DOT rule aims to thwart manipulation of driver drug tests

Jul 16, 2008

Transportation safety officials plan to close a loophole in a drug and alcohol testing policy that may have allowed commercial motor vehicle drivers to use products that manipulate test results.

The Department of Transportation published a final rule (.pdf file) in the June 25 Federal Register that amends provisions of the department's drug and alcohol testing procedures to require mandatory validity testing for urine specimens in an effort to help detect specimens that may have been adulterated, diluted or substituted.

The final rule, which goes into effect Aug. 25, also intends to thwart manufacturers of adulterate specimens by no longer disseminating information on the adulterants that laboratories are testing for and the scientific cutoff levels at which laboratories are testing them.

The move follows the release of a Government Accountability Office report (.pdf file) highlighting a number of problems with existing drug testing programs. GAO investigators found that some commercial drivers who use illegal drugs manage to avoid detection by successfully adulterating or manipulating tests. Investigators also found that among the drivers who test positive, some continue to drive by "job hopping."