Sign-in
Login.gov and the ID check
Two-factor sign-in, the face and photo ID capture, and what to do when verification fails.
Read the guide →
Stuck in Motus? Get your registration moving again.
Plain-language help for motor carriers working through the new USDOT registration system: Login.gov sign-in, the photo ID check, new USDOT applications, updates, reactivations and the errors in between.
Motus at a glance
- May 19, 2026
- Motus opened to new and existing registrants.
- Login.gov sign-in
- Every user needs a Login.gov account with two-factor sign-in.
- Photo ID check
- First-time users capture their face and a government ID.
- No more USDOT PIN
- Login.gov sign-in replaces the PIN.
Source: FMCSA registration FAQs and FMCSA notice.
What changed with Motus
FMCSA moved USDOT registration into one new system called Motus. Registration options in the old FMCSA Portal ended on May 14, 2026, and the old Unified Registration System no longer takes new applications. Applying for a USDOT number, filing updates, reactivating a number and reinstating authority now happen in Motus.
The new system adds stronger checks up front. You sign in with Login.gov, confirm your identity with a photo of your face and your ID, and set up a company account. FMCSA also verifies business details such as your legal name, principal place of business and company officers. Each check is a place where a small mismatch can stop you.
Where we can help
- Getting ready for the Login.gov and ID steps
- Claiming an existing USDOT record
- Preparing a new USDOT and authority application
- Company updates and biennial updates
- Reactivation and reinstatement
- BOC-3 and UCR alongside your Motus filing
Where are you stuck?
Pick the step that stopped you. Each guide explains what Motus is asking for and what usually goes wrong.
New carrier
New USDOT application
What to have ready before you create a company account and apply for a USDOT number or authority.
Read the guide →Existing carrier
Claiming and updating your record
Link your existing USDOT number, then change company details or file your biennial update.
Read the guide →Inactive record
Reactivation and reinstatement
Reactivate an inactive USDOT number or work through a suspended or revoked authority.
Read the guide →Troubleshooting
Common Motus errors
Can't claim a record, the wrong account role, failed ID checks and other places people get stuck.
See the fixes →Talk to a person
Get help with your filing
Send a short request. We reply with next steps and a clear quote before any paid work.
Request help →
The first sign-in, step by step
Sign in with Login.gov
Use your existing Login.gov account or create one. If you used the old FMCSA Portal, use that same email.
Verify your identity
Capture your face and a valid government-issued ID. On a computer you scan a QR code with your phone's camera.
Complete your user profile
Your name fills in as it appears on your ID. You add your address and phone.
Pick what you need to do
Link an existing USDOT number, start a new registration, or register as a supporting company.
USDOT, MC, BOC-3 and UCR filing help
Most carriers need more than one registration. We help you line them up so the details match across every filing.
USDOT number
Most commonThe identifier FMCSA uses for your company. Generally required for interstate commercial vehicles over 10,000 lbs, certain passenger vehicles, and hazmat haulers.
Government fee: none for the USDOT number.
Get help with thisMC operating authority
For-hireFor-hire interstate carriers, brokers and freight forwarders need operating authority in addition to a USDOT number.
Government fee: $300 for each type of authority, non-refundable.
Get help with thisBOC-3 process agent
Required with MCA BOC-3 designates process agents for your company. It is filed by a process agent company (a blanket company) that works in Motus, not by the carrier.
Charged by the process agent company you choose.
Get help with thisUCR registration
AnnualUnified Carrier Registration is a separate yearly registration for many interstate carriers, brokers and freight forwarders, filed through the UCR plan, not through Motus.
Annual fee set by the UCR plan, based on fleet size.
Get help with thisNew carrier? Line them up together.
USDOT, authority, BOC-3 and UCR planned in one pass, so one filing doesn't wait on another.
Fees shown are government fees from FMCSA's fee FAQ and USDOT FAQ. Our service fee is separate and quoted before any work starts.
Talk to a person about your filing
Tell us what Motus is showing you. We reply with the likely cause, what you can try on your own, and a clear quote if you want us to handle the paperwork.
- No charge to ask
- Government fees shown separately from ours
- We never ask for your Login.gov password or codes
Get help with your filing
Short version. The full request form asks a few more questions.
Motus questions carriers ask
What is Motus?
Motus is FMCSA's USDOT Registration System. It replaced the older registration tools and is now where carriers apply for a USDOT number or operating authority, file updates, and manage who can act on the company account.
Do I have to pay to use Motus?
No. You can use Motus yourself. There is no charge for a USDOT number, and you pay only the government fees that apply to what you file, such as the fee for each type of operating authority. Our help is optional and our fee is separate.
Is Motus Help Desk part of FMCSA?
No. We are an independent private filing-assistance service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or part of FMCSA or USDOT, and we cannot see inside your Motus account or speed up FMCSA's review.
Why does Motus need a photo of my ID and my face?
FMCSA uses identity verification to protect company records and prevent fraud. The first time you sign in, Motus asks you to capture images of your face and a government-issued ID. Only you can complete that step, because it has to be your face.
I already have a USDOT number. Do I start over?
No. FMCSA says the company officer can link to and claim the existing record, which imports your company data. Use the same Login.gov email that was used for the company in the old FMCSA Portal.
Do I still need my USDOT PIN?
No. FMCSA says Motus uses Login.gov sign-in instead of USDOT PINs, and a PIN is not needed to create a company account.
My biennial update is overdue. Will my USDOT number go inactive?
FMCSA has temporarily suspended enforcement of biennial updates and the inactivation of USDOT numbers for registrants whose update was due on or after June 1, 2026. The requirement itself still exists, so plan to file it. Check FMCSA's notice for the latest.
Who do I contact at FMCSA if Motus is not working?
FMCSA's Contact Center is at 1-800-832-5660, with phone and chat. FMCSA also asks users to report Motus problems through a support ticket and to follow up on an existing ticket rather than opening duplicates.