Interstate Carrier ResourcesMotus Raised Your Insurance Requirement to $1 Million and Suspended You? What to Check
Reviewed by Austin Park, founder of ICR Filings · Updated November 11, 2026
- The federal minimum is $750,000 for non-hazardous freight in vehicles of 10,001 pounds or more, and $1,000,000 or $5,000,000 for certain hazardous cargo.
- Trade press reported in late October 2026 that thousands of carriers were suspended after their requirement in Motus moved to $1 million or more.
- Your Motus record shows the amount FMCSA is holding you to under Minimum Insurance Required.
- If your record lists cargo you do not haul, correcting the record is the fix. If the record is right and the amount is wrong, FMCSA has to correct it.
Your insurance has not changed, your cargo has not changed, and Motus now shows your authority as Inactive, Involuntary Suspension, because your filing is below a requirement that used to be lower. You are not the only one. Here is what the rule says, what has been reported, and the order to work through it.
What the regulation requires
The minimum limits for for-hire motor carriers are set in 49 CFR 387.303T:
| Equipment | What you haul | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Fleet with only vehicles under 10,001 lbs GVWR | Property, non-hazardous | $300,000 |
| Freight vehicles of 10,001 lbs or more GVWR | Property, non-hazardous | $750,000 |
| Freight vehicles of 10,001 lbs or more GVWR | Oil, hazardous waste, and hazardous materials and substances listed in 49 CFR 172.101 | $1,000,000 |
| Freight vehicles of 10,001 lbs or more GVWR | Certain bulk hazardous substances, explosives, and radioactive materials | $5,000,000 |
So a jump from $750,000 to $1,000,000 means your record is being treated as a hazardous materials operation. The regulation's wording for the $1,000,000 category, for freight vehicles of 10,001 pounds or more, is:
“Oil listed in § 172.101 of this title; hazardous waste, hazardous materials and hazardous substances defined in § 171.8 of this title and listed in § 172.101 of this title”
49 CFR 387.303T(b)(2)(iii)
What has been reported
This part comes from trade press, not from FMCSA. On October 29, 2026, CCJ reported on an Illinois flatbed carrier that found its company reclassified in Motus from general freight to hazardous materials, with the minimum raised to $1 million and the authority marked Inactive, Involuntary Suspension, while its $750,000 filing was still active. CCJ and Central Analysis Bureau counted more than 6,475 companies whose requirement moved from $750,000 or below to $1 million or above and led to an involuntary suspension. The carrier told CCJ the reinstatement option was greyed out. CCJ said FMCSA did not respond to its request for comment.
Step 1: see what Motus is holding you to
Search your USDOT number at motus.dot.gov and open Operating Authority Information. Note three things: the Current Status, the Status Reason, and the Minimum Insurance Required line, which shows the BIPD amount.
Step 2: check what your record says you haul
The requirement follows your registration. If your record lists hazardous materials or a cargo type you do not haul, that is the likely cause, and an MCS-150 update is how a carrier corrects what its record says. FMCSA has not published how quickly the insurance requirement follows a corrected record, so do not plan around a date.
Step 3: decide which side to fix
- Your policy already carries $1,000,000: ask your insurer to file with FMCSA at that limit. FMCSA goes by the filing, not the policy. This is often the fastest way back.
- Your record is wrong: correct the record, and keep a dated screenshot of the requirement Motus showed.
- Your record is right and the requirement is still wrong: only FMCSA can fix that. Send one ticket through FMCSA's contact form with your USDOT number, what your record lists, and the amount shown.
Step 4: request reinstatement
Once the filing on record meets the amount shown, the authority still has to be reinstated. FMCSA's fee is $80. See how to reinstate MC authority.
Common questions
Why does Motus say I need $1 million in insurance?
The regulation sets $1,000,000 for freight vehicles of 10,001 pounds or more hauling oil, hazardous waste, or hazardous materials and substances listed in 49 CFR 172.101. If your record classifies you that way, Motus applies that minimum. CCJ has reported carriers being reclassified as hazmat without having changed anything.
Where do I see my required amount?
Search your USDOT number at motus.dot.gov and open Operating Authority Information. The Minimum Insurance Required line shows the bodily injury and property damage (BIPD) amount.
My policy is already $1 million. Why am I suspended?
FMCSA goes by the amount your insurer filed, not your policy limit. If the filing on record says $750,000, ask your insurer to file at the higher limit your policy already carries.
Has FMCSA said it will fix this?
Not that we could find. CCJ reported that FMCSA did not respond to its request for comment on the reclassification. We will update this page if FMCSA publishes guidance.
Do I still need to request reinstatement?
If your authority shows Inactive, Involuntary Suspension, yes, once the filing on record meets the requirement shown. FMCSA's reinstatement fee is $80.
Official sources
- 49 CFR 387.303T: minimum limits of security for motor carriers
- FMCSA: Insurance filing requirements
- FMCSA FAQ: How do I reinstate my operating authority (MC/FF/MX number)?
- CCJ: Surprise Motus reclassification threatens small Illinois flatbedder (Oct 29, 2026, trade press)
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you file.
Related guides
- Does Reinstating Your MC Number Reset Your Authority Age?
- Got an FMCSA Authority Suspension Notice? What to Do Before the Deadline
- How to Reinstate Your MC Authority After a Suspension: BOC-3, Insurance, and Motus
Want us to handle it?
Reinstate suspended or revoked MC authority. Our turnaround: started within 1 business day. That is when we submit; FMCSA approval is separate and can take several weeks.
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