Professional Truck Drivers Obesity Impact on the Trucking Industry

Obesity among commercial truck drivers is said to be among the causes for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). The "drowsy truck driver syndrome" or medically known by most as sleep apnea, is believed to be related to many of the traffic accidents/violations caused by commercial truck drivers. The Greek word "apnea" plainly means "without breath". Obstructive Sleep Apnea is caused by an obstruction of the airway normally when the soft tissue in the back of the throat gives way and closes while sleeping. Research has established from a recent study that obesity is a main factor causing sleep apnea in professional truck drivers.

It is believed there could be as many as 14 million commercial vehicle drivers in the USA that go undiagnosed or untreated with Obstructive Sleeping Disorder (OSA). The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is requesting the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to begin a plan that requires truck drivers to be evaluated for OSA . As of late, The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is in view of making it mandatory for OSA screenings to be required for obese truck drivers before receiving their medical certification. Medical examiners would base sleep apnea screenings on body mass (BMI), which is figured on weight and height. One of the main reason trucking companies take a driver out of service is due to high-blood pressure. OSA will be just another future medical clearance that truck drivers will have to pass in order to stay in the drivers seat.

Obstructive Sleeping Disorder frequently remains undiagnosed by medical professionals which can be dangerous because it increases the risks of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, even impotency. According to a 15-month observation, 456 commercial drivers were tested through their employer and only 17% percent met the standard screening criteria for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Truck drivers that do not act in accordance with OSA treatment or sleep studies most likely received medical certification from medical professionals that do not screen for sleep apnea or were improperly treated. It is recommended, not enforced, that all truck drivers have OSA screenings to help reduce traffic accidents and violations.

Outside of the trucking industry, OSA is a common disorder that affects more than 18 million people in the United States. In many of these people, the condition is undiagnosed. People with sleep apnea literally stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, often for a minute or longer and as many as hundreds of times during a single night. OSA occurs in approximately 2 percent of women and 4 percent of men over the age of 35.

If you are a professional truck driver that is over the age of 35 and overweight, please get tested for OSA...your health and potentially life depends on it!