Professionals monitor sleep apnea when examining trucker health

Recently, many professionals in the trucking industry have focused on finding various ways to improve trucker health. For example, the U.S. recently made a point to review laws concerning how long truckers can drive without breaks, as overly long hours are connected to health risks such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, The Chicago Tribune reports.

In the past, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration also announced their concerns that truckers are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea. The News-Leader reports that in a 2002 study, the administration found that as many as 28% of all commercial drivers have some type of sleep apnea. This can be a serious problem for truckers, as the issue can be linked to daytime drowsiness, which may lead to more accidents and problems on the road.

Therefore, in order to combat this health issue, individuals who have completed CDL training are encouraged to go to biennial physical examinations and undergo sleep screenings. Additionally, for those drivers who have sleep apnea, they must see a physician annually, as their condition must be closely watched. 

Professionals monitor sleep apnea when examining trucker health

Tuesday, November 15th, 2011