A fatigued commercial truck driver is more likely to have an accident and become a danger to themselves and others on the road, thereby increasing the cost of Commercial Truck Insurance. Fatigue can affect a driver's thought process, lower their awareness of hazards, reduce reaction time, impact their judgment, impair their vision, and cause them to fall asleep at the wheel.
Studies reveal that "65% of truck drivers report that they often or sometimes feel drowsy while driving, and nearly half of truck drivers admit that they had actually fallen asleep while driving in the previous year."
The Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS) reported that "13 percent of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers were considered to have been fatigued at the time of their crash." However, many experts believe this number is significantly underestimated.
Many things can cause fatigue, such as lack of sleep, poor eating habits, stress, and a medical condition called sleep apnea (which is usually treatable). A "Study of Prevalence of Sleep Apnea Among Commercial Truck Drivers," sponsored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), revealed that "17.6 percent of CDL holders had mild sleep apnea, 5.8 percent had moderate sleep apnea, and 4.7 percent had severe sleep apnea."
What is Sleep Apnea?
According to the Mayo Clinic, "Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts" while the person is sleeping. There are three main types of sleep apnea:
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is the more common form that occurs when throat muscles relax and block the flow of air into the lungs
- Central sleep apnea (CSA) occurs when the brain doesn't send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing
- Treatment-emergent central sleep apnea, also known as complex sleep apnea, which happens when someone has OSA — diagnosed with a sleep study — that converts to CSA when receiving therapy for OSA
Risk factors for sleep apnea may include a family history of sleep apnea, being overweight, large neck circumference, smoking and alcohol use, age, and certain medical conditions.
Common symptoms of sleep apnea include the following:
- Loud snoring
- Gasping and choking while sleeping
- Waking up with a dry mouth
- Headaches or nausea in the morning
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Irritability
- Concentration and memory issues
In addition to fatigue, sleep apnea can increase your risk of high blood pressure or other heart problems, Type 2 diabetes, complications with medicines and surgery, and liver problems.
To diagnose sleep apnea, you may be able to use a home sleep test that measures your heart rate, blood oxygen level, airflow, and breathing patterns. Or you may need to stay overnight at a sleep center where they will hook you up to equipment to monitor your heart, lung, and brain activity, breathing patterns, arm and leg movements, and blood oxygen levels while you sleep.
Most cases of sleep apnea are treatable. Moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea often benefits from using a CPAP (Continuous positive airway pressure) machine that delivers air pressure through a mask while you sleep. Other treatments include oral appliances designed to keep your throat open, supplemental oxygen, or surgery.
Can You Still Drive a CMV if You Have Been Diagnosed With Sleep Apnea?
The FMCSA does not explicitly mention sleep apnea; however, it does state that anyone with a medical history or clinical diagnosis of a condition likely to interfere with their ability to drive safely is not medically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. The good news is that once successfully treated, a driver can be deemed medically qualified to operate a CMV.
Don't Overpay For Truck Insurance!
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