Schneider National Inc, based in Green Bay WI, has received the 2007 National Sleep Foundation (NSF) Healthy Sleep Community Award for creating an obstructive sleep apnea detection and treatment program for its drivers.
”Ideally, we expect our program will serve as a model for the entire trucking industry,” said Don Osterberg, vice-president-safety and training for Schneider. “The industry needs to generate awareness of this problem, educate drivers to the dangers of untreated sleep apnea, provide resources to help them get treated, and ultimately make the roads safer for everyone.”
Through the program, 547 Schneider drivers were tested from April to December 2006. Of those tested, 445 (80 percent) were diagnosed with a sleep disorder and provided treatment. Schneider initiated an education campaign to raise awareness within the organization. The carrier used newsletters, posters, leadership involvement, and one-on-one meetings with its drivers, according to the NSF.
Sleep apnea is characterized by pauses in breathing that last at least 10 seconds or more and can occur up to 400 times per night. Signs of sleep apnea include daytime sleepiness, falling asleep at inappropriate times, loud snoring, depression, irritability, loss of sex drive, morning headaches, frequent nighttime urination, lack of concentration, and memory impairment. Research indicates that untreated sleep apnea puts drivers at increased risk for motor vehicle crashes as well as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and diabetes, and may contribute to obesity, NSF said.
In addition to the health and safety aspects, Schneider saw a reduction in health care costs. These savings were passed on to its drivers, as Schneider provided each identified driver with a free continuous positive airway pressure machine, which is the standard treatment for sleep apnea.
Schneider initiated its tests after a study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the American Trucking Associations (ATA) revealed up to 28 percent of commercial driver license holders have some severity of the condition.