The Silent Killer

Two fleet drivers shared their experiences with obstructive sleep apnea testing and treatment programs sponsored by their carriers. Both are enthusiastic about the results and thankful to their employers for putting them on the highway to a healthier life and lifestyle.

Tim Ucciferri, Matthews, N.C., drives for Schneider National. The 37-year-old is one of thousands of drivers in the fleet to participate in the first comprehensive in-house program to diagnose and treat OSA.

He describes himself as a large man, 300 pounds and 6 feet tall. His weight is a primary indicator for the sleeping disorder. As part of Schneider National's sleep apnea screening program, he was asked to fill out a questionnaire, checking off symptoms.

"I had suspicions that I might have [OSA]," he admits. Until a few months ago, he felt tired and run down pretty much all the time, but he was accustomed to it, working around the symptoms with the help of naps, coffee and snacking.

Like vast numbers of drivers who suspect the same and fear getting diagnosed, he admits, "I was afraid it would cost me my job and put restrictions on me. I was reassured [by Schneider National] and told, 'Absolutely not. We will give you the help you need.'"

The test was not what he expected. "Schneider routed me with a load to Indianapolis, where I had the test done. I didn't have any downtime, which was great. The room was really nice, a private room with private shower."

He was wired with sensors on his legs, chest, head and on/around his face.

Throughout the night he thought he slept well and woke up thinking, "There's no way I have [OSA]."

He was wrong. Tests proved Ucciferri was one sleepy truck driver with severe obstructive sleep apnea.

Immediately outfitted with a new CPAP machine, he was directed to drive to a company garage where an inverter was installed in his truck to power the device. Then he was on his way again. "That machine is my new best friend," he says.

He wears a mask, connected to the CPAP by a hose, while sleeping. It covers the nose and provides a gentle flow of air that keeps the upper airway open, stops the sleep interruptions, and allows him to reach the deepest levels of recuperative sleep. His appearance has changed. His family and friends comment on his weight loss, healthy color and high energy level.

"It's such a dramatic change, better for the company and me as driver. I'm more productive. No more multiple naps and I'm still refreshed at end of the shift. Getting a good night's sleep has changed my life."

Ucciferri talks to a lot of drivers now, eager to share his life-transforming experience. "Schneider makes everything so easy, kind of like your mom walking you through something scary."

Another success story comes from senior driver/mentor Kenneth Armstrong, 54, a fleet driver for Swift Transportation. He is a big man and got bigger when he stopped smoking in 1993.

Armstrong had previously undergone surgery to correct OSA in 1998; it only partially corrected the problem. He asked to be part of the fleet's aggressive screening/treatment program for OSA. He was routed to a sleep lab, given a CPAP in his truck after diagnosis, and was immediately sold on the machine.

"When I went on the CPAP, it made a huge difference. I am more productive, more focused, and possess more energy," Armstrong says. "I can drive a full shift with no hint of fatigue. Before, I needed a nap every three to four hours. It is absolutely night and day. I believe I'm a much better and safer driver because I was treated."