DOT authorizes any trained individual under 49 CFR § 40.33 to serve as a urine collector. For oral fluid collections, training must meet the requirements in § 40.35. However, certain restrictions apply:

  1. The immediate supervisor of an employee cannot collect the specimen if that employee is being tested.
  2. An employee in a safety-sensitive role, subject to DOT testing rules, cannot serve as a collector, observer, or monitor for co-workers. This applies to those in the same testing pool or those working closely with them each day.
  3. An employee cannot collect their own specimen during testing.
  4. A collector must not have a close personal connection with the employee. This includes spouses, ex-spouses, relatives, or close friends.