At its recent annual convention in Las Vegas, the Truckload Carriers Association’s board of directors approved several changes to the organization’s official policies on drug and alcohol testing, sleep disorders, and on-board technology.
The revised wording is based on recommendations from the organization’s Regulatory Policy Committee. The committee had been tasked with examining the regulatory landscape and timelines for upcoming government rulemakings pertaining to the trucking industry. With regards to Sleep Disorders, the following suggestions will be implemented by the board:
Sleep Disorders
TCA now supports a policy on sleep disorders which not only addresses a regulation, but also addresses the manner in which it is issued.
First, if FMCSA develops screening and testing standards for sleep disorders, TCA believes the agency should do so only through rulemaking, and not through the publication of regulatory guidance. (This is similar to a new policy adopted by the American Trucking Associations last fall.)
Secondly, TCA will support the development of any future regulation on establishing objective standards for sleep disorder screening, testing and treatment if the regulation: 1) focuses on conditions that pose a substantially elevated crash risk based on sound data and analysis, 2) is cost-beneficial, and 3) promotes effective treatments that minimize the impact to motor carriers and commercial vehicle operators.
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