The Impact of Driver Fatigue on Truck Drivers, Insurance Rates for Transportation Industry

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conservatively estimates that 100,000 police-reported crashes are the direct result of driver fatigue each year. This results in an estimated 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries, and $12.5 billion in monetary losses. One of the causes of accidents, particularly among transportation operators, is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) – a common disorder that can cause perilous levels of fatigue in drivers who need to remain alert at work. The airways of people who suffer from apnea close repeatedly while they sleep, interrupting their breathing dozens of times an hour. They often don’t notice the interruptions, but it leaves them exhausted and prone to doze off during the day. Behind the wheel of a large, speeding vehicle, the results are predictably catastrophic for motor carriers and the transportation sector with large fleets.

How widespread is the problem of OSA among commercial truck drivers? A study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania and sponsored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) of the American Trucking Associations found that about one-third of commercial truck drivers have mild to severe sleep apnea. The Cleveland Clinic estimates as many as 80% of OSA cases nationwide go undiagnosed.

“What we know is that for commercial drivers with obstructive sleep apnea who are treated, we see a 73% reduction in preventable driving accidents,” Dr. Nathaniel Watson, immediate past president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and a board certified neurologist and sleep specialist.

The problem of OSA has the federal government issuing a proposed new rule requiring all commercial truckers, bus drivers and railroad workers to undergo screening for the disease. The Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) took the first toward that potential rule back in March, which could also mandate treatment for those diagnosed. “It is imperative for everyone’s safety that commercial motor vehicle drivers and train operators be fully focused and immediately responsive at all times,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement in March, when the DOT announced the proposal. Critics of the proposed rules, however, including independent truckers and their representatives, argue screening can lead to lost work opportunities for truckers and cost them big, especially without health insurance.

In the meantime, the price of a potential accident by a commercial driver nodding off behind the wheel can be costly for a motor carrier both financially and to its reputation. Additionally, accidents as result of driver fatigue are impacting Commercial Auto insurance rates. Insurers are looking at how proactive motor carriers and transportation companies are in addressing sleep apnea among their drivers. How well are they vetting drivers? Do they have a fatigue management program in place and are they adhering to the program? How do they deal with sleep apnea? This all contributes to the cost of Commercial Auto insurance coverage for a motor carrier.

For example, some transportation companies conduct sleep apnea studies and purchase CPAP  (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machines for drivers diagnosed with sleep apnea. CPAP is the most common treatment for OSA, and requires bedtime use of a quiet machine, mask and tube that pushes room air into the nose and mouth. CPAP acts as an internal splint that prevents the airway from collapsing, thus helping individuals get a good night’s rest. Other companies are using advanced technologies to help identify tired, drowsy or distracted drivers. Those with commercial fleets should track driving hours automatically in real-time by installing electronic logging devices registered and certified by the FMCSA. By end of 2017, in fact, these devices will be mandated. In addition, companies should implement best practices for dispatchers, as this is where hours of service issues originate. Poor dispatching and load planning can cause drivers to feel pressure from the dispatchers and management to get the trip done, regardless of the time constraints.

Roanoke Trade specializes in providing end-to-end insurance solutions for logistics service providers and the transportation industry. This includes providing Business Auto insurance and Motor Truck Cargo Liability for your trucking operation. To learn more about our programs, please contact one of our professionals at 1-800-ROANOKE (800-762-6653).