FMCSA Motus Fix: Agency Says Weeks, Not Months

What happened

The FMCSA Motus fix may be close. On Oct. 1, FreightWaves reported comments from Jesse Elison, FMCSA's deputy administrator. He said the part of Motus that users see should be fixed in "weeks." He did not give an exact number.

Motus is FMCSA's registration system. FMCSA is the federal agency that oversees truck safety and carrier records. Motus went live on May 14, 2026. It is where carriers handle their USDOT registration.

Elison was open about the problems. He said the system they built was not working. He said each try to fix it made it work less. Many in the industry have called the rollout close to a disaster.

He said the behind-the-scenes part will take longer. That part "is not where it needs to be," he said. But he said the system has become more stable in recent months.

On Sept. 10, FMCSA paused enforcement of biennial updates. The biennial update is the MCS-150 form carriers must update every two years. FMCSA also paused USDOT number deactivations for carriers whose update was due after June 1.

What it means for owner-operators

If Motus gave you trouble, you are not alone. FMCSA now says so out loud. A better screen in a few weeks could make your filings easier.

The pause is still temporary. When the site is fixed, FMCSA may start enforcing again. Carriers who waited could all try to file at once.

FMCSA says Motus is meant to stop freight fraud. It makes it harder for fake companies to get into the records. That helps honest carriers too.

What to do next

• Write down your USDOT number, login and the date your biennial update was due.
• Keep screenshots of any Motus error you get. Note the date and time.
• Do not wait for the last day once enforcement comes back.
• Make sure your company info is correct: address, phone, trucks and drivers.
• Need help with your filings? Read our trucking authority filing guide.