Motus is live, and every active motor carrier with a USDOT number now has to use the new system to manage FMCSA registration actions tied to that record. Creating an account may sound like a simple first step, but for many carriers, it’s been anything but.
Some carriers are logging into Motus for the first time and walking away with a brand-new DOT number they never needed. Others are stuck at identity verification, unable to get past a failed ID scan. For carriers with active USDOT numbers, that creates a very practical concern: if your account is not set up correctly, you may not be able to access the system when you need it.
That’s why many motor carriers are getting help with Motus setup instead of trying to work through the process alone.
Identity Verification Is Strict by Design
Before you can take any action in Motus, FMCSA requires you to verify your identity. The process runs through Login.gov and uses IDEMIA, the same identity verification company FMCSA relies on for the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, and that the Department of Homeland Security uses at airports. Depending on your device, you may need to scan a QR code with your phone and verify your identity using a government-issued ID.
The strictness comes down to why Motus exists in the first place. FMCSA invested in this system and built this level of verification to reduce fraud in the trucking industry, where ghost carriers and falsified records have become a growing concern. The agency wants to be certain the person behind each account is actually authorized to be there.
However, the strictness behind the system is also what’s tripping carriers up. The ID scan can fail in poor lighting, and it requires a device with a working camera. Carriers who do not have access to a camera-equipped device may need to locate an enrollment center and complete the verification process in person. And while none of this is complicated, issues like these can stall a setup for days.
Claiming Your USDOT Number Comes First
If you already hold a USDOT number, you must claim it in your new Motus account before you can do anything else. Until you successfully claim your number, registration actions tied to that record may remain unavailable, including biennial updates, address or business information changes, and reinstatements.
But this process doesn’t always go smoothly, with some carriers running into trouble claiming their existing DOT numbers. When this happens, the fix is to contact FMCSA directly.
Instead of reaching out to FMCSA for help, some carriers start a brand-new registration rather than claiming the number they already have. The result is a USDOT number they never needed and an unexpected cleanup process to sort it out.
Mistakenly creating a second DOT number has become one of the most common errors on the new platform. It’s a problem that is far easier to avoid with someone guiding you through the registration process.
Check Your Authority and Migrated Records
Claiming your DOT number is not the only thing that can go sideways. Some carriers have found that their operating authority is not displaying accurately in Motus, which matters if you hold MC authority and need it to show correctly.
Your migrated records deserve a close look, too. Your existing registration information was carried over into the new system, but that doesn’t guarantee it came across cleanly. It’s worth confirming that your details have been transferred correctly rather than assuming your business information appears as it should.
Even if you don’t have an upcoming registration due, it’s important to create an account and double-check your information now, or have someone review your record for you. Confirming everything is represented correctly is a small task. Untangling it later, under pressure, however, is not.
Service Provider Setup Matters, Too
Carriers that work with a service provider to handle registration updates also need to make sure their provider has the required access.
Without the proper designation inside Motus, your service provider will not be able to access your account or manage registration actions on your behalf. This access will become critical when you need help completing an update, maintaining your DOT record, or keeping your registration information current.
So, while setting up Motus is about getting you access to the system, it’s also about making sure the right people, records, and permissions are in place before you need them.
Why It Pays to Get This Right Now
Every active carrier has to get into Motus eventually. The question is whether you do it on your own schedule or scramble when an update is already due, a deadline is closing in, and a setup problem you didn’t know about is standing between you and filing. Getting in early, while there is no deadline pressure, is what keeps a Motus issue from turning into a compliance problem.
It’s worth being straight about one thing: some steps, including identity verification and account creation, must be done by the carrier or an authorized Company Official. No third party can complete those steps for you. These are also the areas where carriers stumble most, which is where a compliance partner earns its keep.
US Compliance Services was first to market with a Motus solution built for exactly this. We help new businesses register correctly from the start, and we guide existing carriers through the transition so they land on the right record instead of a duplicate they never needed. You stay part of the process, but we handle the heavy lifting, making sure your record is accurate and your filings and updates stay current. And if a new DOT number has already slipped through by mistake, we can help sort that out, too.
The support doesn’t stop once you’re set up, either. We keep your required filings and updates handled going forward, so you have a partner through the transition and everything that comes after it.
An accurate, current DOT record is what keeps your registration in good standing, and carriers that get ahead of this transition spend less time working through access problems later. If you are not sure where your Motus setup stands, US Compliance Services can help. Learn more about the Motus Maintenance Program or call (877) 352-1996 to speak with a compliance specialist.
