Trucking news and briefs for Monday, July 3, 2023:
In a notice set to publish in the Federal Register Monday, the Department of Health and Human Services is notifying federal agencies of the laboratories and Instrumented Initial Testing Facilities (IITFs) currently certified to meet the standards of the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs using urine or oral fluid.
As previously reported, the Department of Transportation on June 1 officially authorized oral fluid drug testing as an alternative to urine testing for truck drivers. However, in order for an employer to implement oral fluid testing under DOT's regulation, HHS first has to certify at least two laboratories for oral fluid testing, which has not yet been done.
In its update publishing July 3, there are still no labs certified for oral fluid testing, HHS said. “At this time, there are no laboratories certified to conduct drug and specimen validity tests on oral fluid specimens,” the notice said.
So, as it was on June 1 when oral swab testing was authorized by DOT, it still can't be implemented until HHS issues its approvals: at least one lab to test primary samples and at least one more to re-test contested samples.
[Related: Oral fluid drug test likely to put more 'cheaters' in FMCSA's Clearinghouse]
The National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) is putting the final touches on its plans for its 2023 Digital Solutions Conference, which will focus exclusively on cybersecurity issues for the trucking industry.
