Regulatory Alert

FMCSA Launches Motus —
New Motor Carrier Registration System
Action Required Before May 14

Monday, May 11, 2026 – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is replacing its existing registration infrastructure with a new, centralized platform called Motus — and the current FMCSA Portal is scheduled to go dark permanently on May 14, 2026 at 8:00 PM EDT. EMA members holding a USDOT number must take action now to avoid being locked out of or delayed in accessing the new system.

What Is Motus?

Motus — from the Latin word for "movement" — will serve as the single destination for all FMCSA registration activities, consolidating functions currently spread across the FMCSA Portal, the Unified Registration System (URS), and other legacy tools. Motor carriers, freight brokers, surface freight forwarders, cargo tank facilities, and other regulated entities will use Motus to apply for operating authority, maintain USDOT registrations, complete biennial updates, and manage financial responsibility filings.

Fraud prevention is at the core of the new system. According to FMCSA, the new system will:

“ensure that the business claiming an identity is who it says it is, thus preventing unauthorized access and use of information for fraudulent purposes; identify and mitigate instances of fraud, including account takeover, false identity creation, and other deceptive purposes; enable trustworthy and secure digital transactions by ensuring that business is engaging in online activities that are authenticated and authorized; and prevent the exposure of confidential data by ensuring that only authorized individuals of the business have access to specific resources or services.”

Motus addresses identity theft, account loss, and fraudulent insurance actions through mandatory identity verification — requiring a government-issued ID and a facial scan via smartphone — and independent business verification confirming a company's legal name, ownership structure, principal place of business, and registration standing.

FMCSA is rolling out Motus in phases. Phase I launched December 8, 2025, for supporting companies including BOC-3 filers and insurance companies. Phase II — opening Motus to all regulated entities — is planned for Q2 2026, immediately following the May 14 Portal shutdown.

Why This Matters for EMA Members

Fuel distributors with USDOT numbers should be aware of the changes. Entities that fail to prepare their FMCSA Portal accounts before the May 14 deadline risk verification delays, locked accounts, and potential disruption to registration and compliance activities when Motus opens.

Action Required — Do This Before May 14

FMCSA is specifically requesting that all USDOT-registered entities complete the following steps immediately:

• Confirm your FMCSA Portal account is active. Accounts go inactive after 90 days of non-use and are archived after 12 months — reactivation requires contacting FMCSA directly and may take significant time.

• Verify the designated Company Official. This must be an owner or authorized internal employee. Their Login.gov email must match what will be used to access Motus — a mismatch will prevent the company from claiming its USDOT number in the new system.

• Ensure all company information is current. Address, operation classification, and authorized users must be up to date. Outdated records will trigger verification delays under Motus's strict data validation process.

• Remove unauthorized users from your FMCSA Portal account — anyone who has left the organization or changed roles should be removed now.

See FMCSA’s guidance on how to prepare for Motus here.

See Motus website for more information here.

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