No, the Unified Registration System will be permanently offline.

Yes. All feedback is important and is used to inform FMCSA’s decision making. Valuable feedback was received from the industry, including transportation service providers, at Stakeholder Days in January, May, and October 2024. Feedback can be also shared via email at NewRegSys@dot.gov

The new registration system will make the registration process more efficient and will be easy to use on a computer, smartphone, or tablet. Currently, updates submitted on paper take days to process, and conducting business online is cumbersome with multiple logins in addition to a personal identification number. The goal of the new registration system is to transition from a paper-based registration system to a completely online process where common transactions can be completed in minutes. We recognize, however, that a small percentage of applicants may not have a computer or smart device, Internet access, computer skills, or a combination of the above. The elimination of paper-based forms is a subject for future Agency rulemaking. Until there is a regulatory change, FMCSA will continue to accept the forms in place today after system launch. Paper-based requests are expected to take longer to process than those completed online in the new system. The additional time is needed for the Agency to manually review, verify/confirm, and process information that otherwise would be conducted automatically and electronically by the system.

FMCSA is introducing identity verification to maintain data and integrity and to fulfill the Agency mandate to only register entities who are willing and able to comply with statutory and regulatory requirements. If you have issues completing identity verification, you can reach out to the FMCSA Contact Center at 1-800-832-5660 and may be referred to a designated physical location to complete the process.

You will be unable to submit filings during the transition to Motus. When Motus launches, you will be able to update filings, including back dating insurance using the “effective date” field.

A main account holder creates and maintains the company account (business profile) in Motus. Main account holders will have full access to company information and all functionality within the company account. These users are responsible for managing account access, including inviting additional main account holders or sub-account holders to access the company account. For financial responsibility and blanket company (BOC-3) filers, main account holders will have the ability to claim an existing Licensing and Insurance (L&I) filer account during company account creation.

Sub-account holders are authorized users associated with a company account in Motus. Sub-account holders may be any employee or associate who needs access to the company account. These users must be invited to access the account by a main account holder; sub-account holders should not create user profiles in Motus until invited by a main account holder. Once a main account holder initiates an invitation in Motus, the sub-account holder will receive an automated email from the system to begin user profile creation. Sub-account holders cannot manage other users’ access to a company account.

A supporting company is a blanket company, financial responsibility filer, transportation service provider, or business that identifies as any combination of the three. Blanket companies, or BOC-3 filers, provide blanket designation of process agents electronically for motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders. They designate process agents in all U.S. States and the District of Columbia. Financial responsibility filers are insurance companies, surety companies, or financial institutions that register with FMCSA to file proof of insurance (i.e., BMC-91, BMC-91X, BMC-85) for entities applying for operating authority. Transportation service providers assist individuals or companies applying for and/or maintaining their FMCSA registration (USDOT Number or operating authority registration, biennial updates, reinstatements, etc.).

To create a company account for a financial responsibility filer, the main account holder will need full access to company information, including identifying numbers (e.g., NAIC, FDIC, State License Number, EIN), and a copy of your eligibility documents (e.g., State insurance license, banking certificate, or Federal/State charter). This must be submitted as a PDF file and must be a copy of the original document, not a screenshot or screen capture of a web page. This documentation verifies your institution’s eligibility to act as a financial responsibility filer with the FMCSA. Failure to provide adequate supporting documentation may result in processing delays. Be sure to claim your Licensing and Insurance (L&I) filer account during account creation as well, which will link your existing L&I filings to your account when Motus opens for filings. For more information on how to complete these actions, see the Motus Supporting Company Job Aid.

Prior to launch of the new registration system, transportation service providers will be able to use their Login.gov accounts to access the system and proceed through the identity verification process to set up their user profiles and accounts. Both the Login.gov and identity verification process work in tandem to limit system access to authorized users and to secure FMCSA data. The Login.gov process authenticates the email that is used to create the account in the new registration system while the identity verification service confirms the identity of the individual creating the account using an acceptable form of identification. Once the required system checks have passed, the service provider can finish completing their registration system user profile and add client information to their account. After the service provider account is established in the new registration system, regulated entities will have the ability to authorize the service provider to assist in their registration. The new system will require regulated entities to review and submit data entry completed by service providers before FMCSA will begin processing any registration requests.

Supporting companies—transportation service providers, blanket companies (BOC-3 filers), and financial responsibility filers (insurance/surety companies and other financial institutions)—now have limited access to Motus: USDOT Registration System to create user profiles and company accounts. All other customers, including new and existing registrants, will be able to access the system and take advantage of enhanced, user-friendly registration tools and information when Motus launches to all users in May 2026. After Motus launches, FMCSA will continue to release additional functionalities and collect feedback to identify new refinements and enhancements.

FMCSA is mandated by statute to build a unified registration system. FMCSA first established the system through rulemaking and with the completion of the Unified Registration System (URS) online application. FMCSA’s current modernization project will complete the system mandated in 49 USC 13908 and will allow FMCSA to incorporate key registration features required by MAP-21 over time. FMCSA is also developing the new registration system to improve the registration experience and processes for users. The new system will provide a user-friendly, streamlined approach to managing the registration life cycle of regulated entities. It will be designed to provide fraud-resistant security features, validate submissions in real time, and integrate data with all required State and Federal systems. It will also provide role-based access to easily navigate accurate registration data.

Existing registrants will keep their current USDOT Number. Previously registered brokers, freight forwarders, and motor carriers operating non-commercial vehicles who never received a USDOT Number in the past will receive a USDOT Number, as required by statute

To ensure data integrity and accuracy in the new registration system, all existing registrants will complete identity and business verification before completing any transactions in the new system. FMCSA will share more information on when and how to complete this process in the future.

Yes, the new registration system will be simple, secure, and seamless, and will be able to be accessed on mobile devices, tablets, and computers.

Yes. There are significant data modernization and centralization efforts occurring in conjunction with the development of the new registration system, which will allow FMCSA to eventually maintain data in one central system and avoid conflicting information.

Yes, FMCSA will use the new registration system to provide automated electronic notifications. FMCSA also intends to allow registrants to opt in to receive automated service of registration related notices and orders by electronic means. If a registrant does not opt in for service, they will receive routine communications electronically, but any order (or a notice that could result in a change to registration status) will continue to be mailed.

When the new registration system is released to all users, new registrants will be required to start the application process and complete certain required information, including identity and business verification checks, before designating a transportation service provider to complete actions within the registration system on their behalf. The system will notify the service provider to confirm their relationship with the registrant. Once the transportation service provider has accepted the designation from the registrant, they will be able to complete actions on the registrant’s behalf in the registration system, including completing data entry for an application for registration. Note that the registrant (company official) will also need to review the transportation service provider’s entries and submit final oaths and certifications to complete a new application.

“Actual knowledge” is defined in §382.107 and means that an employer has knowledge that a driver has used alcohol or controlled substances based on the employer’s direct observation of the employee, information provided by the driver’s previous employer(s), a traffic citation for driving a CMV while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances or an employee’s admission of alcohol or controlled substance use, except as provided in §382.121.  Direct observation as used in this definition means “observation of alcohol or controlled substances use” while a driver is subject to performing a safety-sensitive function, “and does not include observation of employee behavior or physical characteristics sufficient to warrant reasonable suspicion testing under §382.307.”

Last Updated : May 13, 2015

Yes. Even though you have submitted a copy of your medical certificate to your state driver’s licensing agency, you still have to carry it with you for a minimum of 10 days to give the state time to add it to the system.