Department of Transportation Adjusts Interim Drug Testing Procedures
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Table of Contents
The Transportation Department is updating its workplace drug and alcohol testing rules for safety-sensitive transportation workers. The primary change addresses a gap in a 2023 rule that required directly observed drug tests to use oral fluid. Because no federal-certified laboratories currently process oral fluid samples, that requirement could not be followed. This rule temporarily allows directly observed tests to use urine instead, keeping the testing process functional while the agency waits for laboratory certification.
Why it matters: This is a compliance fix rather than a policy shift. It prevents employers and testing sites from facing an impossible requirement while ensuring that directly observed collections continue to meet safety standards. The change keeps the testing program running without interruption until the necessary laboratory infrastructure is in place.
Who it affects
- Transportation employers and safety-sensitive workers
The Transportation Department published this final rule in the Federal Register; employers and testing facilities should review the full text before updating their compliance procedures.
Agency: Transportation Department,
Source: Federal Register — read the official document