FMCSA suspends USDOT deactivations for missed biennial updates during MOTUS rollout

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has temporarily halted its enforcement of the biennial update requirement for USDOT numbers. Additionally, the agency has ceased deactivating USDOT numbers when registrants miss these deadlines. This relief applies to deadlines occurring on or after June 1, 2026 and will continue indefinitely.

FMCSA initiated this change as companies transition to its new Motor Carrier Unified System (MOTUS) platform, which launched on May 19. The objective is to minimize service interruptions during the migration process. A September notice detailed what carriers can anticipate under this new policy.

Businesses covered by this relief do not need to submit overdue biennial updates immediately. Instead, their USDOT numbers will remain active despite missed deadlines. FMCSA has not disclosed when enforcement will resume, but it will provide advance notification before reinstating these actions.

Under federal regulations, companies must update their registration information every two years, even if their business details have not changed. This requirement remains in effect during the system transition. Registrants should continue to monitor official registration alerts for further announcements.

The notice also clarifies that intrastate carriers, operating exclusively within a single state, are not subject to the federal biennial filing requirement under MOTUS. However, these companies may still be subject to state-specific record updates and obligations.