What's Changed in FMCSA's Motus System (October 2026)
FMCSA's new registration system, Motus, went live in May 2026. Four months later, carriers are still getting stuck in it every day. We covered the first wave of problems in our June Motus guide. This update covers what has changed since then, and what it means for your DOT number, your MC, and your Clearinghouse account.
We also sat down with Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) to talk about why Motus keeps breaking and how it is hurting carriers. We'll start there.
As of October 2026, linking your USDOT number is still the biggest Motus problem, and FMCSA tickets are taking 45 to 60 days to get a response. No major new bugs have been reported since the insurance-limit errors a few weeks ago. Switching to intrastate-only now voluntarily revokes your MC. You can request a USDOT PIN online again, which you need to set up the Clearinghouse.
What did we tell CCJ about Motus?
We told CCJ that carriers are running into three big problems with Motus:
- They can't get into Motus or link their USDOT number.
- Bugs in the system change their DOT number or authority even though they did nothing wrong.
- Support is slow, and FMCSA field officers can't make changes in the system anymore. Only the FMCSA phone line and ticket system can help.
We also shared why we think Motus keeps breaking. Part of the code behind the Motus website is public, because your browser has to load it. That code shows strong signs it was written with heavy help from AI. Updates also seem to go live without enough testing, so every few weeks a new problem shows up. CCJ asked the DOT if AI was used to build Motus, and the DOT did not respond.
The FMCSA says Motus is meant to stop fraud and chameleon carriers. That goal makes sense. But as Bailey Hoak, founder of TIPS, told CCJ, the agency is "throwing the baby out with the bathwater" when compliant carriers who have run for years get shut down by system errors.
Watch the interview. CCJ published the video and full transcript in its story, "Was FMCSA's Motus site vibe coded?" Watch it on CCJ.
What has changed in Motus since June?
Here are the four changes carriers should know about right now.
| Change | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| USDOT linking is still broken | The grayed-out link button is still the most common problem. Tickets take 45 to 60 days. |
| No major new bugs | The last big one was the insurance-limit error a few weeks ago. Nothing new has been reported since. |
| Intrastate switch revokes your MC | If you're aging your MC, switching to intrastate-only can cost you that time. |
| USDOT PINs are back online | You can request your PIN online again and get it by email or text. You need it for the Clearinghouse. |
Is linking your USDOT number in Motus still a problem?
Yes. If you got your DOT or MC number before Motus launched in May 2026, you will likely have trouble linking it to your Motus account. The button to link your USDOT number stays grayed out, and you can't manage your company record until it's fixed. This is still the problem we get called about the most.
Some other problems show up too. Motus may tell you your application is no longer active. That one happens less now, but it still leads some carriers to file for a brand-new DOT number they don't need. Others finish the ID check and then find the email field on the user information screen is blank and won't let them continue.
Most of these problems need an FMCSA ticket to fix. Right now, tickets are taking 45 to 60 days to get a response. The FMCSA has also fixed some of our tickets without sending any update. Log in to Motus every so often to check, even if you haven't heard back.
If you'd rather hand it off, our Motus Account Setup service takes care of the linking and the ticket for you.
Have there been any new Motus bugs?
No major new bugs have been reported. The last big one came a few weeks ago, and it hit insurance. Motus changed the insurance amount some carriers are required to carry. For some carriers, it jumped to $5,000,000. Motus then revoked some authorities for "no required insurance on file," even though the carrier's coverage never lapsed.
According to CCJ's reporting, more than 150,000 carriers saw their required insurance go up in Motus. About 27,000 of them now show as underinsured, even though their filings were fine before.
We also saw a related problem when carriers switched policies. Say your old $750,000 policy was set to cancel on the same day your new $1,000,000 policy started. Before Motus, that was fine. In Motus, some carriers had their authority revoked for it, even though FMCSA's own records showed no gap in coverage.
Check your Motus record and compare the insurance amount you're required to carry with the amount your insurance company has on file. If they don't match, call your insurance agent and open a ticket with the FMCSA right away. If your authority was already revoked, our authority reinstatement service can help you get it back.
Does switching to intrastate revoke your MC number?
Yes. In Motus, changing your operation to intrastate-only voluntarily revokes your MC. This matters most if you're aging your MC right now.
Many brokers won't give loads to a new authority until it's a certain age. So a lot of new carriers wait out that time before they start running across state lines. The problem shows up at the new entrant safety audit, which happens in your first 12 months of operating.
Before Motus, a carrier with no interstate trips yet could switch to intrastate to get out of the audit. FMCSA field officers could even help make that change. Field officers can't make changes in Motus anymore, and switching to intrastate-only now revokes your MC.
You can reinstate the same MC later. Experienced brokers look at the full history of your authority. But some brokers only look at your most recent authorized date. To them, your MC looks brand new again. Either way, it's not something you want on your record.
Don't wait for your audit to take your first interstate trip. Run your first load across state lines before the audit comes, so you're ready for it and you don't need to switch to intrastate. Our new entrant safety audit guide covers what the auditor will check.
Can you still get a USDOT PIN?
Yes. You can request your USDOT PIN online again, and the FMCSA sends it to you by email or text.
You don't use a PIN to sign in to Motus. Motus uses your login.gov account instead. But the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse still connects to the old FMCSA Portal. To set up your Clearinghouse employer account, you add your DOT number to your Portal account, and that step needs your PIN. Right now, the Clearinghouse is the only thing that still uses the PIN and the FMCSA Portal.
If you have CDL drivers, you need a Clearinghouse employer account. That includes owner-operators. You can request your PIN on the FMCSA USDOT PIN request page, or we can set up your Clearinghouse employer account for you.
What should you do if you're still stuck in Motus?
These steps won't fix a bug on the FMCSA's side. They will keep you from making it worse and help the FMCSA fix your issue once they get to your ticket.
- Use the right email. Sign in with the same login.gov email that was listed as the company official on your old FMCSA Portal account.
- Send one ticket with your documents. If you're an LLC or corporation, upload your Articles of Organization or Incorporation as proof of ownership. Sending the same ticket over and over slows things down for everyone.
- Write everything down. Keep the date, what you tried, what happened, and the incident number from the FMCSA's confirmation email.
- Check Motus often. The FMCSA sometimes fixes an issue without telling you.
- Call your U.S. representative. If a system error revoked your authority or you can't get a response, let your representative's office know. They can press the FMCSA for answers.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the link button grayed out in Motus?+
It happens most to DOT numbers filed before Motus launched in May 2026. Motus wants the company official to claim the number with the same login.gov email that was on the old FMCSA Portal account. When the emails don't match, or Motus has a bug on its side, the button stays grayed out. Most of these cases need an FMCSA ticket to fix.
How long is the FMCSA taking to answer Motus tickets?+
Right now, 45 to 60 days is common. The FMCSA sometimes fixes an issue without sending an update, so log in to Motus every so often to check.
Will switching to intrastate cancel my MC number?+
Yes. In Motus, changing to intrastate-only voluntarily revokes your MC. If you're aging your MC, take your first interstate trip before your new entrant safety audit so you don't have to switch.
Can I get my MC back after switching to intrastate?+
Yes, you can reinstate the same MC. Experienced brokers look at your full authority history, but some only look at your most recent authorized date, so your MC can look new to them. Our authority reinstatement service can handle the filing.
Do I still need a USDOT PIN?+
Not for Motus, which uses login.gov. You do need it to set up the Clearinghouse, because the Clearinghouse still connects to the FMCSA Portal. You can request the PIN online and get it by email or text.
Can TIPS link my DOT number in Motus for me?+
Yes. Our Motus Account Setup service is $125. We sign in through your login.gov account, link your DOT number, and handle the FMCSA ticket if a known issue is in the way. You need access to your login.gov account, and FMCSA response times still apply.
Still can't link your USDOT number?
We've been through this thousands of times. We sign in through your login.gov account, link your DOT number, and handle the FMCSA ticket if a known issue is in the way. $125, and FMCSA response times still apply.
Can't wait 45 to 60 days? Call (208) 278-6722 or text (208) 398-0635
Keep learning
Sources: CCJ: Was FMCSA's Motus site vibe coded? · CCJ: Motus system glitches, 6 errors threatening carrier compliance · FMCSA: Move into Motus · FMCSA: USDOT PIN Request · FMCSA Clearinghouse: Add a USDOT Number to a Portal Account
Last updated September 30, 2026. Reflects Motus conditions going into October 2026.