SLEEP ACCESS to deliver customized driver fatigue programs

Five state trucking associations have already taken decisive action on preparing their membership for a regulation on fatigued driving and the prevalence of sleep apnea in the trucking industry. Beginning with an endorsement from the Tennessee Trucking Association (TTA) in late 2009, the inspiration to find a sleep health partner quickly spread to the Kentucky Motor Transport Association and to three other state associations; the Louisiana Motor Transport Association, the Iowa Motor Truck Association and the Oklahoma Trucking Association.

“From the very beginning, we knew that bringing state associations, trucking companies and drivers to the table to help design our program would bring the affordable, high-quality, industry-centered kind of program that is needed”

Although each state handled the matter differently and coordinated separate task forces to research the issue, all five have inevitably decided on SLEEP ACCESS to deliver customized driver fatigue programs for their membership.

"We knew over two years ago driver fatigue and sleep apnea were going to be a big safety issue for our industry," said Dave Huneryager, President and CEO of the TTA. "We decided to get involved early on and help design a program that would really benefit our members."

Many other states are currently reviewing SLEEP ACCESS as well, potentially adding to current endorsed partner memberships that comprise over 2,400 companies and an estimated half a million CDL holder residents. One of the keys to the company's popularity is their intimate knowledge of the trucking industry. They were formed, both with and for the trucking industry, to specifically help solve driver fatigue issues with an industry-minded approach.

Tommy Hodges, immediate Past Chairman of the American Trucking Association, stated, "With the increased emphasis on fatigued drivers and their health, sleep apnea is an increasing concern. Of the programs that I have looked at, SLEEP ACCESS has developed the best program specifically designed to be both economical and practical for the trucker."

SLEEP ACCESS, based in Nashville, Tenn., manages sleep health programs on a large, national scale or even a smaller, localized approach through its network of local sleep health professionals. "By working with the state associations we are able to reach not only the large carriers, but we also bring the same quality of service to the small and medium-sized fleets that make up the heart of these associations," says Gary Carrigan, Director of Marketing for SLEEP ACCESS. "A lot of those fleets will be hardest hit or hardest pressed to address the issue whenever a ruling is finalized."

This seems to have struck a chord with the states considering the issue. Scott George, Chairman of the Tennessee Trucking Association, says, "Regulatory oversight on driver fatigue is coming in some form soon. We endorsed Sleep Access because of their ability to bring value to the Tennessee Trucking Association's member carriers."

"From the very beginning, we knew that bringing state associations, trucking companies and drivers to the table to help design our program would bring the affordable, high-quality, industry-centered kind of program that is needed," says Evan Bledsoe, Managing Partner of SLEEP ACCESS. "We are extremely pleased to be able to reward that effort by offering back a realistic and practical program to those same organizations and the rest of this industry." Whatever the formula it is clear that the leadership of these state associations have paved the way for their membership to address the issue with minimal interruption from any potential regulation.