If you're applying for freight authority in 2026, you'll be doing it through a brand-new system called Motus. FMCSA has retired its old patchwork of registration tools and replaced them with one platform. Here's what Motus is, what changed, and what it means if you're a new carrier, broker, or freight forwarder.
What Motus is
Motus is FMCSA's new USDOT Registration System — the official online home for applying for and managing federal motor carrier registration. It replaces the former Unified Registration System (URS) and the legacy Licensing & Insurance system, pulling USDOT number applications, operating authority, and related filings into a single dashboard. (The name comes from the Latin word for "movement.")
What changed, and when
Motus rolled out in phases. Supporting companies — BOC-3 filers, insurance and surety companies, and third-party service providers — got access first, in December 2025. Access then expanded to regulated entities through 2026, and as of mid-May 2026 the legacy registration systems are giving way to Motus for new applications. If you register today, you do it in Motus at motus.dot.gov.
Why FMCSA built it
The driving reason is fraud prevention. The old systems made it too easy for bad actors to file fraudulent registrations and impersonate legitimate carriers. Motus puts identity proofing and business verification up front — you confirm who you are before you can file. For honest operators that's a few extra verification steps; for the industry it means fewer scammers hiding behind fake authority.
What's not changing (yet)
Some things stay the same in the first release. Your MC/docket number isn't disappearing, and the core requirements to operate — operating authority, a BOC-3 filing, insurance, and UCR — are unchanged. Motus changes how you file and manage your registration, not what you're required to have.
What it means if you're just starting out
A more secure system also means more steps and more places to get tripped up: identity verification, business verification, linking the right accounts, and submitting the right filings in the right order. The requirements behind your authority haven't gotten any simpler — the front door just changed.
How Foundation Freight helps
We file through Motus as a registered service provider and handle the process end to end — MC/DOT authority, BOC-3, and UCR — for a fraction of what the big filing services charge. Veteran-owned, all federal fees included, flat pricing. Tell us about your operation once, and we take care of the filings.
Foundation Freight is an independent filing and compliance service. We are not affiliated with FMCSA, USDOT, or any government agency. Always verify your registration status directly through official FMCSA systems.