Transportation workers must now give observed urine samples if oral fluid tests are unavailable

The US Department of Transportation has updated its drug and alcohol testing rules. If an oral fluid test is required but not available, workers must now provide a directly observed urine sample instead.

This change closes a loophole where some drug tests could not be completed due to a lack of oral fluid testing options. It means that certain transportation workers will now face more stringent and unavoidable drug testing procedures. The rule also updates terminology to align with a recent executive order on gender definitions, which could lead to further policy shifts in the future.