Study finds free CPAP machines save on truckers’ other medical costs

[D.H.]

This study focuses mainly on heath issues not related to accidents. However, safety is mentioned in passing and "overall" health costs probably do include injuries. Property damage costs are addressed only in passing.

Typically, a CPAP machine costs under US$800, and lasts for five years. Supplies generally will cost $150/year.

Remember than the cost of treating heart attack will cost more in one day than the five-year cost of CPAP and supplies (and that's only considering the medical bills).


Link ===> https://www.fleetowner.com/safety/study ... ical-costs

[chunkyfrog]

Logic overcoming greed!
Can it be true?

[EricTheRead]

And yet...

I have family members with a CDL. There has been a lot of concern about truck drivers who have sleep apnea losing their CDL. We're talking about it in the family quite a bit these days. Our concern is that in the near future, a diagnosis of Sleep Apnea will result in the loss of the CDL, regardless of whether the driver has compliant CPAP usage or not. Some sources say states / the Fed is thinking of considering Sleep Apnea in the same category as narcolepsy or epilepsy. Hopefully they mean untreated sleep apnea. One never knows what ill-informed politicians and the apparatchiki that work for them come up with.

Look at this debate: https://www.alltruckjobs.com/blog/new-l ... eep-apnea/

I think truck drivers using a CPAP who can prove compliance are a safer driver than the drivers who have sleep apnea and aren't using a CPAP. I hope the Government (I'm on shaky ground right there) does the right thing and recognizes the positive value of compliant CPAP therapy. I'd much rather have drivers sleeping well with a CPAP than not.

They withdrew proposals to require sleep apnea testing for certain roles in 2017, but those proposals are still being discussed. One hopes, as was said below, logic will prevail.