Page 16 - ATR 3 2016 web

INTERNATIONAL ROADCHECK driver that comes through or the single monly use of a Continuous Positive
2016 FINDS VIOLATIONS NEAR owner-operator that’s maybe trying Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine, was
BENTON to cut corners to make ends meet,” he only 1.95 percent of the moderate/
More than one in five commer- said. “That’s the exception rather than severe OSA diagnosed respondents.
cial trucks inspected by the Arkansas the rule.” “ATRI’s research clearly shows
Highway Police had violations severe David O’Neal, director of safety what my fellow drivers and I have been
enough for authorities to pull them services at the Arkansas Trucking experiencing. The costs associated with
off the road pending repairs during Association, said that although one sleep apnea screening and treatment are
International Roadcheck 2016, 72 violation is too many, the top-line num- not inconsequential for drivers, and the
hours dedicated to roadside inspections bers don’t account for the violations’ flexibility to utilize lower cost options
for commercial vehicles, according to severity. for both screening and treatment will
the state Highway and Transportation Over the past generation, the be critical if FMCSA moves forward
Department. trucking industry has undergone a “sea with a formal rulemaking,” said Barbara
Police across the state randomly change” in safety standards, he said. Beal, an owner-operator and member of
inspected 637 trucks between Tuesday Between 2002 and 2012, the number OOIDA.
and Friday morning, and they took 149 of trucks involved in fatal accidents Find the full findings and a copy of
vehicles out of service. The most com- dropped by 17 percent, according the white paper at www.atri-online.org.
to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration. TELEMEDICINE APPROVED FOR
ARKANSAS
ATRI RELEASES SLEEP APNEA Under proposed regulations
RESEARCH DATA approved by the Arkansas State Medical
The American Transportation Board, doctors would be allowed to use
Research Institute released the results video and audio technology to remotely
of its sleep apnea survey, which high- treat patients they have never examined
lights a number of issues related to in person.
truck driver screening and treatment of The regulations would allow doc-
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). With tors to establish “a proper physician/
data from over 800 commercial driv- patient relationship” through an exami-
ers, ATRI’s report is the first to quantify nation using “real time audio and visual
the costs and other impacts that truck telemedicine technology” as long as
drivers are experiencing as they address the technology “provides information
mon reason police pulled trucks off the diagnosis and potential treatment regi- at least equal to such information as
road was brake problems, department men for OSA. would have been obtained by an in-
spokesman Danny Straessle said. The study found that among drivers person examination.”
Officers also pulled 67 drivers out who had been referred to a sleep study, The changes came in response to
of service, including one who was cited 53 percent paid some or all of the test Act 887 of 2015, which allows doctors
on suspicion of drinking and driving. costs, with an average of $1,220 in out- to treat only patients they have exam-
Others were cited for not updating their of-pocket expenses, representing just ined at some point in person, have an
logbooks or for driving too long. over 1.5 weeks of median driver pay at ongoing professional or personal rela-
The rate of vehicle violations is $805 per week. tionship with or have been referred by
similar to last year’s inspection results, Even some drivers with health another doctor or when they are filling
when officers pulled 168 trucks out of insurance (32%) incurred out-of-pocket in for the patient’s regular doctor.
service from the 619 they inspected. But costs exceeding $1000, while 61 percent The law also allows the State
the number of drivers taken out of ser- of drivers with no health insurance met Medical Board to specify other ways the
vice increased by more than 50 percent more than $1000 in sleep study bills. physician-patient relationship can be
from the 43 drivers taken out of service None of these costs include pay lost for established.
last year. time away from work. Forty-one percent Representatives of 15 groups,
Straessle said most Arkansas car- of participants spent 1–30 days away including the Arkansas State Chamber
riers have good safety records because from work for sleep apnea screening. of Commerce, the Arkansas Trucking
problems can lead to fewer trucks on The study also found the number Association and America’s Car Mart,
the road and cut into profits. of drivers who report not adhering to a wrote a letter to the board stating the
“But there’s always the out-of-state prescribed OSA treatment, most com-
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16 Issue 3 2016 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT