News and Events

June 21, 2024, the DOT published three notices in the Federal Register relating to its May 2, 2023 final rule, that among other items, authorized employers to use oral fluid drug testing as an alternative testing methodology to urine drug testing.  Learn more.

May 2, 2023, the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance published a final rule in the Federal Register.  This final rule amends the U.S. Department of Transportation’s regulated industry drug testing program to include oral fluid testing.  Learn more.

May 6, 2022, the Office of Drug an Alcohol Policy and Compliance's Chief of Policy and Regulatory Affairs will be a guest speaker at the National Drug and Alcohol Screening  Association (NDASA) annual conference in Indianapolis, IN.   Topics that will be discussed at the conference will include updates to the DOT’s regulated drug and alcohol testing efforts.

March 31, 2022, the Office of Drug an Alcohol Policy and Compliance's Chief of Policy and Regulatory Affairs will be a guest speaker at the Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association (DATIA) annual conference in Louisville, KY.  DATIA is a non-profit organization that represents the interests of laboratories, collection sites, medical review officers, substance abuse professionals, third-party administrators, and regulated employers.  Topics that will be discussed at the conference will include updates to the DOT’s regulated drug and alcohol testing efforts.

March 22, 2022, the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance published a Federal Register Notice extending the comment period for its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to amend, among other things, its transportation industry drug testing program procedures regulation, 49 CFR Part 40, to include oral fluid testing.  The closing date for submission of comments is extended to April 29, 2022. 

• Comments to the February 28, 2022 notice should be submitted to https://www.regulations.gov/docket/DOT-OST-2021-0093/document

March 11, 2022 the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance provided an overview presentation the American Association of Medical Review Officers in Arlington, VA.  The virtual presentation focused on regulatory requirements and best practices for reviewing and verifying drug test results for safety sensitive employees in the transportation industry.

February 28, 2022 the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance published a Federal Register Notice proposing to amend the transportation industry drug testing program procedures to include oral fluid testing.  The proposal includes other provisions to update the Department's regulation, and to harmonize, as needed, with the new Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs using Oral Fluid established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

• Comments to the notice should be submitted to https://www.regulations.gov/docket/DOT-OST-2021-0093/document

November 29, 2021, the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance updated its Statement of Enforcement of Discretion for Substance Abuse Professional and Certain Service Agents extending the effective date until June 30, 2022.

June 8, 2021 the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance published a Federal Register notice removing  Elizabeth Betsy Pope, et al.  and Mounir R. Khouri, et al. from the list of Public Interest Exclusions on ODAPC's web site.

May 27, 2021, the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance updated its Statement of Enforcement of Discretion for Substance Abuse Professional and Certain Service Agents extending the effective date until December 31, 2021

April 4, 2020, the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance published a Statement of Enforcement Discretion for Substance Abuse Professionals and Certain Service Agents.

March 30, 2020, the Federal Aviation Administration provided guidance related to it's testing requirements during the COVID-19 national emergency.

March 24, 2020, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration provided guidance related to it's testing requirements during the COVID-19 national emergency.

March 23, 2020, the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance provided clarity to DOT-regulated employers, employees, and service agents on conducting DOT drug-and-alcohol testing given concerns about the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

March 20, 2020, the Pipelines and Hazardous Materia Safety Administration issued a Stay of Enforcement to state pipeline safety program managers, pipeline operators, and operators of gas storage and liquefied natural gas facilities in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

February 8,2020, the Deputy Director of the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance will provide an overview presentation and training in Orlando, FL for the American Association of Medical Review Officers.  The training will focus on regulatory requirements and best practices for reviewing and verifying drug test results for safety sensitive employees in the transportation industry.

January 21, 2020, a Senior Policy Advisor of the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance and a representative from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will be a guest speakers at a National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA) event in Atlanta, GA.  Topics that will be discussed will be an update to the DOT’s regulated drug and alcohol testing efforts and the FMCSA's Clearinghouse.

January 14, 2020, the Deputy Director of the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance and a representative from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will be a guest speakers at a National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA) event in Cincinnati, OH.  Topics that will be discussed will be an update to the DOT’s regulated drug and alcohol testing efforts and the FMCSA's Clearinghouse.

December 7, 2019, the Director of the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance will provide an overview presentation and training in Las Vegas, NV for the American Association of Medical Review Officers.  The training will focus on regulatory requirements and best practices for reviewing and verifying drug test results for safety sensitive employees in the transportation industry.

November 13, 2019, the Deputy Director of the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance and a representative from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will be a guest speakers at a National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA) event in Orlando, FL.  Topics that will be discussed will be an update to the DOT’s regulated drug and alcohol testing efforts and the FMCSA's Clearinghouse.

November 6, 2019, the Deputy Director of the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance and a representative from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will be a guest speakers at a National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA) event in Phoenix, AZ.  Topics that will be discussed will be an update to the DOT’s regulated drug and alcohol testing efforts and the FMCSA's Clearinghouse.

September 17-19, 2019, the Director of the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance and DOT Agency (FRA, FTA, FAA, PHMSA, FMCSA, USCG) Drug and Alcohol Progam Managers will be a guest speakers at the Substance Abuse Program Administrators’ Association annual conference in Philadelphia, PA.  This is a non-profit trade association that includes laboratories, collection sites, medical review officers, substance abuse professionals, third-party administrators, and regulated employers.  Topics that will be discussed at the conference will be an update to the DOT’s regulated drug and alcohol testing efforts.

September 9, 2019, the Deputy Director of the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance and a representative from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will be a guest speakers at a National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA) event in Des Moines, IA.  Topics that will be discussed will be an update to the DOT’s regulated drug and alcohol testing efforts and the FMCSA's Clearinghouse.

August 10, 2019, the Deputy Director of the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance will provide an overview presentation and training in Nashville, TN for the American Association of Medical Review Officers.  The training will focus on regulatory requirements and best practices for reviewing and verifying drug test results for safety sensitive employees in the transportation industry.

April 27, 2019, the Director of the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance will provide an overview presentation and training in Philadelphia, PA for the American Association of Medical Review Officers.  The training will focus on regulatory requirements and best practices for reviewing and verifying drug test results for safety sensitive employees in the transportation industry.

April 11, 2019, the Director of the Office of Drug an Alcohol Policy and Compliance will be a guest speaker at the Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association (DATIA) annual conference in Chicago, IL.  DATIA is a non-profit organization that represents the interests of laboratories, collection sites, medical review officers, substance abuse professionals, third-party administrators, and regulated employers.  Topics that will be discussed at the conference will include updates to the DOT’s regulated drug and alcohol testing efforts.

April 3, 2019, the Director and a Senior Policy Advisor for the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance will be guest speakers at the Federal Transit Administration’s Annual Drug and Alcohol Program National Conference in Milwaukee, WI.  Topics that will be discussed at the conference will be an update to the DOT’s regulated drug and alcohol testing efforts.

March 27, 2019, the Director of the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance will be a guest speaker at the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA) annual conference in San Antonio, TX. Topics that will be discussed at the conference will be an update to the DOT’s regulated drug and alcohol testing efforts.

February 9, 2019, the Director of the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance will provide an overview presentation and training in Dallas. TX for the American Association of Medical Review Officers.  The training will focus on regulatory requirements and best practices for reviewing and verifying drug test results for safety sensitive employees in the transportation industry.

October 2018, Presidential Proclamation on National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, 2018 

On September 25, 2018, the Director of the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance will be a guest speaker at the Substance Abuse Program Administrators’ Association annual conference in Kansas City, Missouri.  This is a non-profit trade association that includes laboratories, collection sites, medical review officers, substance abuse professionals, third-party administrators, and regulated employers.  Topics that will be discussed at the conference will be an update to the DOT’s regulated drug and alcohol testing efforts.

On May 23, 2018, the Director will be a guest speaker a the Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association's (DATIA) Annual National Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. DATIA is a non-profit organization that represents the interests of laboratories, collection sites, medical review officers, substance abuse professionals, third-party administrators, and regulated employers.  Topics that will be discussed at the conference will include updates to the DOT’s regulated drug and alcohol testing efforts.

On May 8-10, 2018, the Director and a Senior Policy Advisor for the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance will be guest speakers at the Federal Transit Administration’s Annual Drug and Alcohol Program National Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  Topics that will be discussed at the conference will be an update to the DOT’s regulated drug and alcohol testing efforts.

On November 13, 2017, the Department of Transportation (DOT) published a final rule that, among other items, expands the Department’s current drug testing panel to include certain semi-synthetic opioids (i.e., hydrocodone, oxycodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone).  The rule has an effective date of January 1, 2018.  To learn more about the rule, click here.

On September 22, 2017 a Senior Policy Advisor will provide an overview presentation and training in Lexington, KY for the American Association of Medical Review Officers.  The training will focus on regulatory requirements and best practices for reviewing and verifying drug test results for safety sensitive employees in the transportation industry.

On August 23, 2017 the Acting Director of the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance will be a guest speaker at the Substance Abuse Program Administrators’ Association annual conference in Henderson, NV.  This is a non-profit trade association that includes laboratories, collection sites, medical review officers, substance abuse professionals, third-party administrators, and regulated employers. Topics that will be discussed at the conference will be an update to the DOT’s regulated drug and alcohol testing efforts.

On August 9, 2017 the Acting Director of the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance and the Drug and Alcohol Program Managers from the Pipelines and Hazardous Material Safety Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will be guest speakers at the Gas Operations Technical & Leadership Summit in Rochester, MN.  The summit is sponsored by the Midwest Energy Association, a consortium of energy delivery industry organizations.  Topics that will be discussed at the conference will be an update to the DOT, PHMSA and FMCSA’s regulated drug and alcohol testing efforts.

On July 13, 2017, the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance, with the Office of General Counsel, issued a 49 CFR Part 40 Question and Answer.  Like all ODAPC/OGC Qs & As, this Q&A constitutes official and authoritative guidance and interpretation concerning Part 40.  The Q&A issued today is available on our website at: https://www.transportation.gov/odapc/part40QandA.  The Q&A explains whether the United States Coast Guard is a DOT Agency with respect to the DOT’s drug and alcohol testing regulation, 49 CFR Part 40.

On May 16-19, 2017, Acting Director will be a guest speaker at the Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association (DATIA) annual conference in Orland, Florida.  DATIA is a non-profit organization that represents the interests of laboratories, collection sites, medical review officers, substance abuse professionals, third-party administrators, and regulated employers.  Topics that will be discussed at the conference will include updates to the DOT’s regulated drug and alcohol testing efforts.

On April 18-20, 2017, the Acting Director and a Senior Policy Advisor for the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance will be guest speakers at the Federal Transit Administration’s Annual Drug and Alcohol Program National Conference in New Orleans, LA.  Topics that will be discussed at the conference will be an update to the DOT’s regulated drug and alcohol testing efforts.

On April 8, 2017 a Senior Policy Advisor will provide an overview presentation and training in Washington, DC for the American Association of Medical Review Officers.  The training will focus on regulatory requirements and best practices for reviewing and verifying drug test results for safety sensitive employees in the transportation industry.

On February 4, 2017 the Acting Director of the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance will provide an overview presentation and training in San Diego, CA for the American Association of Medical Review Officers.  The training will focus on regulatory requirements and best practices for reviewing and verifying drug test results for safety sensitive employees in the transportation industry.

On January 23, 2017 ODAPC publishes a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.  The NPRM proposes to amend its drug-testing program regulation to add four opioids (hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, and oxycodone) to its drug-testing panel; add methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) as an initial test analyte; and remove methylenedioxyethylamphetamine, (MDEA) as a confirmatory test analyte.  The proposed revision of the drug testing panel is intended to harmonize with the revised Mandatory Guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for Federal drug-testing programs for urine testing. This proposal also adds clarification to certain drug-testing program provisions where necessary, removes outdated information in the regulations that is no longer needed, and proposes to remove the requirement for employers and Consortium/Third Party Administrators to submit blind specimens.

On December 8, 2016, the Acting Director for the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance will provide an overview presentation and training for Medical Review Officers (MRO) in Las Vegas, Nevada for the American Association of Medical Review Officers. The training will focus on the role of MROs, who must be licensed physicians.  In addition, the regulatory requirements and best practices for reviewing and verifying drug test results for safety sensitive employees in the transportation industry will be covered.  We provide a program overview and will address areas of potential noncompliance that we have experienced with other MROs to assist in avoiding similar violations in the future.  Also, Juan Moya, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol Program Manager will provide an overview presentation on FMCSA’s Final Rule on the National Drug and Alcohol Testing Clearinghouse for Commercial Truck and Bus Drivers that was published in the Federal Register on December 5, 2016.

On December 2, 2016 - FMCSA Establishes National Drug and Alcohol Testing Clearinghouse for Commercial Truck and Bus Drivers

On September 14, 2016, the Acting Director of the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance will be a guest speaker at the Substance Abuse Program Administrators’ Association annual conference in Louisville, Kentucky.  This is a non-profit trade association that includes laboratories, collection sites, medical review officers, substance abuse professionals, third-party administrators, and regulated employers.  Topics that will be discussed at the conference will be an update to the DOT’s regulated drug and alcohol testing efforts.

On September 9-10, 2016, the Acting Director of the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance will provide an overview presentation and training in Orlando, FL for the American Association of Medical Review Officers.  The training will focus on regulatory requirements and best practices for reviewing and verifying drug test results for safety sensitive employees in the transportation industry.

On August 8, 2016 ODAPC published a final rule.  This final rule amends the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) regulation to conform to recent legislation that changed the definition of the term ‘‘service agent’’ in the DOT drug and alcohol testing regulations. The final rule also revises the definition of ‘‘service agent’’ to include all entities that provide services for DOT mandated drug and alcohol programs.

On May 13-15, 2016, a Senior Policy Advisor from the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance will provide an overview presentation and training for Medical Review Officers in Chicago, Illinois, for the American Association of Medical Review Officers.  The training will focus on the role of Medical Review Officers, who must be licensed physicians.  In addition, the regulatory requirements and best practices for reviewing and verifying drug test results for safety sensitive employees in the transportation industry will be covered in the presentation by our staff.  We will address areas of potential noncompliance that we have experienced with other Medical Review Officers to assist in avoiding similar violations in the future.

On April 26-29, 2016, the Acting Director will be a guest speaker a the Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association's (DATIA)Annual National Conference in Las Vegas, NV.  DATIA is a non-profit organization that represents the interests of laboratories, collection sites, medical review officers, substance abuse professionals, third-party administrators, and regulated employers.  Topics that will be discussed at the conference will include updates to the DOT’s regulated drug and alcohol testing efforts.

On March 23-24, 2016, the Acting Director and a Senior Policy Advisor for the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance will be guest speakers at the Federal Transit Administration’s Annual Drug and Alcohol Program National Conference in Sacramento, California.  Topics that will be discussed at the conference will be an update to the DOT’s regulated drug and alcohol testing efforts.

On January 27, 2016 - the Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a decision and order under the Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs that excludes a service agent, Mounir R. Khouri, from providing drug and alcohol testing services in any capacity to any DOT-regulated employer for a period of 5 years. Mr. Khouri provided Consortium/Third Party Administrator Services (C/TPA) and Medical Review Officer (MRO) services to DOT-regulated trucking companies. Mr. Khouri pled guilty to criminal charges that he made materially false statements that an MRO had reviewed drug test results, when a qualified MRO had not done so. This Federal Register publication serves as notice to the public that DOT-regulated employers or their service agents must stop using the services of Mounir R. Khouri for administering their DOT-regulated drug and/or alcohol testing programs. Visit the PIE web page.

On December 24,2015, the FMCSA announces, pursuant to 49 CFR 382.305, that it is reducing the minimum annual percentage rate for random controlled substances testing for drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) requiring a commercial driver's license (CDL) from the current rate of 50 percent of the average number of driver positions to 25 percent of the average number of driver positions, effective in calendar year 2016.

On September 25, 2015, the Acting Director of the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance will be a guest speaker at the Substance Abuse Program Administrators’ Association annual conference in Houston, Texas.  This is a non-profit trade association that includes laboratories, collection sites, medical review officers, substance abuse professionals, third-party administrators, and regulated employers.  Topics that will be discussed at the conference will be updates to the DOT’s regulated drug and alcohol testing efforts.

On September 12, 2015, the Acting Director for the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance will provide training in Washington, DC, for the American Association of Medical Review Officers.  The training will provide education on regulatory requirements and best practices for reviewing and verifying drug test results of safety sensitive employees in the transportation industry.  The training will also provide education on areas of potential noncompliance that ODAPC has experienced with other Medical Review Officers to assist in avoiding similar violations in the future. 

On August 18, 2015, The Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a decision and order under the Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs that excludes a service agent, Elizabeth ‘‘Betsy’’ Pope d/b/a  Eastgate Laboratory Testing, from providing drug and alcohol testing services in any capacity to any DOT regulated employer for a period of 5 years. Ms. Pope and her company provided Medical Review Officer services to DOT-regulated trucking companies when Ms. Pope was not qualified to act as a Medical Review Officer.  Read the Federal Register notice on the Public Interest Exclusion.

On June 3, 2015, the Acting Director will be a guest speaker a the Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association's (DATIA) Annual National Conference in Miami, FL.  DATIA is a non-profit organization that represents the interests of laboratories, collection sites, medical review officers, substance abuse professionals, third-party administrators, and regulated employers.  Topics that will be discussed at the conference will include updates to the DOT’s regulated drug and alcohol testing efforts.

On April 28-30, 2015, the Acting Director and a Senior Policy Advisor for the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance will be guest speakers at the Federal Transit Administration’s Annual Drug and Alcohol Program National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.  Topics that will be discussed at the conference will be an update to the DOT’s regulated drug and alcohol testing efforts.

On December 12-14, 2014, the Acting Director for the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance will provide an overview presentation and training in Las Vegas, NV, for the American Association of Medical Review Officers.  The training will focus on regulatory requirements and best practices for reviewing and verifying drug test results for safety sensitive employees in the transportation industry.  The training will also provide education on areas of potential noncompliance that ODAPC has experienced with other Medical Review Officers to assist in avoiding similar violations in the future.

July 28, 2014, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register. In it the FRA is proposing to expand the scope of its alcohol and drug regulations to cover employees who perform maintenance-of-way (MOW) activities as mandated by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA). In addition, FRA is proposing certain substantive amendments that either respond to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendations or update and clarify the alcohol and drug regulations based on a retrospective regulatory review (RRR) analysis.

Comments to the NPRM can be posted on the docket [No. FRA-2009-0039] and are due on or before September 26, 2014.  View the NPRM print copy here.

May 28-30, 2014, the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance Acting Director will be a guest speaker at the Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association (DATIA) annual conference in Phoenix, Arizona.  Topics that will be discussed at the conference will be an update to the DOT’s regulated drug and alcohol testing efforts.

April 22, 2014 - FMCSA extends the public comment period for the Agency’s February 20, 2014, notice of proposed rulemaking concerning the establishment of a Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse 

April 15-17, 2014 the Federal Transit Administration is Hosting its 9th Annual Drug and Alcohol Program National Conference

February 2014 - FMCSA Proposes National Drug and Alcohol Testing Clearinghouse for Commercial Truck and Bus Drivers

December 2013 - Presidential Proclamation: National Impaired Driving Prevention Month