MOTUS Error Leaves Houston Carrier's Truck Parked

What happened

A Houston-area trucking company, Savoy Transportation, says a problem in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's new Motus registration system marked its USDOT number "inactive" by mistake. Lisa Hall, who handles the company's books, said the trouble started in early August 2026, when brokers told her they could not give Savoy loads because its DOT number showed inactive. She had never heard of Motus before that call.

Documents show Savoy's Motus record from Aug. 18 listed the company as "inactive," even though its operating authority still showed active. FMCSA has not given the company a clear reason for the mismatch. Hall said the agency told her only that it was "a computer glitch" and "a known issue" that is being worked on.

Savoy normally runs one to two loads a day. Over three weeks, the company says it lost 15 to 20 loads. More than $10,000 in invoices for completed loads is on hold, because Savoy's factoring company will not fund the invoices until FMCSA shows the DOT number as active again. With no money coming in, Savoy parked its truck. Co-owner Michael Savoy still owes close to $3,000 a month in truck payments and insurance. The company says it has contacted FMCSA more than 20 times.

FMCSA recently said it is temporarily pausing certain USDOT number inactivations while it works out problems in the Motus rollout, to cut down on disruptions like this one.

What it means for owner-operators

Any small carrier or owner-operator with authority on file in Motus could see the same kind of mix-up. A wrong "inactive" flag does not just look bad on paper. Brokers will not book a load with a carrier that shows inactive, and factoring companies will not advance cash on invoices tied to that authority. That combination can stop your income within days, even while your insurance and truck payments keep coming due.

This case also shows how long a fix can take. Savoy has been calling FMCSA for weeks without a firm answer. If your authority is your only way to get paid, a slow federal fix can put your whole business at risk, not just one load.

What to do next

• Check your own status at FMCSA's SAFER or Motus portal regularly, not just when a broker flags a problem.
• If your DOT number shows inactive and you believe it is wrong, save screenshots and dates, and contact FMCSA in writing, not just by phone.
• Tell your factoring company and your insurance agent right away if your authority status changes, so they know the real story before it affects your funding or your coverage.
• Keep a small cash reserve if you can. A few weeks without income can happen even when you did nothing wrong.
• Call TCZ Insurance Agency at 956-526-6727 if you have questions about keeping your coverage in force while you sort out a registration problem.