FMCSA to Require Sleep Apnea Screening – Wake-Up Call or Government Overreach?

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

H2>😴 Introduction – The DOT Wants to Know If You Snore

Just when you thought the FMCSA couldn’t squeeze any tighter, here comes the next surprise: mandatory sleep apnea screening for truck drivers. Yep — they’re not just worried about your 14-hour clock anymore, they wanna know how you're sleeping.

Now if you’re thinking, “This sounds like another DOT overreach,” you’re not alone. Drivers are split — some say it’s a necessary step for safety, others see it as more red tape and another hit to the pocket. Either way, this proposed rule could put a lot of drivers on notice... or out of work.

Let’s break it down the trucker way — plain, real, and no sugar-coating.

🔑 Key Points – What the FMCSA Is Proposing

1. Sleep Apnea May Become Part of Your Medical Card Process
If the rule passes, medical examiners will have to screen drivers for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). They’ll look for red flags like:

A BMI over 33 or 35 (varies depending on who you ask)

Neck circumference over 17 inches (men) or 16 inches (women)

High blood pressure

Loud snoring or reported fatigue

If you trigger any of those? You might get referred for a sleep study before your medical card gets renewed. That means downtime, extra costs, and possibly a whole new world of CPAP machines.

2. FMCSA Tried This Before – But This Time It’s Serious
This isn’t the first time the FMCSA flirted with sleep rules. They tried it back in 2016 but backed off after a huge backlash from drivers and industry groups.

Now in 2025, it’s back — and it’s not just talk. The agency is taking public comments and seriously considering new rules. Word on the street is, some companies already act like it’s required, making drivers get tested before hire.

3. CPAP Machines May Become Part of Your Driving Record
If you’re diagnosed with sleep apnea, using a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine might become mandatory to stay qualified.

Here’s the kicker: many companies now want to see CPAP data to prove you’re using it at least 4 hours per night, 70% of the time. That means your sleep machine could literally snitch on you to the DOT.

🧠 Multiple Perspectives – Who’s For It, Who’s Against It?

Veteran Truckers Say:
“This is just more government control. I’ve been driving 30 years without issue, and now they’re saying I need a CPAP because my neck is thick?”
They’re not wrong. A lot of drivers feel targeted based on body size alone, which doesn’t always match real health or safety performance.

Medical Experts Say:
“Undiagnosed sleep apnea increases crash risk dramatically. Drivers with OSA are more likely to fall asleep behind the wheel.”
They argue it’s about public safety and keeping roads safer — not punishing drivers.

Owner-Operators Say:
“You want ME to pay $1,000 for a sleep test, miss work for a week, and maybe buy a $600 CPAP, just so I can stay legal?”
These folks see it as one more cost piled onto their already overloaded shoulders.

Big Carriers Say:
“Standardized health screening is good for business. It helps reduce crash risk and insurance rates.”
Of course they’re on board — they’ve got in-house clinics and deals with sleep study companies.

📦 Industry Reaction – Fight, Adapt, or Roll Over?

1. The Resistance is Building
Truckers all over forums like TruckingTruth, The Truckers Report, and TikTok are blowing up with rage. Many say they’ll fight it all the way to court. Others say they’re tired of being micromanaged like robots.

2. Some Are Adapting
Drivers who’ve already dealt with sleep apnea say it’s not all bad — in fact, many say they feel better rested and more alert with their CPAP machines. A few have even started YouTube channels reviewing sleep gear for truckers on the road.

3. Associations Are Weighing In
OOIDA and other groups are pushing back — hard. They argue the screening lacks scientific clarity and unfairly targets drivers based on body type. They want more driver input before any rule goes final.

🧾 Bottom Line – Help or Hassle?

Here’s the deal: sleep apnea is real. Drivers who have it and don’t treat it are at risk — not just for crashes, but for their own long-term health.

BUT…

Making it mandatory, expensive, and based on physical traits alone? That’s where most drivers draw the line. If you’re going to regulate sleep, at least make the tests affordable, fair, and based on actual performance — not just neck size.

And here’s the kicker: while they’re pushing this rule “for safety,” no one’s talking about fixing parking, cutting wait times, or stopping abuse from shippers and receivers. Funny how that works.

💬 Do YOU think the FMCSA’s sleep apnea screening is safety… or straight-up sabotage? Let us know in the comments.

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