WASHINGTON, D.C. — A bill that would prevent the Obama Administration from using an informal guidance to introduce sleep apnea screening requirements for professional drivers, has been passed by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

The trucking industry was concerned that the FMCSA would issue a guidance, rather than follow the appropriate rulemaking process, in order to expedite a screening requirement.

“ATA believes that testing alone for obstructive sleep apnea of truck drivers could cost the industry nearly $1 billion,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “If our industry is to be burdened with such a cost, then the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration owes it to trucking to conduct a full and thorough rulemaking, including collection of scientific data and a cost-benefit analysis.”

“We’d like to thank Reps. Bucshon and Lipinski, as well as all our supporters in the House for moving this important bill forward,” Graves added. “While FMCSA has said they are receptive to a rulemaking process in lieu of sleep apnea guidance, we urge the House and Senate to follow through with swift approval of HR 3095.”