Motus problems and fixes: the carrier's troubleshooting guide.

Can't get through Motus? Then you can't get your authority, update your MCS-150, or add operating authority. That is your business sitting still. This guide walks the errors carriers are hitting most in FMCSA's new registration system, one at a time, so you can find yours, see why it happened, and get unstuck.

Motus is FMCSA's new online registration system. It replaced the old FMCSA Registration system and the legacy FMCSA Portal, and it now runs identity checks through Login.gov. That handoff between three systems, your ID, and your existing FMCSA records is where almost every error comes from. As of July 2026, some of these problems have confirmed fixes and some do not. We say plainly which is which.

Why does Motus say "identity verification failed"?

Usually because the name on your ID does not exactly match the name in FMCSA's records or your Login.gov account. Motus verifies your identity through Login.gov, which checks your legal name, date of birth, and address against your document. If any of those do not line up, the check fails.

What to do:

• Check that your name in Login.gov matches your ID exactly, including middle name or initial, suffixes like Jr. or Sr., and hyphenated last names.
• Make sure the ID you upload is current and not expired.
• If your legal name recently changed (marriage, court order) and your records are split across old and new names, that mismatch alone can stop you.
• Fix the mismatch at the source. If Login.gov is wrong, correct it there. If your FMCSA records carry an old name, you may need FMCSA to update them before verification will pass.

Why is Motus rejecting my Login.gov email?

Because the email on your Login.gov account has to match the Company Official email tied to your old FMCSA Portal account. Motus links your identity to your existing carrier record through that email. If you create a Login.gov account with a personal email FMCSA has never seen, it has nothing to connect you to.

What to do:

• Find the email FMCSA has on file as the Company Official for your USDOT number. It is the email your old FMCSA Portal login used.
• Create or update your Login.gov account so it uses that exact email.
• If you no longer have access to that old inbox, that is a bigger problem. You will likely need FMCSA to update the Company Official email on your record before Motus will link you.

What if I'm not the Company Official, or the Portal account is inactive?

Motus links to your carrier record through the Company Official on your old FMCSA Portal account. If you were never set as that person, or the Portal account went inactive, Motus cannot confirm you are allowed to act on the USDOT number.

What to do:

• Confirm who the Company Official of record is. For many owner-operators it is you. For carriers set up by a third party (a compliance service, a former partner, a filing agent) it may be someone else.
• If the wrong person is listed, or the account is inactive, you need FMCSA to correct the Company Official on the record. You cannot force this through Motus yourself.
• Keep any proof that you own or control the company. You may be asked for it.

This is one of the harder ones to self-serve, because it depends on old data FMCSA holds, not on anything you enter today.

Why is my business information rejected when I try to claim my USDOT?

Because the business details you enter in Motus have to match your MCS-150 and FMCSA's system. The MCS-150 is the form that carries your carrier registration details. If your legal business name, address, EIN, or entity type in Motus does not match the record, the claim can fail.

What to do:

• Pull your current MCS-150 details and compare them line by line to what you are typing into Motus.
• Watch for small differences: "LLC" vs "L.L.C.", a suite number on one record but not the other, an address that moved, an EIN typo.
• If your real business info is correct and FMCSA's record is out of date, the record is what needs updating. In the old system that meant filing an MCS-150 update. Confirm the current path in Motus or with FMCSA, because the process is changing under the new system.

I verified in Motus but still can't link my USDOT. What now?

This is the most-reported Motus problem, and as of July 2026 there is not always a clean self-service fix. Carriers are getting through identity verification and then hitting a wall where the system will not connect their verified Login.gov identity to their existing USDOT number.

What we can tell you:

• This usually traces back to one of the mismatches above: the email, the Company Official, or the business record not lining up, even after your personal identity is verified. Identity verified is not the same as record linked.
• Recheck the Company Official email match first. It is the most common cause and the one you can sometimes fix yourself.
• If everything matches on your end and it still will not link, the fix likely lives inside FMCSA's records, not your inputs. Document what you tried, screenshot the errors and dates, and open a ticket with FMCSA.
• Do not create a second Login.gov account or a second company entity to get around it. Duplicate or mismatched entities create worse problems, including exactly the kind of fraud the new system is trying to catch.

We are not going to pretend this one has a tidy answer it doesn't. If your linking fails with everything matching, you are waiting on FMCSA, and you are not alone.

FMCSA isn't answering my calls or emails. What do I do?

Keep a dated record of every attempt and escalate through more than one channel. Carriers are reporting long waits and unanswered messages during the Motus rollout, which is common when a federal system launches and volume spikes.

What to do:

• Log everything. Date, time, method, and a screenshot of each error. If you later escalate, this record is what moves it.
• Use FMCSA's official Motus help resources. FMCSA has published a Registration Modernization Resources Hub with step-by-step Motus tutorials and support contacts. Start there and use the contact path listed on the hub: FMCSA Registration Resources Hub.
• Try your FMCSA Division office or State Director if the national line is unresponsive. A local office can sometimes route an issue faster.
• If your business is losing money because you cannot get an answer, your congressional representative's office can open a constituent case with a federal agency on your behalf. Carriers have used this route before when FMCSA channels stalled.

How many Motus problems are still unfixed?

The Motus launch shipped with at least nine documented problems, and independent tracking found several with no confirmed fix as of early 2026. Some, like the early DOT number claim failure, have since been reported fixed. Others remained broken or only partly working.

The honest state of things: Motus is new, it is still being patched, and the fix for your error may depend on which patch cycle FMCSA is in. Before you assume a problem is permanent, check the current status on FMCSA's Resources Hub. What was broken last month may be fixed this month, and the reverse can happen too. If you are unsure whether a rule or step still applies, verify it directly with FMCSA rather than trusting an older guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is Motus?

Motus is FMCSA's new online registration system. It replaced the old FMCSA Registration system and legacy Portal and handles new carrier registration, USDOT and operating authority applications, and record updates. It verifies your identity through Login.gov.

Do I need a Login.gov account for Motus?

Yes. Motus uses Login.gov to verify who you are. Your Login.gov email should match the Company Official email on your existing FMCSA record so Motus can link you to your USDOT number.

Why does Motus keep failing my identity check?

Almost always a name or detail mismatch. The legal name, date of birth, and address on your ID and in Login.gov must match FMCSA's records. Fix the mismatch at its source, then retry.

Can I fix a Motus linking problem myself?

Sometimes. If the cause is your Login.gov email or a business-info typo, you can correct it. If the cause is the Company Official or outdated data inside FMCSA's records, you likely need FMCSA to update the record before it will link.

How long will Motus problems take to fix?

There is no single answer. Some issues have confirmed fixes, some are still open, and FMCSA is patching the system over time. Check the current status on FMCSA's Resources Hub, and verify anything time-sensitive directly with FMCSA.

The rules and the systems behind them will keep moving. A carrier shouldn't lose a week of freight because a federal front door won't open. We're built Dotra to keep your registration, deadlines, and compliance records in one place, tracked and ready, so wrestling systems like Motus stops being the thing that keeps you off the road. Start your free trial with Dotra or book a demo to see how it works.