Is FMCSA Deactivating USDOT Numbers Right Now?

As of August 26, 2026: no. FMCSA has temporarily suspended inactivation of USDOT numbers for entities that have not completed the required biennial update, to reduce disruption during the transition to its new Motus registration system. There is no announced end date. FMCSA's notice was last updated June 22, 2026.

This page is dated and maintained because this is the one fact on the topic that changes, and most sites still have not noticed it changed at all.

What the rule says when it is being enforced

Per FMCSA's Updating Your Registration guidance, failure to complete a biennial update results in deactivation of your USDOT number and may result in civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day, not to exceed $10,000.

The suspension does not change the rule. It changes whether FMCSA is currently acting on it. Treat this as a window, not a reprieve.

What a deactivated USDOT number actually costs you

Being honest about this matters, because the sites that exaggerate it are usually selling something.

• Brokers screen you out. Most brokerages run your USDOT before tendering a load. An inactive number is a hard stop in a lot of systems.
• Insurance filings and certificates are affected. Your agent files financial responsibility against your number. If the number goes inactive, that relationship needs untangling.
• Roadside exposure. Operating in interstate commerce without an active registration is an enforcement matter.
• Reactivation takes time. Carriers are reporting resolution times of around 30 days through the FMCSA contact center during the Motus transition.

What to do while the pause is on

File it anyway, now, while there is no queue.

The pause has created a very large group of carriers who are all behind at the same time. When it lifts, they will be filing at once, on a system that is already producing multi-week resolution times for anything that needs a human. Filing today takes about 20 minutes and costs nothing.

Here is the step-by-step for doing it in Motus. If you are not sure whether you are behind, check your due date first. It is free and does not ask for your email.

How to reactivate a number that is already inactive

If your number was deactivated before the suspension, or for a reason other than a missed biennial update, the path runs through Motus at motus.dot.gov: claim the number, then complete the outstanding filing. Expect manual review. FMCSA's contact center is 1-800-832-5660.

Do not pay a third party a premium to do this. FMCSA charges no fee, and under Motus you still have to create your own Login.gov account and pass identity verification yourself.

Changelog

• August 26, 2026: Re-verified against FMCSA's notice. Suspension still in force, no end date announced.
• June 22, 2026: Date FMCSA last updated its suspension notice, covering updates not completed since June 1, 2026.

Where this leaves your insurance

The fields in your biennial update, power units, drivers, mileage, radius, and cargo, are the same fields underwriters pull from your public FMCSA record to price your policy. If you are behind on filing, you are probably also being rated on numbers that no longer describe your operation.

Get a quote based on your real numbers.

Trucker Path Insurance is a licensed insurance agency. We are not FMCSA and we are not affiliated with any government agency. Your biennial update is free and you file it yourself at motus.dot.gov. Verify current status with FMCSA before you rely on it.