FMCSA Biennial Update Suspension Continues During Motus Rollout

Updated: September 15, 2026 at 4:08 PM

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has temporarily suspended enforcement of its biennial update requirement as the agency continues working through the transition to its new Motus registration system.

Under the temporary relief, registrants whose biennial update was due on or after June 1, 2026, will receive additional time to complete the required update. FMCSA also says it will not inactivate USDOT Numbers because affected registrants failed to submit a biennial update during the suspension.

The change does not eliminate the federal biennial update requirement. Instead, FMCSA has temporarily paused enforcement while Motus recovery and stabilization efforts continue.

What Carriers Need to Know

For affected motor carriers and other regulated entities, the most important points are:

• The relief applies to biennial updates due on or after June 1, 2026.
• FMCSA has temporarily suspended enforcement of those biennial updates.
• USDOT Numbers will not be inactivated for failure to complete an affected biennial update during the suspension.
• FMCSA has not announced when normal enforcement will resume.
• The agency says it will provide advance warning before reimplementing the requirement.
• The biennial update requirement itself has not been eliminated.

FMCSA announced the latest guidance on September 10 and said the suspension will remain in effect until further notice.

Why Did FMCSA Pause Biennial Update Enforcement?

The temporary relief is connected to FMCSA’s transition to Motus, its new USDOT Registration System.

Motus opened to new and existing registrants on May 19, 2026. It replaces major registration functions previously handled through older FMCSA systems.

FMCSA describes Motus as an effort to modernize and centralize its registration process. The system allows registrants to perform tasks such as updating business information, completing biennial updates, managing registration status, and applying for certain additional registrations or authority.

However, the transition has also created service disruptions and other issues for some users. FMCSA’s September notice specifically refers to ongoing Motus “recovery and stabilization efforts” when explaining the temporary relief.

FMCSA has also published guidance addressing individual Motus problems. For example, the agency has provided instructions for carriers that created the wrong type of Motus account and then encountered problems claiming their USDOT record.

The temporary suspension gives affected registrants additional time while FMCSA continues working on the system.

When Did the Motus Transition Begin?

The transition to Motus has occurred in stages.

FMCSA began a limited rollout for supporting companies in December 2025. In April 2026, the agency published additional information about its plans to move registration services into the new system.

Legacy registration functions began shutting down on May 14. Motus then became available to new and existing registrants on May 19.

Biennial updates due on or after June 1 are covered by the current enforcement relief. On September 10, FMCSA confirmed that the suspension remains in place while work on Motus continues.

The Biennial Update Requirement Has Not Been Eliminated

Carriers should not interpret the announcement as the end of biennial updates.

Under normal FMCSA requirements, covered entities must complete a biennial update every two years. The update is generally required even when the carrier’s information has not changed.

A carrier’s USDOT Number determines when the update is due. The last digit identifies the filing month, while the next-to-last digit determines whether the update falls in an odd- or even-numbered year.

For example, a USDOT Number ending in 6 would normally have an update month of June.

FMCSA’s current action temporarily changes enforcement for affected deadlines. It does not remove the underlying federal requirement.

What Normally Happens If a Biennial Update Is Missed?

Outside the current suspension, failing to complete a required biennial update can carry significant consequences.

FMCSA states that failure to complete the update can result in deactivation of the carrier’s USDOT Number. The agency’s registration guidance also says violations may result in civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day, with a maximum of $10,000.

That makes the current suspension important for carriers that have been unable to complete an update during the Motus transition.

For updates covered by the temporary relief, FMCSA says affected registrants will receive additional time and will not have their USDOT Numbers inactivated for failing to submit the update.

Can Carriers Still Complete a Biennial Update in Motus?

Yes. The enforcement suspension does not mean federally regulated carriers are prohibited from completing their updates.

FMCSA currently lists submitting a biennial update among the registration actions available through Motus.

The agency’s announcement provides additional time to registrants affected by the transition. It does not shut down the biennial update process for carriers that can complete it.

Carriers should also continue keeping their registration information accurate. The biennial schedule represents the minimum required update frequency. Changes to important business or operating information may still need to be reflected in the carrier’s FMCSA record.

Intrastate Carriers Have Different Requirements

FMCSA’s announcement also includes an important clarification for intrastate carriers.

Carriers operating only within a single state are not subject to the federal biennial update requirement. As a result, Motus no longer provides a federal biennial update option specifically for intrastate carriers.

However, that does not necessarily mean an intrastate carrier has no recurring update requirements.

Some states require intrastate carriers to update their FMCSA records on a recurring basis. Those requirements can vary by state.

To support state requirements, Motus allows intrastate carriers to update information such as mileage, number of power units, and number of drivers. FMCSA is also working to display the date of a carrier’s most recent update so state agencies can determine when the record was last changed.

FMCSA does not track or monitor individual state registration requirements through Motus. Intrastate carriers should therefore verify the requirements that apply in their state.

Carriers Should Watch for Motus Scams

The Motus transition has also created an opportunity for scammers.

FMCSA has warned carriers about fraudulent websites and phishing emails impersonating the Motus registration system. Some messages attempt to send carriers to fake websites to complete supposed registration updates.

Carriers should use caution with unsolicited emails or messages asking them to update their FMCSA registration.

The official Motus system is hosted on the federal government’s motus.dot.gov domain. FMCSA recommends accessing official registration resources through its government websites rather than relying on suspicious links in unsolicited messages.

What Should Carriers Do During the Suspension?

Carriers with a biennial update due on or after June 1, 2026, should understand that FMCSA is providing additional time and has temporarily suspended USDOT Number inactivation for failure to complete the affected update.

However, the suspension should not be treated as a permanent change to the rules.

Carriers should continue keeping their FMCSA registration information accurate and monitor official FMCSA announcements. The agency says it will provide advance notice before normal biennial update enforcement resumes.

Registrants experiencing Motus problems can also contact the FMCSA Registration Customer Service Center or submit a support request through FMCSA’s official website.

How Long Will the FMCSA Biennial Update Suspension Last?

FMCSA has not provided a date for the end of the temporary suspension.

For now, the agency says the relief will remain in effect until further notice as Motus recovery and stabilization efforts continue. Registrants affected by deadlines on or after June 1 will receive additional time, and their USDOT Numbers will not be inactivated for failing to complete those biennial updates during the suspension.

The key point for carriers is that this is a temporary enforcement change, not the elimination of biennial updates.

Carriers should continue monitoring FMCSA guidance and be prepared for the requirement to return to normal enforcement once the agency provides notice.

Need Help With Your FMCSA Registration?

FMCSA’s temporary suspension gives affected carriers additional time, but the biennial update requirement has not gone away. If you need help understanding your update requirements or keeping your FMCSA registration current, FCCR can assist. Call 208-888-3227 to speak with our team about your registration and compliance needs.