DOT Proposes Changes: New Testing Rules & Fentanyl Addition

The comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) closes on October 17, 2025.

Published in today’s Federal Register (FR) is a Department of Transportation Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). The NPRM is available on the FR web page at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-09-02/pdf/2025-16720.pdf. Today, we will post it on the Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance (ODAPC) webpage at https://www.transportation.gov/odapc/frpubs.

The proposals in the NPRM include:

1.     Add Fentanyl and norfentanyl to the testing panels,

2.     Adjust laboratory morphine confirmatory cutoff (urine only),

3.     Remove the additional requirement for MROs to determine clinical evidence of illegal opioid (codeine and morphine use for urine and oral fluid),

4.     Add and modify certain definitions,

5.     Authorize biomarker testing,

6.     Modify analyte nomenclature for marijuana (urine and oral fluid),

7.     Revise footnote #1 to both testing panels to include more specific and updated criteria for alternate technology initial drug tests,

8.     Add a 30-day requirement for drug collectors, STTs, and BATS within which to complete the required training and mock collections,

9.     Adding a new ‘fatal flaw’ related to oral fluid specimens,

10. Modify several provisions related to oral fluid specimens,

11. Add clarifying language to other provisions (such as oral fluid collector training, SAP documents, and shy bladder/dry mouth procedures),

12. Various technical amendments.

 

Comments to the docket can be submitted using this link https://www.regulations.gov/docket/DOT-OST-2025-0049/document.

On September 2, 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) – Office of Drug & Alcohol Policy & Compliance (ODAPC) distributed an announcement via its List Serve from the official sender address: usdot@info.dot.gov.