FMCSA apparently jumped the gun with its
Friday announcement that it proposed to adopt the recommendations of two advisory panels for tougher sleep apnea guidelines.
The panels say the agency should tell medical examiners that drivers with a body mass index of 35 or more must be evaluated for sleep apnea. In a Federal Register notice posted Friday, the agency asked for comments on this and a number of additional recommendations concerning apnea screening, evaluation and treatment.
However, later that day, FMCSA said it was withdrawing the proposed regulatory guidance for obstructive sleep apnea and request for comment.
"The agency is still in the process of carefully reviewing the recommendations submitted by the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee and Medical Review Board," noted the statement. "The initial publication was a clerical error. We anticipate requesting public comment on the recommendations later this year."