On May 11, 2026, the Department of Transportation (DOT) published a final rule in the Federal Register to update the terminology in DOT’s drug and alcohol testing regulations to be consistent with Executive Order 14168 (E.O. 14168) (Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government) and added a provision that would require a directly observed urine collection in situations where oral fluid tests are currently required but oral fluid testing is not yet available. This final rule is effective on June 10, 2026. To learn more about this final rule, view the rule at https://www.transportation.gov/odapc/frpubs
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DOT publishes Final Rule to Amend the Oral Fluid Rule and to Update Terminology
ODAPC Publishes Official Q&A Today
The Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance, with the Office of the General Counsel, issued a 49 CFR Part 40 Question and Answer. Like all ODAPC/OGC Qs & As, this Q&A constitutes official guidance and interpretation concerning 49 CFR Part 40. The Q&A issued today is available on our website at: https://www.transportation.gov/odapc/part40QandA. The Q&A explains what a MRO is not to consider when verifying a marijuana positive result.
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DEA’s Take Back Day: April 25
DEA’s National Rx Take Back Day The Drug Enforcement Administration will host the 30th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (regardless of time zone) at nearly 4,200 locations nationwide. To find the Take Back Day location nearest you visit www.DEATakeBack.com. DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other forms of prescription drugs. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should be securely sealed in their original container. Syringes, sharps, or illicit drugs are not collected. To learn how to properly dispose of these items visit FDA.gov. For those unable to participate in this month’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, there are more than 16,500 pharmacies, hospitals, and businesses that offer safe medication disposal year-round. In addition, many police departments also provide permanent drop boxes to ensure Every Day is Take Back Day.
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DOT Publishes Federal Register Notification Regarding Substance Abuse Professionals (SAPs) and the Return-to-Duty Process (RTD)
Today, the Department of Transportation (DOT) published a Federal Register Notification regarding "The Do's and Don'ts for the Substance Abuse Professional and the Return-to-Duty Process in the U.S. DOT Drug and Alcohol Testing Program." This notification addresses several Substance Abuse Professional (SAP)/Return-to-Duty (RTD) issues the DOT has become aware of, to remind DOT-qualified SAPs to follow all RTD process procedures in Part 40, and to remind DOT-regulated employers of the SAP responsibilities and the RTD process. The Notification is available on the Federal Register's webpage at: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-03-04/pdf/2026-04337.pdf. We will post it on the ODAPC webpage at https://www.transportation.gov/odapc/frpubs.
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2026 DOT Random Testing Rates Notice
2026 DOT Random Testing Rates Notice
Please provide the widest dissemination within your regulated industries for the 2026 DOT Random Testing Rates Notice. ODAPC's website https://www.transportation.gov/odapc/random-testing-rates has been updated to reflect the CY 2026 random drug and alcohol testing rates. Please note that the FRA Mechanical annual random alcohol testing rate will be 10% in 2026. For all other DOT agencies, the 2026 annual random testing rates will remain the same as the 2025 rates.
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