The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for fabricating a glass rod from a glass preform capable of suppressing a diameter fluctuation of the drawn glass rod even when there is a relatively large diameter reduction ratio between the glass preform and the glass rod, such as 60 to 95%. The feed speed V1 of the glass preform is set to a constant value, the diameter D of the glass preform is acquired for determining the drawing speed V2 from diameter data of the glass preform measured before being drawn at a diameter acquisition position defined with respect to a reference position of the furnace. The distance from the reference position to the diameter acquisition position is defined so as to vary depending on a diameter fluctuation of the glass preform before being drawn in a longitudinal direction thereof.