Motus

Scope

All motor carriers, regardless of whether they are interstate or intrastate, private for for-hire, are required to have a Motus account. 

Regulatory requirements

• 49 CFR 385.403 — Who must hold a safety permit?
• 49 CFR 390.19 — Motor carrier, hazardous material safety permit applicant/holder, and intermodal equipment provider identification reports.
• 49 CFR 390.5 — Definitions

Definitions

• MCS-150: The MCS-150 is a form used by carriers only to complete the required biennial update.
• Biennial updates: All motor carriers are required to file a Motor Carrier Identification Report (MCS-150) before beginning operations and once every 24 months thereafter. The schedule for updating the MCS-150 information is listed in 390.19(b).
• DOT number: A number used by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the States to identify motor carriers and monitor their safety performance.

Summary of requirements

Motus is designed to replace a web of legacy registration tools with a secure online dashboard. FMCSA opened the system to new registrants and existing registrants in May of 2026. Motus supports:

• Applying for authority,
• Completing biennial updates,
• PHMSA registration,
• Updating business information, and
• Inactivating or reactivating a USDOT number.

It also uses auto-population and real-time validation to reduce errors, improve usability on mobile devices, and strengthen fraud safeguards, including identity and business verification processes. These processes include:

• A QR code to launch a verification session on a smartphone or tablet,
• Capturing images of a government-issued identity document,
• Completing a facial scan before the user returns to Motus to finish the transaction, and
• Business verification, using key identifiers such as business name and federal employer identification number (FEIN), along with the carrier’s address and phone details.

Troubleshooting Motus issues

Many carriers are running into obstacles when registering for Motus. The most frequent issue is not being able to claim DOT numbers, and the most common reason for this is that the carrier didn’t update its information before the deadline.

For example, only the company official can claim your USDOT number. This means that if your company official left earlier this year and you didn’t update this information in your portal, then you won’t be able to claim your USDOT number.

If you’re struggling to get your Motus account set up or claim your USDOT number, you must contact FMCSA at 800-832-5660. FMCSA will only work directly with the motor carrier at this point. Once you have set up your account, you can then grant permissions to other individuals — both within and outside of your organization.