Last reviewed November 15, 2026, against FMCSA's public pages.
First check: are you using the company official's FMCSA Portal email?
FMCSA says to claim a USDOT number with the same Login.gov email you used as the company official in the FMCSA Portal. If you signed in with a newer email, a personal email, or a co-worker's email, Motus may not connect you to the record. Sign out and sign back in at motus.dot.gov with the Portal email. See signing in to Motus and company officials and account access.
Why it takes time: Finding the original Portal email can mean asking former staff or a past filing service.
Second check: was this email registered as a Transportation Service Provider?
FMCSA's Resources Hub currently says that if you are a carrier and your email address was inadvertently registered for the Transportation Service Provider (TSP) role in Motus, you can close the TSP account. The hub lists this under "Inability to Claim USDOT Record as TSP Supporting Company." (Checked November 15, 2026. The hub can change.) See registered as a TSP by mistake.
Why it takes time: Closing the mistaken TSP account has to come before the claim.
Two checks down, two to go. Rather hand the rest to a Personal Compliance Specialist?
Consult with a Compliance SpecialistThird check: is someone else already managing the record?
If a former partner, an employee, or a filing service set up the company account first, you may not be able to claim it yourself. There is no override button. Use FMCSA's contact options below, or ask for optional help.
Why it takes time: You may have to wait on FMCSA's contact center to sort out who manages the record.
Fourth check: did you already start a new registration?
If you clicked to start a new registration for a company that already has a USDOT number, stop there. Finishing it can leave your company with two numbers. duplicatedot.com explains how duplicate records happen and why they cause trouble.
Why it takes time: Untangling a second registration takes longer than avoiding one.
Rather not work through every step yourself? A Personal Compliance Specialist can prepare and file the parts that can be handed off.
Consult with a Compliance SpecialistWhat not to do
- Do not create a second Login.gov account and a second company record just to get in.
- Do not apply for a new USDOT number so you can use Motus.
- Do not share the company official's Login.gov password with anyone.
FMCSA's own help
These are FMCSA's contact options, not ours. FMCSA lists its Registration Customer Service Center at 1-800-832-5660 (phone or chat) and asks people to report Motus problems through a support ticket at ask.fmcsa.dot.gov, then follow up on that ticket instead of opening duplicates. Check FMCSA's notice for current hours.
For other error messages, see common Motus errors.
Do it yourself, or hand it off
Do it yourself in Motus
- No FMCSA charge for a USDOT number or for updates. Government fees still apply to things like operating authority.
- You handle every screen, form and certification.
- You track recurring deadlines, such as the biennial update, yourself.
Have a Personal Compliance Specialist handle it
- A paid, optional service. The fee is quoted before work starts and is separate from government fees.
- Once you designate them in Motus as a service provider, they can prepare filings and do data entry for you.
- You still complete your own identity check and the final certification. No one can speed up FMCSA's review.
Related guides
Where this information comes from
We write these guides from FMCSA's public pages and update them when FMCSA changes its guidance. Check the source before you act:
