DOT Launches Motus: A New Anti-Fraud Registration System for Motor Carriers
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FMCSA have rolled out Motus, a biometric-backed registration system built to shut down fraudulent DOT numbers and so-called "chameleon carriers."
On May 19, 2026, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and FMCSA leadership launched Motus, the agency's new registration system for motor carriers, school bus operators, and other regulated entities. Motus replaces a decades-old patchwork of loosely connected registration applications that FMCSA has said left the system exposed to fraud, waste, and abuse.
The core problem Motus is meant to solve: FMCSA estimates several thousand suspicious registration numbers are tied to fraudulent carriers, including so-called "chameleon carriers" — companies that shut down and re-register under a new name to shed a poor safety record or unpaid judgments. Motus adds biometrics and modern data analytics to the verification process so that applicants have to prove they meet registration requirements up front, rather than relying on paperwork alone.
On the practical side, carriers registering or updating their information through Motus will need a login.gov account. Anyone who already accesses the FMCSA Portal through login.gov should use that same account so their existing data carries over.
If your company is coming up on a registration renewal or you're setting up a new entity, expect the process to look different than it did last year. We're keeping an eye on Motus as it rolls out and can help walk your team through it when your renewal comes up.