Abstract: This disclosure provides a motor control system and method that is preferably applied to cargo power drive units. Power is supplied to a motor having one or more windings and a thermocouple that is embedded in the motor windings. The thermocouple provides an electronic signal from which both motor temperature and rate of temperature change are derived. A motor control circuit uses these values to determine if a jam condition has occurred (as represented by improper temperature rise) or whether critical overheating is occurring. If so, the motor control circuit causes a power switch to disconnect power from one or more PDUs in the subject bank of PDUs. Power is temporarily disabled, until a cargo operator releases a joy stick control to a neutral position and then attempts to use it again.