a potential sleep apnea rule can leave comments by visiting www.regulations.gov.

The Colorado truck accident attorneys at Metier Law Firm can help victims of truck accidents hold commercial carriers accountable for negligence.