FMCSA Motus is now the federal registration system motor carriers use for USDOT registration. If your company already has a USDOT number, you do not need to start over. You need to connect that existing record to the new system. New carriers will use the Motus USDOT Registration System to apply for a USDOT number and any operating authority required for their business.
FMCSA Motus went live for registrants on May 19, 2026, replacing registration functions that had been spread across the FMCSA Portal, Unified Registration System (URS), and other older FMCSA systems.
For many carriers, the biggest adjustment has been getting access to records that already existed before Motus launched. Login.gov accounts, identity verification, missing USDOT records, and account roles have all caused problems during the transition. FMCSA continues to publish updated instructions as those issues are identified.
BE PATIENT as the system still does not work correctly and call back from FMCSA might take weeks.
What Changed With FMCSA Motus?
The biggest change is where carriers handle federal registration work.
FMCSA Motus is now used to apply for a USDOT number or operating authority, update company information, submit a biennial update, request additional authority, reinstate certain registrations, and inactivate or reactivate a USDOT number.
The official website is motus.dot.gov.
Registration functions in the old FMCSA Portal became unavailable on May 14, 2026. The Portal still handles some non-registration functions, but registration work has moved to Motus.
If you already have a USDOT number, your record did not disappear when the system changed. You need to connect that existing record to your FMCSA Motus account.
Do not apply for another USDOT number simply because you cannot get into the current record. A second registration can create a duplicate record and leave you with another issue to resolve.
Getting Into Your Existing FMCSA Motus Account
The FMCSA Motus login uses Login.gov. Each person who accesses the system needs an individual account, and identity verification is required before protected registration actions can be completed.
For an existing carrier, start with the person listed as the Company Official. That person should use the same Login.gov email address that was connected to the Company Official role in the former FMCSA Portal.
Before beginning your FMCSA Motus registration or account setup, have your USDOT number, legal business name, current business address, contact information, and access to the correct Login.gov email available. FMCSA may also ask for proof of ownership if the system cannot connect the user to the carrier record.
The setup process generally looks like this:
- Go directly to motus.dot.gov.
- Sign in through Login.gov.
- Create your Motus user profile.
- Complete identity verification.
- Locate your existing USDOT number.
- Link the company record to your account.
- Review the imported information before certifying it.
You no longer need the old USDOT PIN for electronic registration actions in FMCSA Motus. Login.gov credentials, identity verification, and account permissions now control access.
If you need to claim your USDOT number in Motus and the record does not appear, check the Login.gov email first. It needs to match the Company Official information FMCSA already has for the company.
FMCSA also provides a job aid for claiming an existing USDOT number.
If the email is correct and the record still does not appear, contact FMCSA support. Do not create another USDOT number to get around the access problem.
Registering a New Motor Carrier
New carriers also use FMCSA Motus, but there is no existing record to claim.
The information entered during registration becomes part of the carrier’s federal record, so it needs to accurately describe the business from the beginning. FMCSA uses details such as business structure, cargo, operating area, vehicle use, and interstate activity to determine which registrations and authority requirements apply.
Review the application before submitting it. Incorrect information can affect operating authority, insurance filings, compliance records, and later account changes.
For interstate carriers, registration is only the beginning. A new carrier may also be subject to a New Entrant Safety Audit after operations start. Our DOT safety and compliance services can help carriers understand the federal requirements that apply after registration.
Biennial Updates Are Now Handled Through FMCSA Motus
The Motus biennial update is now handled through the new registration system. Most established carriers know this requirement from the MCS-150 process.
FMCSA Motus changes where the update is filed, not the requirement itself. Under normal FMCSA rules, motor carriers must update their USDOT information every two years, even when nothing has changed.
You should also update the record when company information changes between filing dates. An MCS-150 update in Motus may be needed if your company changes its legal name, address, operating information, or other details connected to the USDOT record.
There is currently an important exception.
FMCSA has temporarily suspended enforcement of the biennial update requirement for registrants whose update was due on or after June 1, 2026. During this period, affected USDOT numbers will not be inactivated solely because the required update was not completed.
This is an enforcement pause tied to FMCSA Motus stabilization. It does not eliminate the underlying biennial update requirement.
FMCSA explains the current policy on its biennial update suspension page.
If your company information has changed, keep the record current. FMCSA is continuing to update its guidance, so carriers should watch current announcements rather than assuming the temporary policy will remain in place.
When FMCSA Motus Is Not Working
A missing USDOT number is one of the problems carriers are seeing most often. In many cases, the issue comes back to the Login.gov email address.
If FMCSA Motus cannot match the user account to the Company Official information already tied to the company, the USDOT record may not appear.
Check the email first. If it matches and the record is still missing, contact FMCSA rather than starting a new registration.
Another issue involves the Link USDOT Number option being grayed out. FMCSA has identified cases where an email address was accidentally registered under a Transportation Service Provider, or TSP, role.
Its current instructions tell affected users to sign into Motus, open the TSP account page, select the gear icon, choose Close Account, and confirm the closure.
If the link option is still unavailable after that, submit a support ticket. Be ready to provide the USDOT number, Company Official information, Login.gov email, and proof of company ownership.
Identity verification can also stop the process. If you cannot complete verification, FMCSA directs users to contact the Registration Customer Service Center at 1-800-832-5660. Depending on the problem, you may be referred to a physical verification location.
If you already have a support ticket open, follow up on that case instead of opening another ticket for the same issue. Keep the case number available so FMCSA can review the existing record.
FMCSA also maintains a Registration Alerts page with current FMCSA Motus problems and troubleshooting instructions. Check it before assuming the issue is limited to your account.
Make Sure You Are on the Real FMCSA Motus Website
The official FMCSA Motus website is motus.dot.gov.
Fake Motus websites and phishing emails are already circulating. Some messages tell carriers they need to complete an urgent registration or profile update, then direct them to a website that collects Login.gov credentials, identification documents, or company information.
FMCSA has identified fake domains including:
- dot.motusdatasboard.com
- dot.motusdatadesk.com
- dot.motuswebdeck.com
- dot.motusfunction.com
None of these are FMCSA websites.
If you receive a message you are unsure about, check the current FMCSA fraud alerts.
A safer habit is to type motus.dot.gov directly into your browser instead of clicking a link in an unexpected email. Do not provide Login.gov credentials, identification documents, business information, or payment details simply because a site uses an FMCSA logo.
Get FMCSA Motus Access Before You Need It
If your company already has a USDOT number, set up access before you are facing a registration deadline or authority problem.
Sign into FMCSA Motus, complete identity verification, claim the existing company record, and review the information FMCSA brought into the system. Check the legal business name, address, contact details, and operating information while you have time to correct anything that is wrong.
That is much easier than discovering an account mismatch when you are already trying to make a time-sensitive registration change.
If something in the record does not match your company information, check the current FMCSA instructions before making major changes or creating another registration.
FAQs
No. Electronic registration actions in Motus use Login.gov, identity verification, and account permissions instead of the old USDOT PIN process.
For registration work, yes. Registration actions have moved to FMCSA Motus. The FMCSA Portal still handles some other functions.
No. FMCSA has temporarily suspended enforcement for certain updates due on or after June 1, 2026 while FMCSA Motus stabilization work continues. The federal biennial update requirement remains in place.
Check the Company Official’s Login.gov email first. If it matches the information FMCSA has and the USDOT record still does not appear, contact FMCSA support. Do not apply for another USDOT number just to get around the account problem.
The official FMCSA Motus login is at motus.dot.gov. Check the domain before entering company or Login.gov information.
Keep Your FMCSA Motus Registration Information Current
FMCSA is still updating its FMCSA Motus guidance as carriers use the system and new issues are identified. Before making changes to your record, check the current instructions, especially if you are dealing with an account-access problem or a registration issue that is not addressed in Motus.
If the problem goes beyond FMCSA Motus and involves federal registration, records, audits, or other carrier requirements, our DOT safety and compliance services can help you identify what needs attention.