A set of federal regulatory changes took effect for motor carriers in June 2026, touching drug and alcohol testing, marijuana policy, and broker liability. The Department of Transportation published a final rule updating terminology across its drug and alcohol testing regulations, effective June 10. The rule adds a provision requiring directly observed urine collection in situations where oral fluid testing is called for but oral fluid collection is not yet available at the site.
The Department also restated its position on marijuana. Medical Review Officers may not reclassify a marijuana-positive result as negative based on a driver's use of a state-licensed marijuana product. Under the guidance, marijuana use is not treated as a legitimate medical explanation regardless of state law, and it remains incompatible with safety-sensitive driving functions.
The most consequential development came from the U.S. Supreme Court, which issued a unanimous ruling in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport. The court held that negligent hiring claims against freight brokers are not preempted by the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act. The decision means brokers can face liability when they engage an unsafe carrier and a crash or injury follows. Carrier vetting practices across the brokerage sector are expected to tighten as a result.
For fleet operators, the combined effect is a higher compliance bar on testing procedures and renewed attention to safety records throughout the contracting chain. Companies that document driver qualification, testing, and carrier selection carefully are better positioned for the new enforcement environment.
Source: Fleetworthy - https://fleetworthy.com/resources/blog/fleet-compliance-news-june-2026/