The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced temporary relief from enforcement of the federal biennial update requirement as the agency continues its transition to Motus: USDOT Registration System.
Motus officially launched on May 19, 2026, replacing key legacy registration functions with FMCSA's new centralized registration platform. FMCSA says the temporary suspension is intended to reduce disruptions while Motus recovery and stabilization efforts continue.
What Changed?
FMCSA has temporarily suspended two important enforcement actions related to biennial updates:
Biennial update enforcement is temporarily suspended. Registrants whose required biennial update was due on or after June 1, 2026 are being given additional time to complete the update. USDOT Numbers will not be inactivated solely for failure to submit the affected biennial update. This is particularly important for carriers concerned that delays during the Motus transition could cause their USDOT Number to become inactive.FMCSA says it will provide additional guidance as Motus stabilization continues. The agency's registration page currently describes the measure as a temporary suspension.
Does This Mean Carriers Can Ignore Their FMCSA Records?
No.
The temporary relief should not be interpreted as permission to stop maintaining accurate registration information. Motor carriers should continue monitoring their FMCSA records and make necessary updates when they are able to do so.
Motus is now FMCSA's primary registration system, designed to centralize registration activities, improve security and fraud prevention, and provide carriers and other regulated entities with a more streamlined way to manage their records.
The important distinction is that FMCSA is providing temporary enforcement relief during the transition. It has not announced the permanent elimination of federal biennial update requirements for entities that are subject to them.
What About Intrastate Carriers?
Intrastate carriers require some additional attention because federal and state requirements are not necessarily the same.
FMCSA states that its new registration system will continue allowing intrastate carriers to obtain USDOT Numbers when required by their state, but FMCSA does not track or monitor individual state requirements in Motus.
That means an intrastate carrier should not assume this federal enforcement relief automatically suspends a state-level requirement.
Depending on the state, an intrastate carrier may still be required to periodically maintain or update its FMCSA-related information.
What Should Drivers and Carriers Do Now?
For most affected carriers, there is no reason to panic if a biennial update due on or after June 1, 2026 has not yet been completed.
However, carriers should still:
- Keep company and operating information accurate
- Monitor FMCSA announcements for changes to the temporary suspension
- Check applicable state requirements if operating as an intrastate carrier
- Maintain access to Motus and ensure authorized company personnel can access the appropriate company account
- Avoid paying third parties who use misleading messages suggesting that an affected USDOT Number will immediately be shut down solely because the biennial update was not completed during this temporary suspension
FMCSA currently directs registrants experiencing registration problems to its Registration Customer Service Center at 1-800-832-5660 or its online support system.
The Bottom Line
This is temporary relief, not the end of biennial updates.
For affected registrants whose biennial update was due on or after June 1, 2026, FMCSA is providing additional time and says USDOT Numbers will not be inactivated for failing to submit the affected biennial update while the temporary suspension is in place.
Carriers should use the additional time to become familiar with Motus, keep their company information accurate, and watch for FMCSA's announcement regarding when normal biennial update enforcement will resume.
Resources:GladHands Pro will continue monitoring FMCSA registration changes and breaking them down into practical information for professional drivers, owner-operators, and small fleets. Join the community to stay informed.
