Motus is Almost Here: Are You Ready for It?
Motus is set to launch soon – see below for more details. Notably, if you have a USDOT number, action may be required, particularly if your company:
- Does not yet have a FMCSA Portal account set up.
- Is unsure who its Portal ‘Company Official’ is.
- Has designated a Company Official who is no longer with the company.
- Does not have or know its DOT PIN.
Prepare for Motus: USDOT Registration System
Beginning as soon as May 15, 2026, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will launch Motus, a new online registration system for entities with a USDOT number (FMCSA Registrants). Supporting companies that assist FMCSA Registrants, such as BOC-3 filers and insurance/surety companies, can also use Motus.
Motus is intended to provide a more streamlined and efficient registration system for FMCSA Registrants and supporting companies while also enhancing fraud prevention. Currently, FMCSA Registrants must use multiple platforms, including the FMCSA Portal, the Unified Registration System (URS), Licensing & Insurance, and SAFER. Motus will replace parts of the current FMCSA Portal and the URS, creating a single platform to manage registrations, filings, and compliance activities. Through Motus, FMCSA Registrants will be able to apply for a USDOT number or operating authority, submit biennial updates, update business information (e.g. company name and address), reinstate operating authority, reactivate a USDOT number, track the status of registration actions, and easily upload supporting documents. Supporting companies will be able to submit filings on behalf of FMCSA Registrants and applicants through Motus.
Motus will be accessible on mobile devices, tablets, and computers. Additionally, Motus will use real-time data validation and auto-population measures to reduce errors during registration and will use enhanced fraud-resistant security measures to prevent unauthorized access to accounts and ensure filings are linked to verified entities.
To facilitate a smooth transition to Motus, the FMCSA is urging all FMCSA Registrants to ensure by May 14, 2026 that (1) their FMCSA Portal account is active, (2) the correct Portal Company Official is listed, and (3) their business information is updated. According to the FMCSA, failure to complete these steps may delay access to Motus once it becomes available.
1 – Confirm FMCSA Portal Account is Active
FMCSA Registrants should log into the U.S. DOT FMCSA Portal to confirm their account is active. If you do not yet have a Portal account, you should create one as soon as possible. Please note that setting up a Portal account requires the use of the USDOT PIN. If you do not have a USDOT PIN for any reason, you should request it immediately online at Request a USDOT Personal Identification Number (PIN) | FMCSA. Under some circumstances, the FMCSA will only mail the PIN to the address on the company’s USDOT record, rather than provide it electronically, which can take 7-10 business days. Accordingly, it is important to begin this process now in order to obtain the PIN and get the Portal account set up before May 15th. Feel free to reach out to us for further guidance about setting up a Portal account.
2 – Confirm Correct Portal Company Official is Listed
Once Motus launches, FMCSA Registrants will need to claim their USDOT number in Motus by using the same Login.gov e-mail address used for the FMCSA Portal. Ensuring the correct Portal Company Official is listed in your FMCSA Portal account will allow you to claim your USDOT number and automatically populate your new account with existing records. Only the FMCSA Portal Company Official using the same FMCSA Portal Login.gov email will be permitted to claim an account in Motus for the first time, so it is important to confirm the correct individual is listed as the Portal Company Official and the e-mail address associated with the account is current and accessible.
Once your account is successfully linked to Motus, you will no longer need to access the FMCSA Portal to make registration changes.
3 – Confirm Business Information is Up to Date
The FMCSA also recommends verifying information in the FMCSA Portal account is current, including company information, operation classification, contact information, etc. Updates can be made by selecting “Biennial Update (MCS-150)” in the “Registration” tab.
What Is Not Included in This Initial Launch of Motus
The FMCSA has proposed no longer assigning MC numbers and, instead, having the USDOT number be the sole identifier for FMCSA Registrants, but this remains just a proposal and is not being implemented as part of the initial Motus rollout. Under this proposal, operating authorities would instead be indicated by a suffix to the USDOT number for each type held. If an entity has more than one type of operating authority, e.g. motor carrier and property broker, then all suffixes for each type of operating authority held would be displayed. According to the FMCSA, this change is still under consideration. If it were to move forward, then it would be available for public comment in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
If you have any questions about Motus, such as how to set up your FMCSA Portal account, or who should be or how to update your Portal Company Official, please contact Scopelitis Attorneys Andrew Light, Ryan Wright, Sue Lawless, or Jordan Yu.
News from Scopelitis is intended as a report to our clients and friends on developments affecting the transportation industry. The published material does not constitute an exhaustive legal study and should not be regarded or relied upon as individual legal advice or opinion.
Motus is Almost Here: Are You Ready for It?
Motus is set to launch soon – see below for more details. Notably, if you have a USDOT number, action may be required, particularly if your company:
- Does not yet have a FMCSA Portal account set up.
- Is unsure who its Portal ‘Company Official’ is.
- Has designated a Company Official who is no longer with the company.
- Does not have or know its DOT PIN.
Prepare for Motus: USDOT Registration System
Beginning as soon as May 15, 2026, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will launch Motus, a new online registration system for entities with a USDOT number (FMCSA Registrants). Supporting companies that assist FMCSA Registrants, such as BOC-3 filers and insurance/surety companies, can also use Motus.
Motus is intended to provide a more streamlined and efficient registration system for FMCSA Registrants and supporting companies while also enhancing fraud prevention. Currently, FMCSA Registrants must use multiple platforms, including the FMCSA Portal, the Unified Registration System (URS), Licensing & Insurance, and SAFER. Motus will replace parts of the current FMCSA Portal and the URS, creating a single platform to manage registrations, filings, and compliance activities. Through Motus, FMCSA Registrants will be able to apply for a USDOT number or operating authority, submit biennial updates, update business information (e.g. company name and address), reinstate operating authority, reactivate a USDOT number, track the status of registration actions, and easily upload supporting documents. Supporting companies will be able to submit filings on behalf of FMCSA Registrants and applicants through Motus.
Motus will be accessible on mobile devices, tablets, and computers. Additionally, Motus will use real-time data validation and auto-population measures to reduce errors during registration and will use enhanced fraud-resistant security measures to prevent unauthorized access to accounts and ensure filings are linked to verified entities.
To facilitate a smooth transition to Motus, the FMCSA is urging all FMCSA Registrants to ensure by May 14, 2026 that (1) their FMCSA Portal account is active, (2) the correct Portal Company Official is listed, and (3) their business information is updated. According to the FMCSA, failure to complete these steps may delay access to Motus once it becomes available.
1 – Confirm FMCSA Portal Account is Active
FMCSA Registrants should log into the U.S. DOT FMCSA Portal to confirm their account is active. If you do not yet have a Portal account, you should create one as soon as possible. Please note that setting up a Portal account requires the use of the USDOT PIN. If you do not have a USDOT PIN for any reason, you should request it immediately online at Request a USDOT Personal Identification Number (PIN) | FMCSA. Under some circumstances, the FMCSA will only mail the PIN to the address on the company’s USDOT record, rather than provide it electronically, which can take 7-10 business days. Accordingly, it is important to begin this process now in order to obtain the PIN and get the Portal account set up before May 15th. Feel free to reach out to us for further guidance about setting up a Portal account.
2 – Confirm Correct Portal Company Official is Listed
Once Motus launches, FMCSA Registrants will need to claim their USDOT number in Motus by using the same Login.gov e-mail address used for the FMCSA Portal. Ensuring the correct Portal Company Official is listed in your FMCSA Portal account will allow you to claim your USDOT number and automatically populate your new account with existing records. Only the FMCSA Portal Company Official using the same FMCSA Portal Login.gov email will be permitted to claim an account in Motus for the first time, so it is important to confirm the correct individual is listed as the Portal Company Official and the e-mail address associated with the account is current and accessible.
Once your account is successfully linked to Motus, you will no longer need to access the FMCSA Portal to make registration changes.
3 – Confirm Business Information is Up to Date
The FMCSA also recommends verifying information in the FMCSA Portal account is current, including company information, operation classification, contact information, etc. Updates can be made by selecting “Biennial Update (MCS-150)” in the “Registration” tab.
What Is Not Included in This Initial Launch of Motus
The FMCSA has proposed no longer assigning MC numbers and, instead, having the USDOT number be the sole identifier for FMCSA Registrants, but this remains just a proposal and is not being implemented as part of the initial Motus rollout. Under this proposal, operating authorities would instead be indicated by a suffix to the USDOT number for each type held. If an entity has more than one type of operating authority, e.g. motor carrier and property broker, then all suffixes for each type of operating authority held would be displayed. According to the FMCSA, this change is still under consideration. If it were to move forward, then it would be available for public comment in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
If you have any questions about Motus, such as how to set up your FMCSA Portal account, or who should be or how to update your Portal Company Official, please contact Scopelitis Attorneys Andrew Light, Ryan Wright, Sue Lawless, or Jordan Yu.
News from Scopelitis is intended as a report to our clients and friends on developments affecting the transportation industry. The published material does not constitute an exhaustive legal study and should not be regarded or relied upon as individual legal advice or opinion.