Truck Drivers, Tradies & Sleep Apnea: Fatigue on the Job Can Be Deadly June 11, 2025 Feeling constantly tired, foggy, or low on energy – even after what seems like a full night’s sleep? For many Australian men, the problem isn’t how long they’re sleeping — it’s how well. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a serious but underdiagnosed sleep disorder that affects around 1 in 4 men over the age of 30.1 Even more alarming, up to 80% of people with sleep apnea don’t even know they have it.2 Here’s what happens: during sleep, the throat muscles relax too much and block the airway – sometimes partially, sometimes completely. This leads to repeated pauses in breathing that jolt your brain awake just enough to restart airflow. These interruptions can occur hundreds of times a night, leaving your sleep light, fragmented, and anything but restful.1 For truck drivers and tradies — jobs where focus, alertness, and quick reflexes are essential — this kind of fatigue isn’t just frustrating. It’s dangerous. Studies show that between 28% and 78% of professional drivers may have sleep apnea, and people with untreated OSA are two to seven times more likely to be involved in a motor vehicle accident.3,4 Fatigue from sleep apnea also doubles the risk of workplace injuries.5 Whether you’re on a job site or behind the wheel, reduced alertness and slower reaction times can turn routine tasks into dangerous situations. The good news? There’s a highly effective treatment. CPAP therapy — short for continuous positive airway pressure — uses a bedside device and mask to gently keep the airway open during sleep, eliminating symptoms.6 It’s non-invasive and easy to use. This Men’s Health Week, it’s time to take your sleep seriously. If you’re waking up tired, snoring loudly, or struggling with concentration or fatigue, don’t brush it off. Speak to your doctor about getting a sleep study — it could save your life, your job, or someone else’s. How Sove CPAP Clinic Can Help Founded in 2008, Sove CPAP Clinic has grown to become a leading provider of respiratory and sleep services and products in Australia, with over 60 clinics nationwide. Our comprehensive clinical team includes Respiratory & Sleep Specialists, Sleep Technologists, and CPAP Consultants, ensuring that you receive comprehensive and personalised care. All medical procedures, including sleep studies and lung function testing, are bulk billed to all Australians, with minimal wait time. If you would like to speak to a Respiratory & Sleep Physician, book a bulk-billed sleep study, or seek advice for your sleep apnea, you can reach us at 1300 76 29 39 or info@thecpapclinic.com.au. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. CPAP is used for Obstructive Sleep Apnea treatment. When considering whether a sleep study or CPAP is right for you, speak to your doctor. Medicare criteria and T&Cs apply. References Health. “Sleep Apnoea.” Vic.gov.au, 2021, www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/sleep-apnoea. Accessed 10 June 2025. “What Is Sleep Apnea.” Sleepclinicservices.com.au, 2017, www.sleepclinicservices.com.au/what-is-sleep-apnea. Accessed 10 June 2025. Huhta, Riikka, et al. “Prevalence of Sleep Apnea and Daytime Sleepiness in Professional Truck Drivers.” Sleep Medicine, Feb. 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2021.02.023. Pimentel, Cátia, et al. “Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome in Heavy Truck Drivers: A Portuguese Prospective Cohort Study.” Cureus, 12 Feb. 2024, www.cureus.com/articles/167252-obstructive-sleep-apnea-syndrome-in-heavy-truck-drivers-a-portuguese-prospective-cohort-study.pdf, https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.54047. Garbarino, Sergio, et al. “Risk of Occupational Accidents in Workers with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Sleep, vol. 39, no. 6, 1 June 2016, pp. 1211–1218, https://doi.org/10.5665/sleep.5834. Information, National Center for Biotechnology, et al. SUMMARY of EVIDENCE. Www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health, 18 Nov. 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK195810/.
