FMCSA’s Security Push Is Bigger Than Motus

Today is the last day motor carriers can use FMCSA’s current registration tools to make updates before the agency transitions to Motus. After 8:00 PM ET, current registration functionality will be retired, and carriers that still need to update account access, clean up company information, or make registration changes will have to wait until Motus launches next week.

That alone is a major change. But it is not happening in isolation.

FMCSA is also expanding identity verification in the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, pointing to a bigger trend: FMCSA is tightening control over who can access compliance systems, who can update carrier records, and whether the person behind an account is actually authorized to be there.

New Identity Verification in the Clearinghouse

On April 27, FMCSA announced that certain users registering for new Clearinghouse accounts, including Medical Review Officers, Substance Abuse Professionals, third-party administrators, and employers without a Portal account, must now verify their identities through a secure process before gaining access. For motor carriers, that last category is worth paying attention to, since employers of CDL drivers are among the roles now subject to the new verification requirements.

The verification is handled by IDEMIA, the same company FMCSA has partnered with for identity verification in Motus and the current Unified Registration System. The Department of Homeland Security uses the same IDEMIA technology at airports across the country. The process requires users to log in through Login.gov, scan a QR code on their mobile device, and verify their identity through the FMCSA Identity Verification app using a government-issued ID.

The move came after documented fraud concerns in and around the Clearinghouse, including false violations entered on drivers’ records. FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs said the agency is “closing gaps that could be exploited by bad actors.”

FMCSA says future phases will extend identity verification to most other Clearinghouse users, though CDL holders are already verified through state licensing systems.

The Bigger Pattern

FMCSA is moving toward tighter control over who can access compliance systems, update records, and act on behalf of a carrier.

That has real implications for motor carriers. Shared logins, outdated user access, mismatched emails, and stale company information are becoming harder to get away with. Whether the system is Motus or the Clearinghouse, FMCSA is putting more weight on the same basic idea. The right person needs to be tied to the right role, using the right credentials, with accurate information behind the account.

All of this means that compliance will now take more than knowing which filing is due next. Motor carriers will also need to know who controls their compliance accounts, whether their records are current, and whether their company can get through a verification step without delays.

How US Compliance Services Can Help

Carriers who get ahead of these changes will spend less time sorting out access problems and more time running their business. If you are not sure where your accounts stand, US Compliance Services can help. Learn more about the Motus Maintenance Program or call (877) 352-1996 to speak with a compliance specialist.