MCS-150 – BIENNIAL UPDATE

MCS 150 form is mandatory required by the FMCSA for obtaining or renewing your USDOT number.
Every motor carrier is required to update their details with FMCSA every two years or if there is any changes.
Update, Reactivate or Deactivate your DOT Number.

MCS-150 – BIENNIAL UPDATE

MCS 150 form is mandatory required by the FMCSA for obtaining or renewing your USDOT number.
Every motor carrier is required to update their details with FMCSA every two years or if there is any changes.
Update, Reactivate or Deactivate your DOT Number.

Enter USDOT Number To Start

MCS150-Request

If you DO NOT have a USDOT Number, please CLICK HERE to get started.

If you DO NOT have a USDOT Number, please CLICK HERE to get started.

When should you file a MCS 150 Update?

The FMCSA mandates an MCS 150 update, also known as the Biennial Update, every two years at least for acquiring and keeping your USDOT number. You also need to file MCS-150 if you make any changes:

  • Biennial (every 2 years) Update
  • Changed your business address
  • Changed your company name
  • Changed your operating authority

  • Reapplication (after revocation of new entrant)

  • Reactivate USDOT
  • Become a hazardous materials carrier

  • Added to or reduced the number of vehicles or drivers in your fleet

  • Notify FMCSA that the company is no longer operating
  • Make any other changes to your business

Whenever you make changes to your trucking business and operations, you need to submit an MCS-150 update.

FMCSA Fines

What happens if FMCSA Update is not filed?

If you don’t finish your Biennial Update, your USDOT Number may be deleted. Plus, not following the rules during the update could lead to daily fines of up to $1,000, with a maximum of $10,000 overall.

What is an MCS 150 update?

The MCS 150 is a mandatory form required by the FMCSA for obtaining or renewing your USDOT number. Every motor carrier is required to update their details with FMCSA every two years or if there is any changes.

When you submit the MCS 150 form, the FMCSA utilizes your business details to compute a safety score via its Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program. This program collects data from state-reported crashes, roadside inspections, and investigations, associating relevant information with a carrier’s DOT number. The FMCSA analyzes this data, along with the information provided in your MCS 150 filing, to assess your overall safety performance.

FMCSA Update
DEACTIVATION

To officially notify the FMCSA that you’re out of business or no longer using your USDOT number, it’s crucial to file an “Out of Business” notice within 30 days. You need to submit an MCS-150 form to deactivate your number.

REACTIVATION

If you’ve filed for “Out of Business” or were deactivated by the FMCSA and now wish to resume using your number, you’ll need to submit an MCS-150 form to officially “Reactivate” your USDOT number.

EDIT UPDATE

A change in information related to your business operations, like the business address, phone number or other details, it’s important to quickly update your USDOT with the FMCSA by filing an Edit.

Update Miles

FMCSA MCS 150 Update – Outdated VMT

When you file your biennial update, don’t forget to update your “Vehicle Miles Traveled.” If you miss this, you might be marked as “VMT outdated” in the FMCSA’s database. It’s crucial to provide accurate mileage because it affects safety calculations, and wrong information could negatively impact your Safety Measurement System (SMS) scores, possibly leading to higher insurance premiums.

When to update USDOT Number?

Your biennial update isn’t about when you got your USDOT number; it’s needed every two years, depending on the last two digits of your number. This means you might have to file the update a few months after getting your USDOT number.

Every two years, a carrier must provide this update, even if the company’s information hasn’t changed, it has stopped Interstate operations, or is no longer in business, and you didn’t inform the FMCSA.

Changes or updates that happen outside your required biennial update month and year, like adding or removing drivers or vehicles, are categorized as an “Edit.” Ensure you file an edit within 30 days of the change.

If the next-to-last digit of your USDOT number is odd, you file in odd-numbered years. If it is even, you file in even-numbered years. The last digit tells you the month it is due.

USDOT # ends in Deadline
1 January
2 February
3 March
4 April
5 May
6 June
7 July
8 August
9 September
10 October
Have You Checked For Inaccuracies?

Be cautious! Inaccurate or missing information on the form can be costly for your business. To address this, you’ll need to submit a new, updated MCS-150 form in the following situations:

  • Adding a new truck or vehicle to your fleet
  • Changing the name of your company
  • Making other significant changes in your organization or structure
What Do I Need To File a MCS-150?

Filling a MCS-150 Biennial Update Can Be Simple. Lets help you get started filling:

  • Your renewal date is determined by the last two digits of your USDOT number.
  • Ensure you have all the necessary information for the form, including the combined estimated mileage of all CMVs from the last 12 months.
  • Keep in mind that the biennial update is the minimum requirement if there are no changes in your operation. However, you must file an Edit if anything changes between your biennial filings.

USDOT Number Lookup, FMCSA Biennial Update

FMCSA Update – FMCSA Portal Login Update with Safer

FMCSA MCS 150, Safer FMCSA Biennial Update

Frequently Asked Questions

You must file MCS-150 Form if you have made any changes / updates to your business or your 2 year is up. It does not hurt to file MCS-150 Update even if you are not sure you have to or if you do it earlier. You are allowed to file the MCS-150 6 months before your due month.

These messages may be confusing, especially for new carriers. The key thing to understand is that USDOT numbers are assigned randomly. For example, if you received your new USDOT number in May 2023, and the last two digits are “58,” your official biennial update is now due in August 2023 because it’s an odd-numbered year.

In simpler terms, the biennial update isn’t based on when you got your USDOT number but is required every two years, determined by the last two digits. The last digit indicates the month it’s due (8 for August), and the second-to-last digit indicates whether to file in an odd or even year (5 for an odd number, so you file in August of odd-numbered years).

No need to apply for a new USDOT number; it’s yours for life. Simply reactivate it by submitting a reapplication through the MCS-150 form. DOT Filer can help with this process, address your queries, and handle any required compliance services.

You can perform the official biennial update only during the specified month and year based on the last two digits of your USDOT number. On the other hand, an “edit” is an update made any time before the official biennial update is due. For example, filing your biennial update in January when it’s due in March of the same year is considered an “edit” and not the official biennial update. In this case, filing too early is not advisable.

Brokers and freight forwarders are exempt from filing the biennial update every two years. However, if they have any changes, like a name or address change, they must file a MCSA 5889 form.

For private, exempt for-hire, and for-hire motor carriers of passengers or cargo, including Ag-exempt farmers, there are currently no exemptions from filing a biennial update. If you have a USDOT number, it must be kept up-to-date or filed as “Out of Business” if no longer in use. Even if you discover you don’t need a USDOT number, if it’s active in the FMCSA database, you must update or deactivate it.