Flatbed trailer with a black-tarped load parked on a sunny street lined with desert trees

By the Connect Express Team, Glendale, AZ. Published October 28, 2026.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) still has no date for a full repair of Motus, its new USDOT registration system. Speaking Monday, October 26, at FreightWaves’ Broker Compliance Symposium in Chattanooga, FMCSA Deputy Administrator Jesse Elison said stabilization would take “weeks and not months,” and told carriers that do not need the system right now to stay out of it for the time being. For Phoenix and Glendale shippers, the registration backlog changes how a carrier’s federal record should be read when you vet a truck.

What FMCSA Said on Monday

According to FreightWaves, Elison offered no new timeline after telling an industry group in early October that a fix was “weeks away.” He said the system has succeeded at blocking unqualified registrants but is still keeping out “more people than just the bad actors we intended it for.” His advice was direct: “If you don’t need to go in, don’t go in yet.” Carriers with urgent registration needs were told to contact FMCSA directly and to work with their insurance contacts.

Elison also said the long-pending broker transparency rule is coming, without giving a date, and called stronger new-entrant requirements a priority. FreightWaves notes that FMCSA’s Unified Agenda says the agency is considering a proficiency examination as part of a revised New Entrant Safety Assurance Process.

The Biennial Update Pause Is Still in Effect

FMCSA launched Motus on May 19, 2026, according to the agency’s registration page. To limit disruption during the transition, the agency has temporarily suspended enforcement of the biennial update requirement and stopped inactivating USDOT numbers for entities that have not filed their update. The September FMCSA notice says registrants whose update was due on or after June 1, 2026, get more time, that the suspension lasts until further notice, and that FMCSA will give ample warning before enforcement resumes. Land Line notes that a missed biennial update would normally lead to USDOT deactivation and can bring penalties of up to $10,000.

What It Means for Phoenix Shippers

An out-of-date census record is not, by itself, a warning sign right now, and an active USDOT number is not proof that a carrier’s information is current. When you book a carrier, check the things that still matter:

Authority and insurance: Confirm active operating authority and insurance on file. For-hire interstate carriers of general freight in trucks of 10,001 pounds or more must carry at least $750,000 in public liability coverage under 49 CFR 387.9. Ask for a certificate of insurance sent directly by the agent.
Carrier or broker: Know whether you are tendering to the company that owns the trucks or to an intermediary. Our guide to asset carriers vs. brokers explains the difference.
Safety record: Review inspections and out-of-service history, not just registration status. Our carrier safety compliance guide lists what to look for, and our 10 questions to ask a carrier covers the conversation.
New carriers: Brand-new companies may take longer to finish registration while Motus problems continue, so plan onboarding time if you are adding capacity.

Shipping in or out of Phoenix and want to talk through carrier paperwork before you book? Connect Express is based at 5701 W Maryland Ave, Glendale, AZ 85301. Call 480-401-1998 or email admin@connectexpressllc.com.