The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently withdrew an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking regarding obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In a notice published in the August 4, 2017 Federal Register, the agencies stated they believe that current safety programs are appropriate and effective in addressing the hazards of OSA. Current regulations, still in effect, leave evaluation to the discretion of the examiner.

The FMCSA Medical Review Board, in an August 2016 recommendation, proposed guidelines for identifying drivers with OSA. The FMSCA will consider updating the “Bulletin to Medical Examiners and Training Organizations Regarding Obstructive Sleep Apnea.” A University of California, San Francisco study found 41 percent of CMV drivers may have OSA. The American Sleep Apnea Association estimates around 22 million people in the US have sleep apnea and 80 percent OSA remain undiagnosed.