Sleep apnea

Discussion in 'Driver Health' started by rumbarrel, Feb 18, 2008.

  1. rumbarrel

    rumbarrel Light Load Member

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    Feb 14, 2008
    Gardnerville, NV
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    I have a very important question about sleep apnea and truck driving. Will a person who has sleep apnea, but is able to control it by using a cpap have trouble getting into this business?? :smt015
     
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  3. Markk9

    Markk9 "On your mark"

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    Lehigh Valley, PA
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    No, as long as you have it under control with a CPAP. I have driving and with a CPAP for 3 years. My CPAP is my best friend at bed, had to bump the wife down to second.

    Mark
     
  4. truckdriver402

    truckdriver402 Light Load Member

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    Oct 17, 2007
    Orwell, OH
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    I, too, have a cpap machine. It has improved my sleep dramatically! I don't know how I made it without one. In fact, often I would sleep all night, wake up and drive 2 hours, and need another nap.
     
  5. rumbarrel

    rumbarrel Light Load Member

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    Feb 14, 2008
    Gardnerville, NV
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    I suppose when applying for a school and taking the DOT physical I should be totally honest and mention my condition?

    Do most trucks have an outlet I can plug the cpap into?

    thanks in advance for your replies :biggrin_25518:
     
  6. jlkklj777

    jlkklj777 20 Year Truckload Veteran

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    Duncannon, Pa
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    No trucks will not normally have an outlet for your cpap machine. You will need an inverter to run your machine. a 350 to 400 watt inverter can be plugged into a normal cigarette lighter outlet and will have enough juice to run your machine.

    Larger inverters will need to be wired directly to the trucks batteries and some companies may not allow this so be sure to check before buying a larger inverter.

    As the other posters stated having sleep apnea is NOT a disqualification for driving. You may have to prove your using the machine through an official transcript from your sleep doctor showing the cpaps usage which will have hours in use plus blower hours.
     
  7. truckerdad57

    truckerdad57 Light Load Member

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    Nov 29, 2008
    Batavia, IL
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    Rumbarrell

    You HAVE to be totally honest and tell the DOT medical examiner all of your medical conditions. Failure to tell the medical examiner you have sleep apnea would be perjury a felony, it would invalidate your DOT medical card, and be a violation of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.

    The REAL problem would be if you ever were in a major accident. The plaintiff's attorney would subpeona your medical records and it would come out that you have sleep apnea and did not report it on your DOT medical.

    There is a truck driver in Kansas currently serving a 7 year sentence for vehicular manslaughter. He had sleep apnea.. did not use his CPAP and lied on his DOT medical.

    Jumping through all the medical and administrative hoops with sleep apnea is a royal pain in the butt.. But I would rather do that than risk spending time in jail.. of worse.. die from all the complications untreated sleep apnea causes.
     
  8. jasonnr7

    jasonnr7 Bobtail Member

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    Dec 8, 2010
    Longmont, CO
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    Statistics would say that 50% of truckers have sleep apnea or a case of it! There are new alternatives to sleep apnea instead of using a CPAP.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 14, 2010
  9. bluesofty

    bluesofty Bobtail Member

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    Jan 4, 2011
    huber heights, ohio
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    yeah, I'm gonna be sure and provide some documentation in writing to any potential employer concerning my sleep apnea.....I use my CPAP every night, and it really helps.
     
  10. Bumpy

    Bumpy Road Train Member

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    If the DOT is so worried about my sleeping properly,why dont they "FIX" the whole #### OTR trucking industry...-For you OTR guys,& gals,I do not have to explain any further.
     
    123456 Thanks this.
  11. orion3814

    orion3814 Medium Load Member

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    Dec 31, 2008
    tulsa, ok
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    come on guys its not about sleep apnea its about time stamps the only true way to see if your in the sleeper sleeping is to force you to wear a cpap which is a sleep timer in essence.... it is 100% crossreferenceable to your logs....
     
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