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FMCSA Motus Update: Legacy Registration Systems Going Offline May 14

Truck­ing companies have less than 7 days to prepare for one of the largest FMCSA registration system transitions in years.

During recent FMCSA webinar discussions hosted with Nebraska and South Dakota industry groups, agency representatives indicated legacy registration systems are expected to begin going offline around May 14, 2026 at 7:00 PM Central as the agency transitions into the new Motus registration platform. For a full breakdown of FMCSA’s Motus registration platform, visit our previous Motus blog.

Registration-related functions may become temporarily unavailable during migration, including MCS-150 updates, DOT registration changes, authority updates, and new registration filings

This is not simply a software update. It is an ownership verification and account control transition.

 

Why This Transition Matters

FMCSA currently oversees more than 4.43 million DOT numbers, and approximately 2.19 million active registrations

As carriers rush to verify Portal access, align Login.gov credentials, correct ownership information, and resolve inactive accounts, support systems are already under strain, resulting in longer than normal wait times. 

During our own call to FMCSA support, the automated system reported an estimated hold time of 18,965 minutes, which is more than 13 days.

As the transition deadline approaches, carriers should expect longer support wait times, delayed ticket responses, increased verification backlogs, and slower account recovery assistance

Carriers who wait until the final days to resolve account problems may find support resources heavily constrained during the transition period.

 

The Biggest Risk: Losing Access to Your DOT Account

FMCSA repeatedly emphasized during webinar discussions that:

    • the Company Owner controls the initial DOT claim process
    • Login.gov information must align correctly
    • identity verification will be required

According to FMCSA guidance, the process may require government-issued ID verification, facial recognition, Login.gov authentication, or ownership validation

If ownership information is outdated or incorrect, carriers may experience access delays, manual FMCSA review, registration interruptions, or difficulty claiming DOT ownership

 

What Trucking Companies Should Verify Immediately

#1 Verify FMCSA Portal Access

Every carrier should immediately confirm:

    • the account is active
    • login credentials work
    • the correct Company Owner is listed
    • authorized users are accurate

FMCSA stated that accounts inactive more than 90 days may be archived, and accounts inactive more than 12 months may be deactivated.

Even if a third-party company manages compliance activity, carriers should not assume owner inactivity will be ignored under the new system.

#2 Verify Login.gov Alignment

FMCSA repeatedly emphasized that your Login.gov email, Portal email, and Company Owner information must align correctly.

If they do not, identity verification may fail, additional documentation may be required, and delays may occur during transition

 

Company Owners Must Be Involved

One of the biggest misunderstandings is assuming a compliance company can complete Motus setup independently.

According to FMCSA webinar discussions:

    • the Company Owner or authorized representative must complete the initial ownership verification process
    • third-party companies may assist, but cannot independently claim the DOT account for you

This is a major operational change for carriers accustomed to fully outsourcing registration management.

 

Small Carriers Face the Highest Risk

Large fleets typically have compliance departments, dedicated administrative staff, or internal account management

Small carriers and owner-operators often rely on one owner, one office employee, or an outside compliance assistance

If Portal access or ownership information is outdated, small carriers may experience the greatest disruption during transition.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is FMCSA Motus?

Motus is FMCSA’s new registration modernization platform designed to replace multiple legacy registration systems and improve account security.

Will FMCSA systems go offline May 14?

FMCSA speakers indicated during webinar discussions that registration systems are expected to begin transitioning offline around May 14, 2026 at 7 PM Central.

Can my compliance company complete Motus verification for me?

No. FMCSA stated the Company Owner or authorized representative must complete the initial identity verification and DOT ownership claim.

Why is Login.gov important?

FMCSA stated the Login.gov email must align with the Company Owner information in the FMCSA Portal system.

What happens if my Portal account is inactive?

FMCSA stated accounts inactive more than 90 days may be archived, and accounts inactive more than 12 months may be deactivated.

 

Helpful Resources

 

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