Login changes coming for users of DOT’s drug-testing database

truck-driver-with-laptop.jpg
Photo: shotbydave/iStockphoto

Washington — The Department of Transportation is changing how users access the Drug and Alcohol Testing Management Information System.

Starting Jan. 1, employers required to submit annual drug/alcohol testing information will need to set up a free Login.gov account. Login.gov uses authentication methods, such as text or voice messages, to safeguard account access.

If an employer already has an account, they can simply sign into the MIS website. Employers who don’t have an account will receive an email or letter from DOT with a 32-digit code to enter on the MIS website.

“Then employers will be directed to the Login.gov webpage to create an account and verify their email address.” DOT says. “After Login.gov has verified your email address, employers will be asked to create a Login.gov password and to choose at least one authentication method (such as a one-time code that is sent to your phone).”


McCraren Compliance can help you understand and comply with FMCSA, USDOT and ADOT and ensure your drivers and your vehicles operate safely and efficiently.

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Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication

U.S. Department of Transportation Announces New Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is recognizing World Day Against Trafficking in Persons with several actions to raise awareness and prevent human trafficking, including new collaboration among transportation sector leaders and recognition of innovation at the state and local level.

Human Trafficking

“Transportation workers and the traveling public have a key role to play in the fight against trafficking – which is why it’s so important for everyone to recognize the signs and be prepared to report it,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Everyone can learn more about the signs of human trafficking and share the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888) — an important resource to report a tip or ask for help.

Secretary Buttigieg announced the appointment of 15 members of the DOT Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking, which includes a cross-section of stakeholders from both industry and labor, including representatives from the aviation, bus, law enforcement, maritime, port, rail, and trucking sectors. Committee members also include lived experience experts and representatives of trafficking advocacy organizations and law enforcement. The Committee will develop a report with recommendations for countering human trafficking, and an assessment of best practices by transportation stakeholders and human trafficking violations involving commercial motor vehicles.

Secretary Buttigieg also announced the winner and runners up of the Department’s 2023 Combating Human Trafficking in Transportation Impact Award, which incentivizes innovative and shareable solutions to combat human trafficking in the transportation industry.

  • 1st Place: Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking and the American Association of Port Authorities for their “Awareness Campaign to Help Prevent Human Trafficking in the Maritime Industry” proposal. It will conduct the first national, multilingual counter-trafficking public awareness campaign to raise awareness among port authority employees and seafarers.
  • 2nd Place: Houston Airports for its “Together We Will #EndHumanTrafficking” proposal to build on its comprehensive approach to combating human trafficking.  Their counter-trafficking proposal includes expanding community awareness ahead of major travel periods and holidays, expanding employee training to comprise human trafficking survivor voices, and providing financial support to local advocacy groups.
  • 3rd Place: Two Bowling Green State University faculty members for their “Higher Education on the Awareness Highway to End Human Trafficking” proposal to develop a counter-trafficking awareness toolkit. The proposed toolkit will serve as a resource guide for college and university faculty to create survivor-informed and evidence-based community impact projects for their students at transportation sites including transit, airports, trains, and highway rest areas.

Continue reading “U.S. Department of Transportation Announces New Efforts to Combat Human Trafficking”

ELD, speed limiter, Clearinghouse rules all advancing

Original article published by J.J. Keller 
ELD, speed limiter, Clearinghouse rules all advancing
Photo: DOT

16 rules slated for June publication, DOT agenda shows

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is advancing dozens of new regulations, many of which will have a major impact on motor carriers and their drivers.

The latest DOT rulemaking agenda, released on June 14, 2023, describes numerous pending actions from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and other DOT agencies.

The FMCSA is slated to publish a whopping 15 rulemaking proposals in June 2023 alone. Among the rules expected to advance this year are those that would:

  • Require speed limiters for heavy trucks,
  • Update the cargo securement rules,
  • Make a variety of enhancements to the rules for electronic logging devices and the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse,
  • Alter the safety-rating process,
  • Ease rules for stopping at railroad crossings,
  • Require a proficiency exam for new motor carriers,
  • Add an appeals process for drivers accused of refusing a drug or alcohol test, and
  • Add exemption for the transportation of passengers for recreational activities.

Most upcoming rules are in the “proposal” stage, which means motor carriers and the public will have an opportunity to review and comment on the changes before they’re finalized.

The DOT updates its rulemaking roadmap twice yearly. The forecast is not set in stone; proposed changes often encounter delays and take years to finalize.


McCraren Compliance can help you understand and comply with FMCSA, USDOT and ADOT and ensure your drivers and your vehicles operate safely and efficiently.

Call us Today at 888-758-4757 or email us at info@mccrarencompliance.com to schedule your free FMCSA Compliance Assessment.

Original article published by J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.

FMCSA Launches Human Trafficking Prevention Campaign

New campaign reaches truck and motorcoach drivers at rest areas, travel centers, bus stations, and other places where human trafficking may occur

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently launched its new human trafficking awareness campaign — “Your Roads, Their Freedom.” The campaign seeks to give the nation’s 8.7 million commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers the information needed to identify and report suspected human trafficking.

Human Trafficking

“Human trafficking is a heinous crime, and it has no place in the transportation industry,” said FMCSA Administrator Robin Hutcheson. “But the hard-hitting reality is that our nation’s transportation systems are exploited by human traffickers every day, and FMCSA is working to help stop it.”

FMCSA is the federal leader in educating the CMV industry about road safety. Because human trafficking poses a threat to transportation safety, FMCSA is uniquely positioned to educate CMV drivers on ways to protect U.S. roadways against criminals perpetrating this crime. Additionally, FMCSA requires states and the District of Columbia to permanently ban drivers convicted of trafficking from operating a CMV, which requires a commercial driver’s license or commercial learner’s permit.

Globally, an estimated 28 million people are currently subjected to human trafficking, and the crime occurs in every state of the U.S. As part of DOT’s Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking (TLAHT) awareness campaign, the “Your Roads, Their Freedom” campaign will build on other federal efforts against trafficking, including the Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign and FMCSA’s grant programs, which awarded millions in funding to support state counter-trafficking efforts.

Through the “Your Roads, Their Freedom” campaign and other federal agency efforts, DOT aims “to empower America’s transportation workforce, which is millions strong, to be the eyes and ears of our collective effort,” as highlighted by U.S. Transportation Secretary Buttigieg in his remarks made to the President’s Interagency Task Force on Human Trafficking in February of this year.

Truckers made over 1,400 calls to the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline from December 2007 through June 2016, and 452 potential trafficking cases were identified. Truckers reported this information in real time, enabling quicker responses by law enforcement.

While the “Your Roads, Their Freedom” campaign will be conducted nationwide, there will be a heightened emphasis across states with the highest reported number of human trafficking cases or a high volume of driver traffic. These states include California, Florida, Michigan, New York, and North Carolina among others.

For more information on the “Your Roads, Their Freedom” campaign, along with shareable resources, visit https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/stophumantrafficking.


McCraren Compliance can help you understand and comply with FMCSA, USDOT and ADOT and ensure your drivers and your vehicles operate safely and efficiently.

Call us Today at 888-758-4757 or email us at info@mccrarencompliance.com to schedule your free FMCSA Compliance Assessment.

Original article published by FMCSA

DOT drug testing program to include oral fluid testing

Original article published by USDOT

This final rule amends the U.S. Department of Transportation’s regulated industry drug testing program to include oral fluid testing.  This additional methodology for drug testing will give employers a choice that will help combat employee cheating on urine drug tests and provide a less intrusive means of achieving the safety goals of the program.

In order for an employer to implement oral fluid testing under the Department’s regulation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will need to certify at least two laboratories for oral fluid testing, which has not yet been done.

The final rule includes other provisions to update the Department’s regulation and to harmonize, as needed, with the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs using Oral Fluid established by HHS.

In addition, this rule amends the FAA, FMCSA, FRA and FTA regulations to ensure consistency within the Department of Transportation and by removing or adjusting references to the word “urine” and /or add references to oral fluid, as well as, removing or amending some definitions for conformity and to make other miscellaneous technical changes or corrections.


McCraren Compliance can help you understand and comply with FMCSA, USDOT and ADOT and ensure your drivers and your vehicles operate safely and efficiently.

Call us Today at 888-758-4757 or email us at info@mccrarencompliance.com to schedule your free FMCSA Compliance Assessment.

DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day: April 22, 2023

Original article published by DOT

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled a National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, to be held on Saturday, April 22, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposal while educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. In addition, Take Back Day provides an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths.

This is a great opportunity for those who missed previous events or have accumulated unwanted, unused prescription drugs to dispose of those medications easily and safely.

For more information, including a Collection Site Locator, public service announcements, resources and treatment information, please visit DEA’s website https://takebackday.dea.gov/.


McCraren Compliance can help you understand and comply with FMCSA, USDOT and ADOT and ensure your drivers and your vehicles operate safely and efficiently.

Call us Today at 888-758-4757 or email us at info@mccrarencompliance.com to schedule your free FMCSA Compliance Assessment.

Biden-Harris Administration Announces More Than $1 Billion for Local Communities to Improve Roadway Safety

Original article published by DOT

More than 500 communities received funding for planning and projects from first round of grants announced in February; second round of funding encourages applicants to submit proposals that include demonstration projects that can be built quickly from temporary materials 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has opened the process for cities, towns, counties, Tribal governments and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) to apply directly for a total of $1.177 billion to fund local projects that improve roadway safety.

The funds are from the competitive grant program, Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A), which was created in President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help communities both plan and carry out projects that help reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our highways, streets, and roads. Funding can be targeted toward known high-crash areas, which are easier than ever to identify thanks to an interactive tool created by DOT. Locally driven solutions can include everything from improving sidewalks and adding high-visibility crosswalks, to reconfiguring intersections.

“The crisis of traffic deaths on our nation’s roadways demands urgent and sustained action by us all,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “With our Safe Streets and Roads for All program, we are helping communities across the country save lives by making their roads safer.”

Launching and administering the SS4A grant program is a major element to DOT’s National Roadway Safety Strategy, launched in 2022 to address the high number of traffic deaths happening across the country.

In February, DOT announced 473 communities received Action Planning grants and 37 communities received Implementation grants from the first round of SS4A funding. With similar funding available this year, the Department encourages all interested communities to apply. The application process for SS4A is designed to be as easy as possible and increase accessibility to this program, particularly for smaller communities, Tribal governments and recipients new to Federal funding. Applicants for this cycle are encouraged to submit proposals that include the use of demonstration activities, sometime also known as “quick build” projects, as part of their Action Plans, as well as undertaking more traditional action planning and implementation activities. DOT anticipates awarding at least $250 million in demonstration activities this funding round.

Applications may come from individual communities or groups of communities and may include MPOs, counties, cities, towns, other special districts that are subdivisions of a state, certain transit agencies, federally recognized Tribal governments, and multijurisdictional groups of eligible applicants.

The Safe Streets and Roads for All Notice of Funding Opportunity can be found at  https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4A. Applications are due on or before July 10 at 5pm Eastern.


McCraren Compliance can help you understand and comply with FMCSA, USDOT and ADOT and ensure your drivers and your vehicles operate safely and efficiently.

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DOT adjusts civil penalty amounts for inflation

Original article published by Safety+Health

Photo: USDOT

Washington — The Department of Transportation has revised civil penalty amounts for violations to adjust for inflation.

Published in the Federal Register and effective Jan. 6, the increase is 1.07745% for DOT agencies, including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

The adjustments for FMCSA penalties are detailed in Appendices A and B to 49 CFR part 386. A chart of the affected penalties is published in Section D of the final rule.

Under the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, DOT is required to adjust civil penalty levels for inflation each year. DOT determines yearly adjustment rates via the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers.


McCraren Compliance can help you understand and comply with FMCSA, USDOT and ADOT and ensure your drivers and your vehicles operate safely and efficiently.

Call us Today at 888-758-4757 or email us at info@mccrarencompliance.com to schedule your free FMCSA Compliance Assessment.

DOT Statement of Enforcement Discretion for Substance Abuse Professionals

Original article published by USDOT

The Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance is issuing a Statement of Enforcement Discretion for Substance Abuse Professionals (SAP) that is effective January 1, 2023.  The document authorizes SAPs to conduct remote assessments and evaluations for employees with drug and alcohol violations.

You can view the guidance document at https://www.transportation.gov/odapc/statement_of_enforcement_discretion_SAPs


McCraren Compliance can help you understand and comply with FMCSA, USDOT and ADOT and ensure your drivers and your vehicles operate safely and efficiently.

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A Notice for Federal Drug Testing Collection Sites & CDL Employers Regarding FMCSA Regulated Employees

First published by FMCSA

DOT | FMCSA Logo Banner with bottle of prescription drugs

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has regulations governing drug and alcohol testing for certain transportation industry employees. These regulations help ensure that the traveling American public can feel safe in their day to day journeys. Part of the effective execution of these regulations relies upon drug testing collection sites. For Federal drug testing programs to operate efficiently and effectively, collection sites play an integral role in making sure the right individuals are administered the right tests.

There are several modes under DOT that have regulations about how employees in their specific part of the transportation industry should be tested. For the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), one of the modes under DOT, only commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders, commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders, or drivers that should have either a CDL or CLP should be given a DOT drug test with FMCSA specified as the DOT Agency on the custody and control form (CCF). Administering Federal drug tests to anyone other than these groups under FMCSA regulations creates an unnecessary administrative burdens on everyone in the Federal drug testing arena including, employers, drivers, medical review officers, third party administrators, and Federal staff. It is for this reason that FMCSA put together the, “Collection Site Notice” linked below. This notice provides important information for both collection sites and employers to use when determining who should be given what type of test.

Employers:  Please keep this notice handy and make sure that anyone involved in drug and alcohol testing at your company has a copy of it.

Collection Sites: Please review the attached notice with your staff. Also, we encourage posting the second page of the notice in your collection site, particularly in places where collections are actively taking place.

DOT and FMCSA drug and alcohol testing regulations make it safer for everyone in the United States to get around. This notice will help ensure that these regulations are implemented properly.

Collection Site Notice

FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Testing Program Website

FMCSADrugandAlcohol@dot.gov


McCraren Compliance can help you understand and comply with FMCSA, USDOT and ADOT and ensure your drivers and your vehicles operate safely and efficiently.

Call us Today at 888-758-4757 or email us at info@mccrarencompliance.com to schedule your free FMCSA Compliance Assessment.