Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Commercial Trucking

This report reviews the current guidance for health care providers who evaluate the medical fitness of commercial motor vehicle operators who had been diagnosed with or are at risk of having Obstructive Sleep Apnea. For many years in many safety sensitive occupations, the impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) on safety has been gaining increased attention. There are several sources of guidance health care providers involved in the evaluation or treatment of commercial motor vehicle operators who have been diagnosed with or are at risk of having OSA should be aware of and consider in assessing those individual’s fitness for duty. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has no regulatory requirements for the medical certification of commercial motor vehicle operators who had been diagnosed with or are at risk of having Obstructive Sleep Apnea. There are several resources Medical Examiners and others should consider when involved in the medical certification process.