FMCSA is in the middle of the biggest change to its registration systems in decades, and it has temporarily eased one of the rules that most often catches small carriers off guard: deactivation for a missed biennial update.
This is a news summary, not legal advice. Watch FMCSA's official notices for changes to the timeline.
What happened
In May 2026, FMCSA launched Motus, a single online system for USDOT numbers and operating authority registration. It is meant to replace parts of older platforms, including the Unified Registration System and the Licensing and Insurance system, and it now handles biennial filings and updates to carrier information.
In September, FMCSA announced that it has temporarily suspended enforcement of the biennial update requirement and stopped inactivating USDOT numbers when registrants miss those filings. The relief applies to registrants whose biennial update was due on or after June 1, 2026. It stays in place until further notice, and FMCSA says it will give advance warning before it restarts those actions. The agency's reason is to reduce disruption while registrants move to Motus.
Background: the biennial update
Every entity with a USDOT number has to update its registration information every two years, on a schedule tied to the last two digits of the USDOT number, even if nothing has changed. Normally, missing that update can lead to the USDOT number being deactivated, which can stop a carrier from operating legally.
What it means for your fleet
- Your USDOT number won't be deactivated for a missed biennial update that fell due on or after June 1, 2026, while the suspension lasts.
- The requirement still exists. This pauses enforcement during the transition. It does not cancel the filing.
- Updates due before June 1 aren't covered by this relief, so a carrier that was already overdue before then should act now.
- Accurate registration data still matters. Your registration record includes details such as your number of power units and annual mileage, which FMCSA uses in its safety measurement, and your insurance, authority and contact details all depend on it being correct.
What to do now
- Look up your due date. Check when your biennial update was or will be due, based on your USDOT number.
- Make sure you can get into Motus. Confirm your login works, that the right company official is listed, and that your Login.gov email is current.
- File when you can. If your update is due, submit it once you have access rather than waiting for enforcement to return.
- Update real changes promptly, such as a new address, fleet size or type of operation, regardless of the biennial schedule.
- Keep proof of every filing, such as confirmation pages or screenshots, in case records don't carry over cleanly between systems.
- Watch for the restart notice. Assign someone to monitor FMCSA announcements so you aren't surprised when enforcement resumes.
Quick answers
Do I still have to do my biennial update? Yes. FMCSA has paused enforcement and deactivations for updates due on or after June 1, 2026, but it has not removed the requirement.
What is Motus? FMCSA's new registration system for USDOT numbers and operating authority, available at motus.dot.gov.
