One of the disturbing things we encounter in trucking litigation is the lack of any regulatory requirement of screening for obstructive sleep apnea, even though so many truck drivers fit the profile to be at high risk for the disorder — middle aged, overweight, hyptertensive, sedentary, etc. According to a July 2002 study released by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 28.1 percent of Commercial Drivers License holders have mild, moderate or severe sleep apnea.

Now Schneider National has published a white paper that reveals its sleep apnea screening and treatment program has generated a return on investment in the form of savings on medical costs, accident reduction, reduced turnover and increased productivity.

Most significant for public safety, the study showed a 73 percent reduction in preventable driving accidents among a group of 225 SDB-diagnosed drivers treated with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices, which are essentially breathing masks that use air pressure to ensure airways remain open during sleep.

The Shigley Law Firm  represents plaintiffs in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases statewide in Georgia, and in other states subject to the multijurisdictional practice and pro hac vice rules in each state. Ken Shigley was designated as a "SuperLawyer" in Atlanta Magazine and one of the "Legal Elite" in Georgia Trend Magazine. He is a Certified Civil Trial Advocate of the National Board of Trial Advocacy, Chair of the Southeastern Motor Carrier Liability Institute and former chair of the Georgia Insurance Law Institute. He particularly focuses on cases arising from truck wrecks and accidents (tractor trailers truck wrecks, semi truck wrecks,18 wheeler truck wrecks, big rig truck wrecks, log truck wrecks, dump truck wrecks.