In May 2026, FMCSA launched Motus: USDOT Registration System — its new system for managing FMCSA registrations. Going forward, Motus is where carriers apply for and manage USDOT Numbers and operating authority, submit biennial updates, update company information, and handle reinstatements.
If you already have a USDOT Number, your company official should claim the existing record in Motus to establish your company’s Motus account and manage its registration. Getting it done early means you’re not figuring it out under a deadline.
Here’s what changed, what you need to do, and how Driver Advantage can walk you through it step by step.
What Is Motus?
Motus (motus.dot.gov) is FMCSA’s modernized registration system, built to strengthen oversight, reduce fraud, and streamline the registration process for motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and other regulated entities.
Everything registration-related now lives in one company account:
- Apply for a new USDOT Number or operating authority
- Submit your biennial update (MCS-150)
- Update your company name, address, and business information
- Reinstate suspended authority or reapply after revocation
- Inactivate or reactivate your USDOT Number
- Track the status of your filings
- Upload documents and receive agency letters by email
New features include mobile-friendly access, identity and business verification, enhanced data validation, and new tools for managing registration status. Note: FMCSA has temporarily suspended certain USDOT Number inactivations during the Motus transition. Carriers should still keep their registration information current and complete required updates.
What’s Changing With USDOT and MC Numbers
- New USDOT Numbers and docket numbers are randomized to prevent fraud.
- Each newly granted operating authority receives its own unique docket number.
- Existing USDOT and MC numbers do not change. If you’re already registered, your numbers stay the same.
- New USDOT Numbers issued in Motus display suffixes identifying entity type — this is not a truck-marking requirement.
What You Need to Do: Claim Your USDOT Number in Motus
If you already have a USDOT Number, here’s the process:
Step 1 — Create your user profile.
Step 2 — Claim your company account.
Step 3 — Review, update, and certify.
New to trucking with no USDOT Number yet? Let Driver Advantage help you get established and on the road quickly.
We’ll Walk You Through It
Some users run into identity-verification, Login.gov, or account-claiming issues during setup — and they’re a lot easier to work through with someone who’s done it before.
Driver Advantage will walk you through the entire Motus setup step by step — user profile, identity verification, claiming your USDOT Number, and certifying your account — so your registration stays clean and your authority stays active.
Contact Driver Advantage today and get your Motus account squared away in one sitting.
FAQ
Do I have to use Motus? Yes, for FMCSA registration actions that have moved to the new system — new applications, biennial updates, address changes, and reinstatements are handled through Motus going forward.
Will my USDOT or MC number change? No. Existing USDOT Numbers and docket numbers stay the same. Only newly issued numbers are randomized.
Who should claim the company account? The company official — using the same Login.gov email they used as the company official in the FMCSA Portal.
What do I need for identity verification? A Login.gov account, plus completing FMCSA’s identity-verification process, which may require a government-issued ID. Verification is required the first time you log in.
Is Motus the same as SAFER? No. SAFER is FMCSA’s public company snapshot lookup. Motus is the system where you register and manage your own USDOT Number and authority. Public users can also search registration records directly in Motus.
