Motor carriers that have been unable to complete a required biennial update during the transition to FMCSA’s new Motus registration system will not have their USDOT numbers inactivated — at least for now.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has temporarily suspended enforcement of the biennial-update requirement and the inactivation of USDOT numbers for entities that have not filed the required update.

The relief applies to registrants whose biennial updates were due on or after June 1, 2026. FMCSA said those registrants will receive additional time to complete the filing while the agency continues “recovery and stabilization efforts” for Motus.

The agency has not announced when the temporary suspension will end. It said it will issue additional guidance as work on the system continues.

What is Motus?

Motus, FMCSA’s new USDOT registration system, launched in May. It is replacing several legacy systems used by motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders and other regulated entities to apply for and manage registrations.

FMCSA has promoted Motus as a single, mobile-friendly system with stronger identity verification, real-time data validation, and centralized company accounts.

However, the transition has not been exactly smooth. The agency’s references to recovery and stabilization efforts indicate that the transition has caused service disruptions.

FMCSA has extended the hours of its Registration Customer Service Center to help users experiencing problems. Phone and chat assistance is available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time, as well as on Saturdays.

The agency advised users reporting a Motus problem to submit one ticket through the FMCSA Contact Center and follow up on that case rather than creating duplicate tickets.

What Intrastate Carriers Need to Know

Motus does not offer a biennial-update option for intrastate carriers because those carriers are not subject to the federal biennial-update requirement.

Some states, however, require intrastate carriers to update their FMCSA records periodically. To accommodate those requirements, Motus allows intrastate carriers to update their mileage, number of power units, and number of drivers.

FMCSA also is working to display the date of the carrier’s most recent update so state agencies can determine when its record was last updated.

Watch for Fake Motus Emails and Websites

The Motus rollout also has given scammers a new opportunity to target carriers.

FMCSA warned that fraudulent emails are directing users to websites impersonating the new registration system. The emails may use the subject line “Notice of Required Off-Cycle Update — Motus email” and direct recipients to a supposed “New MOTUS Portal.”

Some messages claim that an off-cycle account update is required and provide a “carrier access code” along with a link.

FMCSA emphasized that Motus is a name, not an acronym, and should not appear in all capital letters. The only legitimate Motus address is https://motus.dot.gov/.

The agency identified four fraudulent domains:

• dot.motusdatasboard.com
• dot.motusdatadesk.com
• dot.motuswebdeck.com
• dot.motusfunction.com

Carriers should avoid clicking links in suspicious messages and instead go directly to the official Motus website.

Suspected scams can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center or the FMCSA Contact Center.