Quick Answer
FMCSA has paused enforcement of biennial MCS-150 updates and stopped inactivating USDOT numbers for registrants whose update was due on or after June 1, 2026, per its temporary suspension notice last updated September 10, 2026. The pause is tied to the Motus rollout. It has no end date, and the filing is still legally required.
Key Takeaways
- FMCSA first posted the pause in June 2026 and broadened it to "enforcement of biennial updates" on September 10, 2026.
- Only updates due on or after June 1, 2026 are covered. A missed deadline from January through May 2026 is not.
- The rule hasn't changed: 49 CFR 390.19T still requires an update every 24 months and lists deactivation and civil penalties for missing it.
- As of October 20, 2026, FMCSA has announced no end date.
“FMCSA has paused USDOT inactivation and enforcement for biennial MCS-150 updates due on or after June 1, 2026, while Motus stabilizes. The update is still required under 49 CFR 390.19T, the penalties are still on the books, and FMCSA has set no end date.”
What did FMCSA announce?
Motus, FMCSA's new USDOT registration system, launched May 19, 2026, and many carriers had trouble getting in. On a page last updated June 22, 2026, FMCSA told registrants they "should not worry about inactivation resulting from Motus-related access or system issues."
The September 10 update goes further. FMCSA says it "has temporarily suspended enforcement of biennial updates and the inactivation of USDOT Numbers," and that registrants due on or after June 1, 2026 "will receive additional time." It promises only "additional guidance" as Motus stabilizes.
Who does the pause cover?
Your due date comes from your USDOT number. The last digit sets the month, and the next-to-last digit sets odd or even years. In 2026, numbers with an even next-to-last digit ending in 6, 7, 8, 9 or 0 fall due between June 30 and October 31, 2026. Those are covered.
Say your USDOT number ends in 87. The 7 means July and the 8 is even, so your update was due July 31, 2026. You're inside the pause. A number ending in 23 was due March 31, 2026, before the window, so a missed filing there can still lead to deactivation.
For the full schedule, see our MCS-150 biennial update guide.
Is the pause an exemption?
No. Three things stay true.
- The requirement is still in the regulation. Section 390.19T(b)(4) says a carrier that skips the update "is subject to the penalties prescribed in 49 U.S.C. 521(b)(2)(B) or 49 U.S.C. 14901(a), as appropriate, and deactivation of its USDOT Number."
- The penalty figures are still on the books. FMCSA's web pages still quote the statutory $1,000 per day, up to $10,000. The inflation-adjusted figure in 49 CFR part 386, Appendix B is up to $1,584 per day, capped at $15,846, as of October 2026. FMCSA hasn't said what happens to updates still overdue when the pause ends.
- The pause ends on FMCSA's schedule. A September bulletin reposted by industry groups says FMCSA will give "ample warning" before restarting, but that line isn't on the fmcsa.dot.gov page and no warning period is defined.
What should you do now?
If Motus lets you in, file now instead of waiting for the restart. These steps follow FMCSA's Motus job aids, including Navigating Your Company Account in Motus.
- Type motus.dot.gov into your browser yourself. Look-alike sites are circulating; see our Motus phishing warning.
- Sign in with Login.gov, set up your user profile, and complete identity verification.
- If this is your first time in Motus, claim your USDOT number. Use the Login.gov email your Company Official used in the old FMCSA Portal, select "Link USDOT Number," and enter the emailed code.
- Accept the certification, review your business information, then click "Certify" in the orange banner and accept the final certification.
- On your company account page, open "Biennial Update Information" and click "Start."
- Work through the update with your current power units, drivers and annual mileage, then submit.
- Check your record in Motus public search and save any confirmation.
Your ELD's mileage reports are an easy source for step 6; Lucid ELD's IFTA reporting already tracks your miles.
If Motus blocks you, open a ticket at ask.fmcsa.dot.gov or call 1-800-832-5660. Follow up on an existing ticket instead of opening duplicates. Per the September notice, phone and chat run 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM Eastern on weekdays, plus Saturdays. Keep your ticket number as proof you tried.
What if your number was already deactivated?
The notice doesn't cover deadlines before June 1, 2026, and it says nothing about reversing earlier inactivations. Check your status in Motus public search, confirm the reason, and file the overdue update in Motus, which FMCSA says handles USDOT reactivation. Hold off on interstate loads until your record shows active.
Brokers check your operating authority too. Our MC authority letter guide shows what an active record should look like.
Need an FMCSA-registered ELD for your trucks? See Lucid ELD plans
Educational content, not legal advice. Confirm requirements against current FMCSA regulations and your state's rules.
FAQ
Is FMCSA still deactivating USDOT numbers for missed MCS-150 updates?
Not for updates due on or after June 1, 2026, as of October 20, 2026. Updates due before June 1, 2026 are not covered.
When does the biennial update pause end?
FMCSA hasn't set a date as of October 20, 2026.
Do I still have to file my 2026 biennial update?
Yes. 49 CFR 390.19T still requires it every 24 months, even if nothing changed. Filing in Motus is free.
My USDOT number ends in 0. Is my October 2026 update covered?
If your next-to-last digit is even, your update is due October 31, 2026, which falls inside the pause. File anyway once you can get into Motus.
