Sleep Apnea
Topic 17816 | Page 1
You can be a truck driver with sleep apnea , though there might be limits to the severity of the apnea that they will accept.
A lot of truck drivers have CPAP machines.
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
CPAP:
Constant Positive Airway Pressure
CPAP is a breathing assist device which is worn over the mouth or nose. It provides nighttime relief for individuals who suffer from Sleep Apnea.
There are literally tens of thousands of professional drivers using CPAP machines. It will in no way limit you from getting a CDL. You will be required to have a machine that monitors your usage and can send reports to your employer, but that will all get settled out at your orientation when hiring on with a company. You will also have to use a proper machine that records your usage for thirty days prior to being hired by a trucking company. That is a federal regulation that they need to have thirty days records on file for you as you get started.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
CPAP:
Constant Positive Airway Pressure
CPAP is a breathing assist device which is worn over the mouth or nose. It provides nighttime relief for individuals who suffer from Sleep Apnea.
Thanks Farmerbob1 and Old School. Do you know how I could get a CPAP machine and do you know which company would hire a drive with sleep apnea?
Thanks again
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
CPAP:
Constant Positive Airway Pressure
CPAP is a breathing assist device which is worn over the mouth or nose. It provides nighttime relief for individuals who suffer from Sleep Apnea.
Thanks Farmerbob1 and Old School. Do you know how I could get a CPAP machine and do you know which company would hire a drive with sleep apnea?
Thanks again
The trucking company can probably provide one, and deduct it from your pay in installments. That's what Stevens did for me.
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
CPAP:
Constant Positive Airway Pressure
CPAP is a breathing assist device which is worn over the mouth or nose. It provides nighttime relief for individuals who suffer from Sleep Apnea.
The trucking company can probably provide one, and deduct it from your pay in installments. That's what Stevens did for me.
Exactly, and that is what I would recommend. Each company is going to have a particular machine that they want to use because it will be one that they are accustomed to getting the data feeds from. I know at Prime they do the same thing that Stevens does, they provide you the machine and then deduct payments from your paychecks until you have it paid. I have heard of other companies doing this same thing, namely Maverick, and Werner, but I think most of the large carriers will handle it this way.
Here's a bunch of information about sleep apnea for truck drivers:
Information About Sleep Apnea For Truck Drivers
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
BMI:
Body mass index (BMI)
BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:
- Underestimate body fat for older adults or other people with low muscle mass
- Overestimate body fat for people who are very muscular and physically fit
It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.
Thanks to all that replied to my questions. I am going to look for a DOT medical examiner and go from there.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
I suffer from sleep Apnea and had no problem becoming a truck driver. Just make sure you stay compliant with your your treatment.
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
Thanks Michael C. Everything I have been told has been a great help.
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Hopefully someone can answer a question for me. I am thinking about becoming a truck driver. My question is will I be able to get a CDL with sleep apnea. I live in Colorado and have been told different things by different people. Some tell me don't worry about and others tell I will never get a CDL. What is the truth. Any help will be appreciated. Be safe out on the roads.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.