FMCSA’s transition to Motus has changed how motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and supporting companies manage registration activity.
Motus is the new USDOT Registration System, created to bring registration actions, company account access, identity verification, and business verification into one online platform. FMCSA’s Move into Motus page provides current guidance for registrants, and its Registration Modernization Resources Hub includes additional fact sheets, user guides, and technical resources.
For companies that already have an FMCSA record, preparation is important. FMCSA specifically instructed users to review key details connected to their account, including Portal access, company information, operating classification, contact information, authorized users, and the Company Official tied to the account. Those details still matter as companies move into Motus, claim existing records, and manage future registration activity.
Use this checklist to help prepare your FMCSA account for Motus and reduce the risk of access issues, delays, or incorrect company information.
1. Confirm Your FMCSA Portal Account Is Active
Start by confirming that you can access your FMCSA Portal account.
This sounds simple, but it is one of the most important steps for existing registrants. If your Portal account is inactive, disabled, archived, or tied to outdated login information, you may run into problems when trying to claim your company account in Motus.
FMCSA has noted that Portal accounts are disabled after 90 days and archived after 12 months of inactivity. If you have not logged in for a while, do not wait until you need to make an urgent registration change.
If you do not have a Portal account, FMCSA says you can create one and use your USDOT PIN to access your information. If your account is disabled or archived, contact FMCSA for assistance through Ask FMCSA.
Checklist:
- Log into the FMCSA Portal.
- Confirm your account is active.
- Confirm your Login.gov email.
- Make sure you can view the correct USDOT Number.
- Resolve access issues before you need to make a time-sensitive update.
2. Verify the Correct Company Official Is Listed
The Company Official is one of the most important roles in the Motus transition.
FMCSA has said the Company Official should be the company owner or an individual authorized to sign documents on behalf of the company. This person is responsible for claiming the USDOT Number in Motus and connecting the existing FMCSA record to the new Motus company account.
The Company Official must use the same Login.gov email for the FMCSA Portal and Motus when claiming the account for the first time. FMCSA’s Claim a USDOT Number in Motus Job Aid provides additional guidance on that process.
If the wrong person is listed, or if the correct person is using a different email, your company may experience delays.
This is especially important for companies that have changed ownership, changed management, moved offices, changed compliance staff, or used third-party providers to manage FMCSA registration activity.
Checklist:
- Identify who is listed as the Company Official.
- Confirm that person is still authorized to act on behalf of the company.
- Confirm the Company Official is using the correct Login.gov email.
- Update the role if the wrong person is listed.
- Make sure internal leadership knows who controls Motus access.
3. Check Your Company Information
Your company information should be accurate before you move deeper into Motus.
Review your legal business name, DBA name if applicable, physical address, mailing address, principal place of business, phone number, and other company identifiers.
Outdated or inconsistent information can create issues during account setup, business verification, filings, updates, and future FMCSA review. If your company has moved, restructured, changed names, changed contacts, or updated business operations, make sure those changes are reflected correctly.
For many existing registrants, company information updates have historically been tied to the MCS-150, which is commonly used for biennial updates to USDOT Number company records. With Motus in place, companies should follow FMCSA’s current instructions for completing updates in the new system.
Checklist:
- Review legal business name.
- Review DBA name, if applicable.
- Confirm principal place of business.
- Confirm mailing address.
- Confirm phone number.
- Confirm email address.
- Check that records are consistent across company documents and FMCSA information.
4. Review Your Operating Classification
Your operating classification helps FMCSA understand the type of business you operate and how your company fits within federal registration requirements.
FMCSA specifically told users to make sure their operating classification was correct as part of the Motus preparation process. This is not a box to ignore.
Incorrect operating classification may create confusion around registration requirements, authority, updates, and compliance obligations. For example, a private carrier, for-hire carrier, broker, freight forwarder, intermodal equipment provider, or hazardous materials-related operation may have different registration considerations.
If you are unsure how your business should be classified, FMCSA’s Getting Started with Registration page can help explain common registration categories. Companies that need help understanding registration requirements can also work with Logistec/TTS for Operating Authority and USDOT Number support.
Checklist:
- Confirm your current operating classification.
- Make sure it matches your actual business operations.
- Review whether your company has changed services or operating areas.
- Make updates if the record no longer reflects your business.
- Ask for guidance if you are unsure which classification applies.
5. Update Contact Information
FMCSA uses your contact information to send notices, confirmations, requests, and important account information.
If the wrong person or outdated email is listed, your company may miss important messages. That can create avoidable delays, especially during a system transition.
Make sure FMCSA has current contact details for the people who should receive registration-related communication. This includes reviewing email addresses, phone numbers, mailing addresses, and any internal contacts responsible for compliance or registration activity.
If your company needs help with transportation licensing, filings, or account-related questions, Logistec/TTS provides transportation licensing and permitting services for motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and supporting companies.
Checklist:
- Confirm primary contact name.
- Confirm contact email.
- Confirm contact phone number.
- Confirm mailing address.
- Remove outdated contacts.
- Add current contacts who need registration-related access or communication.
6. Review Authorized Users
Motus is designed to give companies better control over who can access and manage company account information.
That is helpful, but only if your authorized users are accurate.
Review who currently has access to your FMCSA record. Remove people who no longer work for the company, no longer support the company, or should not have access. Confirm that employees, associates, or third-party providers who still need access are properly identified.
This is also a good time to review your internal process. Decide who should be responsible for Motus access, who should be allowed to make changes, and who should only review information. FMCSA’s Motus Quick-Start Job Aid can help users understand the first-login process, user profile setup, and identity verification.
Checklist:
- Review all users tied to the FMCSA account.
- Remove outdated users.
- Confirm current employees who need access.
- Confirm third-party providers who need access.
- Limit access to only the people who truly need it.
- Document who is responsible for Motus account management.
7. Complete Needed Updates Before They Become Urgent
If your company needs to update information, do not wait until a filing deadline, ownership change, insurance issue, or authority problem forces your hand.
Motus adds more verification to the process, which means some changes may require additional review or documentation. Waiting until the last minute can make routine updates more stressful.
If you already know your records are outdated, handle those updates as soon as possible. You can also review Logistec/TTS’s update on industry-wide delays during the FMCSA transition to Motus to better understand how system changes can affect processing timelines.
Checklist:
- Review pending company changes.
- Gather supporting documentation if needed.
- Update records before urgent deadlines.
- Keep copies of confirmations.
- Monitor FMCSA communication after updates are submitted.
8. Coordinate With Your Registration Support Partners
If your company works with a registration service provider, BOC-3 filer, insurance filer, or other support partner, contact them about Motus.
Make sure they understand the new system and know what role they will play. Motus is designed to create clearer permissions between regulated companies and supporting companies, so your provider may need authorization before they can assist with certain actions.
Do not assume your support partner automatically has access. FMCSA’s Motus Supporting Company Job Aid provides guidance for supporting companies that need to create user profiles and company accounts in the new system.
If your company needs help with BOC-3 Process Service, operating authority, USDOT-related tasks, or other registration needs, make sure your provider is prepared to work within Motus and follow FMCSA requirements.
Checklist:
- Identify all third parties that help with FMCSA registration.
- Confirm what each provider handles.
- Ask whether they are prepared for Motus.
- Confirm what authorization they need from your company.
- Keep internal ownership of final review and approval.
9. Save Important Records and Confirmations
As FMCSA shifts registration activity into Motus, companies should keep organized records of their own.
Save confirmations, letters, account updates, filings, and important correspondence. Make sure key team members know where those records are stored.
Even when systems change, your company should have a clear internal record of what was submitted, when it was submitted, and who handled it.
Checklist:
- Save copies of company registration records.
- Save update confirmations.
- Save FMCSA letters or notices.
- Keep Login.gov and account access details secure.
- Maintain an internal record of who manages Motus access.
Preparing for a Smoother Motus Transition
Motus is a major change in how FMCSA registration activity is managed. The companies that prepare their accounts now will be in a stronger position to avoid access problems, outdated records, and unnecessary delays.
Start with the basics: confirm Portal access, verify the Company Official, review company information, check operating classification, update contact details, and clean up authorized users.
If you are unsure how Motus affects your registration, authority, or filing requirements, working with an experienced transportation licensing partner can help reduce confusion. Logistec/TTS assists motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and supporting companies with federal and state registration requirements. You can also visit the Logistec/TTS applications page to get started with common transportation licensing and registration requests.
A little preparation now can make the move into Motus much easier.