The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced a major update that will affect how carriers, brokers, and other industry stakeholders handle fee-based transactions with the agency.

Effective September 30, 2025, FMCSA will no longer accept paper payments, such as checks and money orders. This shift impacts fees related to:

• Initial applications for operating authority
• Legal name changes
• Reinstatements
• Civil penalty payments
• Insurance filing fees and other financial responsibility requirements

Instead, all payments will need to be submitted electronically via debit or credit card through FMCSA’s secure online systems.

Why the Change Is Happening

This move aligns with White House Executive Order 14247: Modernizing Payments To and From America’s Bank Account, which aims to streamline federal payment systems. By moving away from paper checks and money orders, FMCSA intends to:

• Speed up processing times
• Improve security and reduce fraud risk
• Minimize administrative errors and delays
• Provide carriers with a faster, more reliable payment experience

Who This Affects

This change will impact:

• Motor carriers applying for new or reinstated authority
• Brokers and freight forwarders filing for operating authority
• Insurance companies handling financial responsibility filings
• Any entity paying civil penalties, name changes, or other FMCSA-related fees

If your business still relies on paper checks or money orders, you’ll need to transition to electronic payments before September 30, 2025, to avoid delays.

What You Need to Do Now

1. Stop using paper checks or money orders for FMCSA fees. They will no longer be processed after the deadline.
2. Use a debit or credit card for all payments going forward.
3. For operating authority fees (applications, name changes, reinstatements), visit the FMCSA Registration Website.
4. For insurance filing fees, refer to your monthly invoice for instructions.
5. Need help? Contact FMCSA at 1-800-832-5660 (M–F, 8am–8pm EST).

Why It Matters

Failure to adapt to this change could lead to delays in processing your authority, reinstatements, or penalty payments—which may put your operations at risk.

By switching to electronic payments now, motor carriers and stakeholders can avoid disruptions and ensure compliance well before the deadline.

CNS Can Help

At Compliance Navigation Specialists (CNS), we know that FMCSA changes like this can create challenges for carriers already juggling compliance, safety, and daily operations.

Our experts can help you take proactive steps now to ensure full compliance and ensure your business avoids costly delays.

Contact CNS today to make sure your operating authority and compliance needs are covered, call us at 888.260.9448 or email at info@cnsprotects.com.