In September, we wrote that the National Transportation Safety Board recommended a ban on cell phone use by all commercial drivers, including truckers. Truck accidents are often among the most injurious and fatal on the road because these 18-wheelers are so much larger than other vehicles.

But there is another recognized hazard in the trucking industry that may be causing accidents on highways in Tennessee and across the country: sleep apnea. This medical condition is characterized by brief but frequent interruptions in breathing during sleep. The result is that sleep apnea sufferers often fail to get deep or restful sleep, which can lead to fatigue and drowsiness during waking hours.

Some studies have shown that sleep apnea affects a disproportionate number of truckers. It is also more common in overweight individuals.

For these reasons, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has been struggling with how to address this hazard in the trucking industry. But a recent meeting of two government advisory panels may have brought regulators closer to a workable solution.

Last month, the two groups developed a proposal to require obstructive-sleep-apnea screening for all truck drivers who have a body mass index of 35 or higher. If the proposal is adopted by the FMCSA, there would also be guidelines developed for how to respond in cases of drivers who do not pass the screening test.

Sleep apnea often leads to fatigue and drowsiness during waking hours. Since truck drivers spend their waking hours behind the wheel of some of the largest vehicles on the road, it is easy to see how untreated sleep apnea could quickly cause a devastating truck accident. Therefore, it is crucial that federal regulators address this road hazard quickly and effectively.

Source: The Huffington Post, "Sleep Apnea In Truck Drivers: Advisory Panels Recommend Screening For Condition In Obese Drivers," Amanda L. Chan, Dec. 21, 2011