ARA Sent a Comment to FMCSA Regarding OSA Testing Standards
Jul 08 2016
ARA sent a comment to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) urging the administration to address conflicts of interests with certified medical examiners, clinics, or sleep specials profiting from driver sleep study referrals and sales of sleep apnea machines.
ARA members are experiencing issues when they go to renew their DOT medical cards from certified medical examiners listed on the FMCSA’s National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. On many occasions, the certified medical examiners are requiring the drivers to go for a sleep apnea evaluation, even though they have not experienced any previous health or sleep problems, and most would not be considered obese. The sleep apnea test is primarily being required due to the driver’s neck size.