FMCSA delays biennial update enforcement during system transition

Enforcement of the biennial update requirement is temporarily paused. Carriers whose updates were due on or after June 1, 2026, will not have their USDOT numbers inactivated while they complete the filing. The agency is taking this step to stabilize the new Motus registration portal, which launched in May. No end date for the pause has been set.

Motor carriers should wait for further guidance before assuming the deadline has passed permanently. The agency will issue new instructions as the system stabilizes. Carriers experiencing technical problems can contact the Registration Customer Service Center. Phone and chat support now runs weekdays from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time and on Saturdays. Users should submit only one support ticket per issue to avoid delays.

The agency also issued a warning about phishing attempts targeting the new system. Fraudulent emails use the subject line Notice of Required Off-Cycle Update and claim a carrier access code is needed. These messages direct recipients to fake websites. The official portal does not use all capital letters for its name. Carriers should type the official address directly into their browser instead of clicking email links.

Intrastate carriers are not required to file federal biennial updates. The new system still allows them to change mileage, power unit counts, and driver numbers to meet state rules. The agency is adding a feature to show the last update date for state agencies. Suspected scam emails should be reported to the Federal Trade Commission, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, or the FMCSA Contact Center.

Source: Heavy Duty Trucking — https://www.truckinginfo.com/news/fmcsa-pauses-biennial-update-enforcement-amid-motus-transition