Announcements

Clarification: USDOT Publishes Drug Testing Rule

Published on: May 6, 2023

Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued a final rule that amends the Department’s regulated industry drug testing program to include oral fluid testing. This additional methodology will give employers more flexibility for drug tests and provide a less intrusive means of achieving the safety goals of the program. The final rule is effective on June 1, 2023.

The rule follows a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rule approved in 2019 after HHS determined that oral fluid testing is an appropriate alternate testing method for identifying illicit drug use in the Federal workplace.

The final rule also:

• harmonizes with the HHS oral fluid Mandatory Guidelines,
• clarifies provisions that cover urine drug testing procedures,
• removes provisions that are no longer necessary,
  adds eight new definitions, clarifying language to definitions and web links and
• updates provisions to address issues that have risen in recent years.

To learn more about this final rule, visit the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy & Compliance webpage.

Links:
Oral Fluid Specimen Testing for Drugs Final Rule
Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy & Compliance
FTA Drug & Alcohol Program