Commenters looking to weigh in on the effects a potential sleep apnea rule would have on truck drivers and the trucking industry now have an extra month to do so.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, along with the Federal Railroad Administration, have extended the comment period for the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking an extra month, until July 8.
In the ANPRM, the agencies list 20 questions they would like answered in public comments. The questions, found here, touch on the problem of obstructive sleep apnea, the cost and benefits of treatment, screening procedures and diagnostics, medical personnel qualifications and restrictions and treatment effectiveness. Comments can be filed on with the DOT at this link.
The agencies held three public listening sessions in May, and several commenters, including the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, asked for an extension of the comment period to give commenters time to review and respond to the American Transportation Research Institute’s survey results on sleep apnea, which were released May 26.