FMCSA Motus Deadline: What Carriers Must Do

FMCSA Motus Change: What Carriers Need to Check Now

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is preparing to roll out its new registration system, Motus, and motor carriers have a short list of steps to complete before the change takes place.

FMCSA issued a bulletin on Monday, May 11, 2026, telling registered entities to review their FMCSA Portal accounts by May 14, 2026. The notice is aimed at carriers and other businesses that use FMCSA systems to manage registration records, company information, and related updates.

For trucking companies, the main issue is not just the launch of a new system. The more urgent concern is whether the right person has access to the company’s FMCSA Portal account before the switch to Motus.

If a carrier’s Portal account is inactive, outdated, or tied to the wrong email address, the company may have trouble claiming its account in FMCSA’s new system.

FMCSA Is Moving Registration Work to Motus

FMCSA said its new registration system will soon be rolled out. The agency refers to the new system as Motus.

The bulletin says carriers should prepare now by checking their current FMCSA Portal account. Once a company account is successfully linked to Motus, the carrier will no longer need to use the FMCSA Portal to make registration changes.

That means the Portal is still important during the transition. FMCSA is telling carriers to use the current system now to make sure their account and company records are ready for the move.

For trucking businesses, this is a registration and compliance issue. Many carriers use FMCSA systems to keep their company details up to date. This can include their business information, operating classification, contact information, and who is allowed to access the company record.

Carriers Have a May 14 Deadline to Check Portal Records

FMCSA is asking registered entities to take several steps in the FMCSA Portal by May 14, 2026.

The first step is simple: carriers should log into their FMCSA Portal account and make sure it is active.

If a carrier does not have a Portal account, FMCSA said the company can create one and use its USDOT PIN to access its information. The agency directed carriers to obtain their PIN through SAFER.

FMCSA also warned that Portal accounts can be disabled after 90 days of inactivity. Accounts can be archived after 12 months of inactivity. If an account has been disabled or archived, the company must contact the FMCSA Contact Center to have it unlocked.

That warning may matter most to small fleets and owner-operators that do not log into the FMCSA Portal often. A carrier may assume its account still works, only to discover it has been locked because it has not been used in months.

Why Motus Access Depends on the Right Company Official

One of the most important parts of FMCSA’s bulletin involves who is allowed to claim the company’s account in Motus for the first time.

FMCSA said only the FMCSA Portal Company Official using the same FMCSA Portal Login.gov email will be allowed to claim an account in Motus for the first time.

That means carriers need to know exactly who is listed as the Company Official in the Portal. They also need to make sure the correct Login.gov email is tied to that person.

This detail could create problems for some trucking businesses.

In many small trucking companies, the person who first set up the account may not be the same person handling compliance today. In some cases, an outside registration service, former employee, former safety manager, or old email address may still be connected to the account.

If the wrong person or email is listed, the carrier could face delays when trying to claim the Motus account.

Owner-Operators and Small Fleets May Face the Biggest Risk

The bulletin may be especially important for owner-operators with their own USDOT number and small fleets that manage their own compliance work.

Large fleets often have compliance teams that regularly check FMCSA records. Smaller carriers may not. Some may only log into the Portal when they need to file an update, change company information, or handle a registration issue.

That could make inactive accounts a real concern.

Owner-operators who run under their own authority may also need to make sure they have access to their USDOT PIN and Portal account. If their account has not been used recently, they may need to get it unlocked before they can prepare for Motus.

The same concern applies to carriers that have changed business addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, company officials, or outside compliance services.

What Carriers Should Review Before the Motus Switch

FMCSA told registered entities to review several key items in the Portal before May 14.

Carriers should make sure their company information is correct. They should also check their operation classification, contact information, and the list of people authorized to access the company record.

FMCSA said updates can be made in the Portal the same way a company completes a Biennial Update. The agency said users should select “Biennial Update (MCS-150)” under the “Registration” tab.

For motor carriers, this review is more than a routine paperwork task. FMCSA records are often used to identify a carrier’s business, operations, contact points, and registration status. Incorrect information can create confusion for the carrier, regulators, service providers, and others who rely on FMCSA records.

Carriers should also make sure they know who has access to their company record. If old users are still listed, or if the current company official is not correct, the carrier may want to address that before Motus becomes the main place for registration changes.

How Motus May Affect Commercial Truck Drivers

Most company drivers will not need to claim a Motus account or update FMCSA registration records themselves. However, the change could still affect drivers indirectly.

If a carrier has trouble accessing its registration account, that could slow down routine updates or create administrative problems for the business. For drivers, those issues may show up through delays in company paperwork, onboarding, compliance records, or other back-office processes.

The impact is more direct for owner-operators who operate under their own USDOT number. Those drivers are also business owners, so they may be responsible for making sure their FMCSA Portal account is active and ready for the transition.

Independent drivers who rely on a third-party service to handle registration work may also want to confirm who controls their Portal record. FMCSA’s bulletin makes clear that the first Motus account claim depends on the Company Official and the matching Login.gov email.

FMCSA Directs Carriers to User Guide and Contact Center

FMCSA said carriers should download the FMCSA Portal Registration User Guide for FMCSA Registered Entities and Associates.

The agency also directed carriers to its registration resources hub for updated information, fact sheets, and other materials.

For assistance, FMCSA said carriers can contact the agency at 1-800-832-5660.

Motus Registration Access Is the Main Issue

FMCSA’s bulletin is not a new safety rule or roadside enforcement action. It does not create a new driver qualification standard or change hours-of-service rules.

Still, it has practical value for trucking businesses because it points to a short-deadline registration access issue.

The main takeaway for carriers is clear: before FMCSA moves registration changes into Motus, companies should make sure their Portal account is active, their records are correct, and the right Company Official has access through the correct Login.gov email.

For owner-operators and small fleets, taking those steps now may help avoid delays when FMCSA’s new registration system becomes the main place to manage company registration records.