The bulk of this week’s edition of Overdrive Radio focuses on an important reminder for motor carriers as FMCSA prepares to launch its long-awaited new registration platform, Motus. FMCSA Office of Registration Director Ken Riddle outlined the key steps carriers should take before the agency’s current registration system shuts down on May 14.

According to Riddle, FMCSA’s existing registration system will officially go offline at approximately 8 p.m. Eastern Time on May 14. Before that deadline, motor carriers and other registered entities are being urged to complete several critical tasks to ensure a smooth transition into the Motus platform.

First, carriers should log into their FMCSA Portal accounts to verify that their accounts remain active. If an account has been archived or disabled, owners are advised to contact the FMCSA Contact Center immediately to restore access. Carriers are also encouraged to review their company information, operating classification, contact details, and authorized users within the portal, paying special attention to the designated primary company official who will later need to verify their identity in Motus using a driver’s license or other approved identification.

Any updates to company information should be completed through the same process used for a Biennial Update by selecting “Biennial Update (MCS-150)” under the Registration tab in the FMCSA Portal.

The new Motus platform is expected to replace many functions of the existing registration system, including MCS-150 updates and company profile management. Although the old system will still return online for limited purposes, its registration functionality will be permanently removed.

Industry officials believe the transition could also help clean up inactive and dormant carrier accounts while strengthening efforts to combat fraud, including carrier impersonation and so-called “chameleon carriers” that use multiple DOT numbers to avoid enforcement.

Wisconsin Highway Patrol Captain Karl Mittelstadt said he hopes Motus will continue evolving over time to better identify suspicious entities before they are granted authority. He noted that enforcement agencies have long struggled to stop bad actors early in the registration process.

FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs has previously described the issue as the agency’s “front door problem,” emphasizing the need for stronger tools to detect fraudulent operators at the moment they apply for authority.

Riddle said the launch of Motus is expected to serve as a major cleanup effort for the industry, but warned that carriers who fail to prepare ahead of the transition could face long wait times and delays when seeking assistance after the system officially switches over later this week.