ATA to Co-Sponsor Sleep Apnea Conference in May

American Trucking Associations will co-sponsor a national conference next May on sleep apnea and its effects on truck drivers and the trucking industry.

The May 12, 2010, conference will be the first-ever of its kind in looking at obstructed sleep apnea, or OSA, a condition in which an individual’s airway is blocked while sleeping, typically resulting in frequent breathing interruptions.

The illness afflicts at least 20 million Americans — equal to or more than asthma or diabetes — yet more than 85% remain undiagnosed. Individuals with OSA are more likely to have high blood pressure, heart problems, stroke and depression, contributing to annual health care costs that are twice that of people without sleep apnea.

“It is important that the trucking industry actively engages in improving the quality of life and the performance of our drivers,” said ATA President Bill Graves. “Professional truck drivers play a vital role in delivering our nation’s freight.”

The conference, hosted by the American Sleep Apnea Association, will feature presentations and panel discussions that focus on providing a common understanding of OSA diagnosis and treatment, clarifying current and proposed regulations, establishing an ongoing forum of experts to generate guidance for improvements, and providing trucking management with the resources to improve employee health and safety.

The one-day conference will be held at the Westin Baltimore Washington-BWI in Baltimore, and will be preceded the evening before, May 11, by a keynote address from National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Deborah Hersman.

For information, visit www.satc2010.org.