Last week, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced the dates and locations of three public hearings the agency will conduct to "solicit information on the prevalence of moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) among individuals occupying safety sensitive positions in highway and rail transportation, and of its potential consequences for the safety of rail and highway transportation. FMCSA and FRA also request information on potential costs and benefits from possible regulatory actions that address the safety risks associated with motor carrier and rail transportation workers in safety sensitive positions who have OSA."

The listening sessions announcement follows FMCSA’s publication in March of its Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) for OSA. While the ANPRM didn’t establish or propose any new regulations regarding OSA, it did launch somewhat of a fishing expedition for FMCSA on the issue in an attempt to gather information from potential covered stakeholders which FMCSA may use to propose new OSA regulations at a later date.

The listening sessions will be held: 

• Thursday, May 12, in Washington, DC; 

• Tuesday, May 17, in Chicago and 

• Wednesday, May 25, in Los Angeles.

Comments on the ANPRM are due by Wednesday, June 8. NRMCA will provide comments on the ANPRM and participating in the listening sessions.