The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is preparing to replace major parts of its carrier registration process with a new system designed to reduce fraud and simplify how trucking companies obtain and manage operating authority.
The platform, called Motus, will eventually handle carrier registrations, USDOT numbers, and required updates through a single interface. FMCSA says the system is intended to modernize a process that many carriers have long described as slow, fragmented, and vulnerable to misuse.
Why FMCSA is replacing the current system
Carriers familiar with the existing registration process know it often involves extensive paperwork, long review timelines, and limited visibility into application errors. FMCSA has also raised concerns about fraud under the current structure, including cases where carriers shut down by the agency reappear under new names.
The move toward a new registration framework was directed by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, commonly known as MAP-21, which was signed into law in 2012. While the legislation is often associated with infrastructure funding, it also included reforms aimed at improving oversight and accountability within the motor carrier industry.
Motus represents the next phase of those reforms, building on earlier efforts such as the Unified Registration System, which moved much of the process online.
When carriers can expect access
FMCSA does not expect Motus to be available to motor carriers or brokers until later in 2026 at the earliest. Carriers planning to apply for authority in the near term will still need to follow the current registration process.
During 2026, the new system is being opened to transportation service providers such as insurance companies, sureties, and certain financial institutions. FMCSA says this staged approach will allow those entities to be fully prepared to support carriers once Motus is opened more broadly.
The agency plans to issue a proposed rule in March 2026 outlining how Motus will operate. That proposal will be followed by a public comment period before a final rule is adopted. FMCSA has said carriers will receive advance notice and guidance ahead of any required transition.
What Motus changes operationally
Motus will replace portions of the existing FMCSA portal and the Unified Registration System with what the agency describes as a “single, more secure and user-friendly platform.” The name Motus is not an acronym. According to FMCSA, it is derived from a Latin word meaning “movement” or “motion.”
Under the new system, carriers will manage USDOT number filings and biennial updates through one dashboard. Motus will rely on Login.gov for account access and will incorporate IDEMIA biometric identification tools along with business address validation to reduce fraudulent registrations.
FMCSA says the system is designed to flag errors during the application process rather than weeks later, a common frustration under the current model. The interface is also being built to function across desktop computers, tablets, and mobile devices.
To help users understand how the system works, FMCSA has published a document titled “Supporting Company Job Aid.” While the guide currently applies to entities that can already access Motus, it outlines the general structure of the registration process that carriers can expect once the system opens.
Questions around DOT and MC numbers
One unresolved issue tied to Motus is how FMCSA will handle DOT and MC numbers moving forward. Today, DOT numbers function as safety identifiers used during inspections and enforcement actions, while MC numbers represent a carrier’s authority to operate in interstate commerce.
FMCSA has indicated that it intends to explore phasing out MC numbers as the Motus system evolves. Under that approach, a carrier’s DOT number would remain the primary identifier, with an added suffix indicating the type of operation, such as household goods or brokerage. Those suffixes would not be required to appear on the sides of commercial vehicles, meaning truck markings would display only the DOT number.
Any changes to numbering requirements would be addressed through future rulemaking.
Fees and transition planning
FMCSA has stated that the rollout of Motus will not include registration fee increases. However, the agency has noted that fee adjustments could still be proposed separately through future regulatory actions.
Carriers will need a Login.gov account to access Motus, whether registering for the first time or maintaining an existing registration. Even carriers that already hold DOT or MC numbers will be required to use Login.gov once records are fully managed through the new platform.
Identity verification and principal place of business validation will also be part of the process. For smaller carriers and owner-operators, the principal place of business is often a home address or garage. Larger fleets with multiple locations will need to designate a specific site for FMCSA records.
Paper forms will remain available for now. While FMCSA intends for Motus to streamline online registration and improve efficiency, carriers that prefer paper filings will still have that option during the transition.
A modernization effort years in the making
Motus represents the most significant change to carrier registration since the introduction of the Unified Registration System. FMCSA frames the project as a modernization effort aimed at improving security, reducing fraud, and making compliance easier to manage for carriers of all sizes.
For carriers and industry stakeholders, the system signals a shift toward tighter identity controls and a more centralized registration process, with further details expected as rulemaking moves forward.
Source: The Trucker
