FMCSA MOTUS Problems Affecting Trucking Companies and USDOT Numbers

In May, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) officially launched its new modernized registration platform, known as MOTUS. The platform is intended to simplify the use of certain tools provided by the Department of Transportation and the Unified Registration System. However, in the months since its launch, some trucking companies have experienced issues related to the new registration system.

Since its launch, the FMCSA has encountered several problems with the MOTUS platform. Many trucking companies have reported difficulties claiming their USDOT number. In response, the FMCSA recently issued an alert to assist trucking companies that are unable to apply for a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) registration number because they were mistakenly registered as transportation service providers.

As these issues persisted for weeks, the FMCSA recently announced that it would provide a temporary reprieve for trucking companies that need to complete a biennial update.

“The FMCSA has temporarily suspended the deactivation of USDOT numbers for entities that have not completed the required biennial update since June 1,” the agency wrote on its website.

Registrants will be given additional time to complete any required biennial updates and should not be concerned about deactivation resulting from Motus-related access or system issues, the FMCSA said. Although the agency described the suspension as temporary, it did not specify how long the pause would last.

Data Errors in the MOTUS System

According to the FMCSA, the primary purpose of MOTUS is to centralize all federal records related to safety, operating authority, and compliance in a single portal. So far, however, the platform has created additional challenges for certain motor carriers.

Significant data defects in the FMCSA’s MOTUS system are creating immediate compliance risks for commercial fleets. According to a recent article by Commercial Carrier Journal, these are some of the other issues carriers have encountered on the platform:

• Inaccuracies in out-of-service orders – Carriers have reported that the platform frequently fails to display active out-of-service orders, contradicting the SAFER system and potentially concealing serious safety violations.
• Arbitrary changes to insurance limits – According to reports, federal registration requirements are being automatically modified. This issue leaves thousands of carriers with insufficient coverage and vulnerable to having their operating authority revoked.
• Defective cancellation and revocation processes – Previous insurance policies remain active even after being replaced, while valid operating authority held by carriers is being improperly revoked without a valid justification.
• Misleading display of excess insurance policies – The system displays incorrect limits for excess insurance policies, creating a false impression of adequate primary coverage and potentially resulting in dangerous coverage gaps.

The FMCSA has issued more than one statement indicating that resolving these issues is a priority for the agency. The agency has also stated that it has already corrected parts of the identity verification and login processes.

For carriers that need to close a TSP account, the FMCSA recommends following these steps:

• Log in to your Motus account at dot.gov.
• Go to the TSP account page.
• Click the gear icon on the right side of the screen.
• Select “Close Account.”
• Follow the instructions to confirm that you are permanently closing the TSP account.

The FMCSA indicated that if the Login.gov email address is linked to a USDOT number, a dialog box should appear prompting you to claim your USDOT number.

Those submitting a ticket to the FMCSA should provide:

• USDOT number
• Name and Login.gov email address of the company official who will be the account holder
• Proof of company ownership (IRS letter, articles of incorporation, or other proof of state or municipal registration)

For those experiencing problems with any of the other current MOTUS system issues, the best course of action is to contact the FMCSA directly. Alternatively, you can contact one of our agents for assistance with any irregularities.