Dive Brief:
- The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is expanding the rollout of a new, unified registration system in Q2, part of an overhaul to make the process simpler.
- The new system, Motus, pledges increased security that includes new business verification aimed at mitigating fraud and aims to save time for carriers, according to a notice filed last month.
- The system replaces the Unified Registration System that’s required for new filers, registration components of the Motor Carrier Management Information System and the former Interstate Commerce Commission Licensing and Insurance system.
Dive Insight:
FMCSA’s Motus aims to “simplify the registration process, streamline identification, improve the user experience, and incorporate enhanced verification tools,” the agency said.
With the new system, the agency aims to better squash cargo and monetary theft affecting the trucking industry, such as hijacking of FMCSA carrier accounts, selling of carrier numbers and fake initial registrations, according to the notice.
“One of the things that the project team does is we like to time ourselves to see how quickly we can get through the testing of it from start to finish,” Julie Otto of the FMCSA’s Office of Registration told Trucking Dive. “From going to login to user profile to link to your account and access your new customer page, we timed it about 5 minutes 15 seconds.”
Motus began deployment in December 2025 to a portion of the industry, such as BOC-3 designated agents. FMCSA said the upcoming phase of the Motus registration system applies to:
- For-hire motor carriers of regulated commodities under 49 U.S.C. 13902(a)
- Surface freight forwarders under 49 U.S.C. 13903
- Property brokers under 49 U.S.C. 13904
- Certain Mexico-domiciled motor carriers under 49 U.S.C. 13902(c)
- Cargo tank motor vehicle manufacturers, assemblers, repairers, inspectors, testers, and design certifying engineers under 49 U.S.C. 5121a, 49 CFR 1.87, and 49 CFR part 107, subpart F
FMCSA says it will encourage certain stakeholders not covered by that mandate to voluntarily use Motus. The agency plans to submit rulemaking this spring to “require the usage of Motus for all registrants,” among other measures. Otto told Trucking Dive that remaining group could involve private carriers.
This next phase of Motus is opening on May 19, Otto said, and legacy registration functions are retiring May 14.
