FMCSA Says Motus Stabilization Is Still Weeks Away

FMCSA still has not announced a firm date for fully stabilizing Motus, the agency's new registration system. FreightWaves reported October 26 that Deputy Administrator Jesse Elison described the remaining work as a matter of weeks rather than months during the Broker Compliance Symposium in Chattanooga. He acknowledged that security controls intended to block unqualified applicants have also prevented legitimate businesses from completing registration tasks.

Elison said the user experience has improved from the first four to six weeks after launch, but advised companies without an immediate need to avoid entering the system for now. Businesses facing urgent registration problems were encouraged to contact FMCSA and coordinate with insurance or other supporting companies when necessary. The comments did not create a new deadline or change an existing regulation.

FMCSA's official guidance confirms that enforcement of biennial-update requirements and USDOT-number inactivation remains temporarily suspended for registrants whose update was due on or after June 1, 2026. The agency says additional time will be provided while Motus recovery continues. For immediate help, its registration page directs users to the customer service center or support ticket system and warns against opening duplicate tickets for the same case.

Motor carriers should preserve proof of every attempted filing, support ticket and response while the system remains unstable. Confirm the public registration record before dispatching regulated operations, keep insurance and process-agent information current and do not assume a technical problem waives unrelated safety or operating-authority requirements. Companies should rely on FMCSA alerts for status changes rather than unofficial repair dates. The temporary biennial-update relief prevents certain inactivations, but it does not authorize a carrier to operate without required active authority, insurance or other applicable credentials.