Fmcsa launches Motus, replacing three registration systems

fmcsa launched Motus on May 14, giving carriers, brokers, freight forwarders and insurers a single online registration dashboard for operating authority, company updates and related data. The new system replaces a 30-year-old patchwork of three systems and adds identity and data protections tied to recent fraud concerns.

Julie Otto on Motus access

Julie Otto, an FMCSA Office of Registration official, said companies can handle the same tasks on a smartphone or tablet. "We made sure they can do everything they do today, but they can do it from their smartphone or tablet because we know they’re busy on the go."

FMCSA said registrants can use Motus to apply for, update and manage operating authority, access crash and inspection history, and interact with other agency systems such as the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. The agency also posted videos on its website and opened support through a contact center staffed by 450 agents from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time, plus chat and email assistance.

May 14 data migration

Companies already registered with FMCSA were told to verify their information inside existing agency portals before the May 14 data migration. To claim an existing USDOT number when Motus launches for registrants, a company official must use the same login.gov email address to sign in to both the FMCSA Portal and Motus.

That handoff matters because FMCSA said it saw a significant upswing in presumed fraudulent activity involving erroneous information about a registered entity that was used for cargo and monetary theft in the motor carrier industry. The agency said recent reported fraudulent activities may be perpetrated by foreign actors. New registry applicants will have to pass identity proofing and verification, while Motus adds business verification security features, real-time data validation and smart logic.

FMCSA fraud protections

FMCSA said the new account controls are meant to prevent unauthorized changes to registration records and better protect legitimate carriers and brokers from scams, identity theft and unlawful manipulation of operating authority. Otto said the agency recently sent 2.2 million letters to registered users, and 18 percent of them, or 396,000, were undeliverable.

For companies that depend on FMCSA registration services, the immediate step is to make sure the agency has the right contact details and the right login.gov email before using Motus. The transition is aimed at moving registration work into one dashboard, but the first test for users is whether their existing records match what FMCSA has on file.