Temporary relief follows the Motus transition
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration says it has temporarily suspended enforcement of the biennial-update requirement and the inactivation of USDOT Numbers for entities that have not completed the required update. The agency linked the measure to recovery and stabilization work for Motus, the new USDOT Registration System launched on May 19, 2026. FMCSA’s current notice was last updated September 10 and remains posted as an active registration alert.
The relief has a specific eligibility date
FMCSA says registrants whose biennial update was due on or after June 1, 2026 will receive additional time. Those entities will not have their USDOT Number inactivated for failing to submit the biennial update during the temporary suspension. The notice does not give a new universal filing deadline or an end date; FMCSA says it will publish more guidance as Motus recovery and stabilization continue.
This is not a blanket registration or safety waiver
The announcement addresses the biennial update and USDOT-number inactivation tied to that missed filing. It does not say that a carrier may ignore other registration, operating-authority, insurance, process-agent, safety or state obligations that apply to its operation. A carrier should not assume the temporary relief fixes inaccurate company information, authorizes operation under an otherwise inactive status or excuses a separate deadline. Verify each requirement through the applicable official system or agency.
FMCSA provides status and support options
Registrants can use the public Motus search to review a record by USDOT Number, legal name or DBA. FMCSA directs users with a Motus problem to submit a support ticket and advises against opening duplicate tickets for the same case. The agency lists telephone and chat support at 1-800-832-5660, with extended weekday hours and Saturday availability, and offers registration alerts, videos and job aids for system updates.
Driver and fleet takeaway
If a fleet’s biennial update was due on or after June 1, document the original due date, save screenshots or confirmation numbers from attempted filings and monitor FMCSA registration alerts for the replacement deadline. Continue preparing accurate legal-name, address, contact, power-unit and mileage information so the update can be completed when required. Before dispatching or accepting work, owner-operators and fleet managers should check the public record and separately confirm operating authority, insurance and any state credentials needed for the trip. Use one support ticket per issue, preserve the case number and do not interpret the temporary suspension as permission to operate when another requirement is missing.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration — Temporary Suspension of the Biennial Update Requirement
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