The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently issued “Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs: Addition of Oral Fluid Specimen Testing for Drugs.” This proposal was issued in an effort to add oral fluid testing to the existing urine drug testing for safety-sensitive transportation employees. The reasoning behind it is to assist employers as they struggle with employee cheating on urine drug tests. According to the regulations, it will “provide a more economical, less intrusive means of achieving the safety goals of the program.” Oral fluid testing was previously considered and passed upon in 2004. However, the scientific viability has advanced considerably since that point.
The proposal is open for comments through March 30, 2022.
Please contact us if you would like to learn more about the oral fluid testing in general or specifically with regard to this proposal and USDOT safety sensitive positions.
