For an owner-operator, FMCSA registration is the plumbing behind everything else. Brokers check it before tendering a load, insurers check it before writing a policy, and factors check it before funding an invoice. In 2026 FMCSA replaced the system that runs it, began verifying the identity of everyone who uses it, and joined other agencies in a crackdown on registration fraud. At the same time, a lot of what carriers have heard about MC numbers going away is ahead of the facts. This page sets out what is in force as of November 3, 2026 and what is still only proposed. It is a summary, not legal advice.
Motus replaces the old registration system
FMCSA announced Motus in a Federal Register notice on April 29, 2026. The rollout came in two phases:
- Phase I, December 8, 2025. Supporting companies, meaning process agents that file Form BOC-3, insurance and surety companies, and service providers that file on behalf of carriers, could create Motus accounts.
- Phase II, planned for the second quarter of 2026. Motus opened to all regulated entities, including motor carriers, brokers and freight forwarders. FreightWaves reports the carrier launch came in May.
Motus replaces the Unified Registration System for new USDOT number and operating authority applications. Through it, carriers apply for authority, update company information, file the biennial update, and handle reinstatements.
Identity and business verification
The biggest practical change is verification. According to the FMCSA notice, every new applicant must pass identity proofing, and Motus will also verify the identity of the roughly 800,000 existing registrants the first time each user logs in. The process needs a smartphone or tablet and a valid government-issued ID. You scan a QR code, photograph the ID, and take a photo of your face. FMCSA has worked with the identity vendor IDEMIA since April 2025.
Motus also adds business verification: checks on a company's legal name, principal place of business, ownership and company officials. FMCSA's stated aim is to stop account takeovers and false identities, the tools behind many double-brokering and fictitious pickup schemes.
Before Phase II, FMCSA asked registrants to review their records for accuracy, including process agent and insurance filings, save a copy of their records to compare against Motus, and remove portal users who no longer need access. That remains good advice for anyone who has not yet logged in.
MC numbers have not been eliminated
FMCSA had planned to eliminate MC and FF docket numbers as part of Motus. In the April 2026 notice, it said stakeholders raised concerns about three proposed changes: the elimination of MC and FF docket numbers, a new safety registration step and changes to the BOC-3 process. As a result, Phase II of Motus does not include any of them. FMCSA said it would take "a measured approach" and implement such changes in later releases.
Eliminating docket numbers would also need rulemaking. DOT's Fall 2025 regulatory agenda listed a proposed rule on updates to the Unified Registration System with a target date of July 2026. We found no such proposal in FMCSA's Federal Register filings through November 3, 2026.
In Congress, the SAFER Transport Act (S. 3950), which we covered in our July 2026 recap, includes MC-number changes among its anti-fraud provisions. According to Congress.gov, its only action so far is its introduction and referral to the Senate Commerce Committee on February 26, 2026.
For now, keep your MC number on your paperwork, rate confirmations and factoring documents.
Biennial updates are paused, not gone
Every registered carrier must update its registration every two years. During the Motus transition, FMCSA suspended enforcement of that requirement and stopped inactivating USDOT numbers for missed updates, according to FreightWaves. The relief covers updates due on or after June 1, 2026, and lasts until further notice. FMCSA has said it will give advance warning before enforcement resumes. The requirement still exists, and an outdated record can cause problems with brokers and insurers even if FMCSA isn't enforcing it.
UCR fees go up for 2027
FMCSA adopted the Unified Carrier Registration Board's recommended fee increase for the 2027 registration year, effective October 1, 2026. The increase averages 20% over the 2025 and 2026 fees, ranging from $9 to $9,329 per entity depending on fleet-size bracket. FMCSA noted the 2027 fees are still lower than those in effect from 2019 through 2022.
The fraud crackdown behind it
Registration changes are one part of a wider enforcement push. On August 31, 2026, DOT and FMCSA announced an interagency crackdown on CDL fraud. It included Joint Task Force Crossroads of America, a Justice Department effort that joins the U.S. Attorney's Offices for Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio with the FBI, DEA, HSI, ICE and ATF. It also removed more than 110 CDL training providers and started an audit of third-party CDL skills testers.
On the broker side, FMCSA's broker and freight forwarder financial responsibility rule took effect January 16, 2026. Brokers must keep $75,000 in financial security at all times, and FMCSA can suspend a broker's authority if that security falls below $75,000 and is not restored within seven calendar days. OOIDA welcomed the rule but said it does not solve broker payment problems alone. FMCSA's separate rulemaking on broker transaction transparency was listed for a supplemental proposal in July 2026, which had not appeared by early November.
What owner-operators should do
- Log in to Motus and complete identity verification before you need to file something urgent. Use a name that matches your ID exactly.
- Check your record against your paperwork. Legal name, address, company officials, insurance and process agent should match what's on your invoices and factoring agreement.
- Keep your MC number in use. Nothing in force replaces it yet.
- Pay UCR at the 2027 rate for your bracket.
- Check a broker's authority and bond status before hauling, especially for new broker relationships.
What this means for your cash flow
Factors fund against your authority. Before buying an invoice, a factor typically confirms that your operating authority is active, your insurance is on file, and the company name on the invoice matches FMCSA's record. A mismatch between your Motus record and your paperwork can hold up account setup or a funding. Fix it before you change factors or take on a new broker.
Broker credit matters as much as your own record. The $75,000 security rule helps, but it doesn't guarantee payment. Use your factor's broker credit checks before you book. On non-recourse terms, read what's covered: non-recourse usually covers a broker's insolvency, not a disputed invoice.
New carriers should read our guide to factoring with new authority, since new authorities face the most verification. Our guide to freight factoring costs and the factoring calculator help you compare offers on total cost, not just the headline rate. See our freight and trucking page for more on factoring for carriers, and our methodology for how we evaluate factors. To compare terms side by side, request quotes from several factors with one form.