Insights - September/October 2017 - 23

Sleep Apnea - from page 21
home more often, increasing off-duty hours and making the
crew assignment process more predictable. In addition, carriers
are offering fatigue education programs and encouraging sleep
disorder screening and treatment. Another change is requiring
that employees who have been off work for three days or more
start their shifts in the middle of the day rather than at night in
order not to disrupt sleep cycles.
"Norfolk Southern requires new hires and employees in
safety-sensitive operations positions to disclose any diagnosis
of sleep apnea," spokesman Jonathan Glass said. "Individuals
with a diagnosis of sleep apnea are not permitted to perform
safety-sensitive work unless they provide documentation
establishing that their condition is
appropriately treated and controlled." NS
is exploring added steps to identify sleep
apnea screening candidates.
Garrish said the rule's withdrawal
doesn't have much immediate effect,
other than the fact that it would have
given medical examiners certified by
FMCSA more guidance on how to address
the issue with drivers.
Sleep apnea was prominent in
FMCSA's publication of standards in 2014
that certified medical examiners, known
as CMEs, must use in CDL examinations.
The increased accountability, Garrish said,
stimulated CMEs to "order sleep studies
for a huge number of drivers."
"Without the [apnea] rule," he said, "we
have a kind of Wild West where examiners
will send everybody for testing because
they have no guidelines or idea of who
to send. We could use a good thoughtful
regulation to set clear expectations and
remove guesswork that the CMEs have to
live with."
Sleep apnea and fatigue continue
to be very sensitive subjects for some
drivers, experts said.
"There is still a lot of fear," Garrish said,
"and it's well-founded. It's their career. If
they don't pass a physical it obviously
hurts their livelihood."
"Each driver is different," Garrish said.
"Some are experiencing symptoms daily
and recognize something is wrong. They
are happy to be tested because they are
looking for answers. Others who might
not be as aware of their symptoms, or
experiencing less symptoms, may be less
willing to be tested."
"Others are just fearful of what the
testing will be like or what the diagnosis
will mean and how it will change their
day-to-day lives," DiSalvi added. "We have
countless stories of drivers who were

hesitant to get tested, but once they were diagnosed and treated
have said they feel so much better."
Participation levels are a concern, the SleepSafe official
added, because studies have shown drivers stop using devices
such as continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, units
about half the time unless they're monitored. Participation can be
checked using wireless devices.
Some research has found that sleep studies are very
expensive for drivers. A 2016 study by ATRI based on 800 truck
drivers outlines reasons for the drivers' concern. The average outof-pocket cost of sleep apnea studies for surveyed drivers was
$1,200, or about 1.5 times weekly trucker wages as measured
by the Commerce Department. More than half of those surveyed
said the carriers they drive for didn't pay for the test.

September/October 2017 | Intermodal Insights

23


http://www.IMCCompanies.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Insights - September/October 2017

IANA News
EXPO Attendees Encounter Better Market, Technology Promise, More Show Features
Passion, Professionalism among Wide Range of Qualities Intermodal Employers Stress
Sleep Apnea, Fatigue Continue to Be Key Safety Concerns
Freight Report
Intermodal Prospects Brighten Despite Disruptions, Participants Say
Intermodal Technology Efforts Gain, More Coordination Needed
International Market Shifts Force Providers to Adjust
Cross-Border, Mid Range Intermodal Markets Could Spur More Intermodal Growth
As ELD Compliance Date Approaches, EXPO Panelists Stress Driver, Technology Implications
Committees Report Progress on Recommended Practices, Safety, Other Issues
New Approaches to Safety
Government News
Intermodal Information Services News
People News
Welcome New Members
Intermodal Calendar
Insights - September/October 2017 - Cover1
Insights - September/October 2017 - 2
Insights - September/October 2017 - 3
Insights - September/October 2017 - IANA News
Insights - September/October 2017 - EXPO Attendees Encounter Better Market, Technology Promise, More Show Features
Insights - September/October 2017 - 6
Insights - September/October 2017 - 7
Insights - September/October 2017 - 8
Insights - September/October 2017 - 9
Insights - September/October 2017 - 10
Insights - September/October 2017 - 11
Insights - September/October 2017 - 12
Insights - September/October 2017 - Passion, Professionalism among Wide Range of Qualities Intermodal Employers Stress
Insights - September/October 2017 - 14
Insights - September/October 2017 - 15
Insights - September/October 2017 - 16
Insights - September/October 2017 - 17
Insights - September/October 2017 - 18
Insights - September/October 2017 - Sleep Apnea, Fatigue Continue to Be Key Safety Concerns
Insights - September/October 2017 - 20
Insights - September/October 2017 - Freight Report
Insights - September/October 2017 - 22
Insights - September/October 2017 - 23
Insights - September/October 2017 - 24
Insights - September/October 2017 - Intermodal Prospects Brighten Despite Disruptions, Participants Say
Insights - September/October 2017 - Intermodal Technology Efforts Gain, More Coordination Needed
Insights - September/October 2017 - 27
Insights - September/October 2017 - International Market Shifts Force Providers to Adjust
Insights - September/October 2017 - 29
Insights - September/October 2017 - 30
Insights - September/October 2017 - Cross-Border, Mid Range Intermodal Markets Could Spur More Intermodal Growth
Insights - September/October 2017 - 32
Insights - September/October 2017 - As ELD Compliance Date Approaches, EXPO Panelists Stress Driver, Technology Implications
Insights - September/October 2017 - Committees Report Progress on Recommended Practices, Safety, Other Issues
Insights - September/October 2017 - New Approaches to Safety
Insights - September/October 2017 - Government News
Insights - September/October 2017 - Intermodal Information Services News
Insights - September/October 2017 - 38
Insights - September/October 2017 - People News
Insights - September/October 2017 - Welcome New Members
Insights - September/October 2017 - 41
Insights - September/October 2017 - 42
Insights - September/October 2017 - 43
Insights - September/October 2017 - Intermodal Calendar
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