Houston Carrier Back on the Road After Motus Fix

What happened

A Houston-area trucking company is back in business after a federal computer error had kept its truck parked for nearly two months. Lisa Hall with Savoy Transportation told KHOU 11 that less than 24 hours after the station's original story aired, the company's status changed from "inactive" to "active" in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Motus registration system.

Hall said the fix means Savoy can accept loads again. The company plans to get its truck back on the road and return to work this week.

The trouble started in early August 2026, when brokers told Savoy they could not give it loads because its USDOT number showed inactive, even though its operating authority was current. FMCSA only told the company it was "a computer glitch" and "a known issue." With no loads coming in, Savoy's factoring company held more than $10,000 in invoices for completed work, because it could not fund invoices tied to an inactive DOT number. The company parked its truck while still owing close to $3,000 a month in truck payments and insurance.

Hall said Savoy called FMCSA more than 20 times over several weeks trying to get someone to fix the error, without a firm answer. The fix came quickly only after local news coverage brought attention to the case.

What it means for owner-operators

This case shows two things at once. First, the same kind of Motus mix-up can hit any small carrier or owner-operator with authority on file in the new system; a wrong "inactive" flag can stop brokers from booking you and stop your factoring company from advancing cash, even while your truck payment and insurance keep coming due. Second, it shows that these errors can be fixed, sometimes fast, once the right person at FMCSA actually looks at the file.

If your authority is the only way you get paid, do not assume a glitch like this will fix itself. Savoy's status did not change until after weeks of calls and a news story. Most carriers will not get that kind of attention, so document everything and keep pushing.

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 put your request to FMCSA in writing.
• Tell your factoring company and your insurance agent right away if your authority status changes, so they have the real story before it affects your funding or your coverage.
• Keep a small cash reserve if you can; 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.