MCS-150 Form: FMCSA Biennial Update Requirements
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Every motor carrier operating under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) must complete and submit Form MCS-150, also called the Motor Carrier Identification Report.
This form ensures the FMCSA and Department of Transportation (DOT) have up-to-date information about your company, including business details, financial information, and safety data. Completing your biennial update on time is a key part of staying compliant and keeping your operating authority active.
What Is the MCS-150 Form?
The MCS-150 form is a federal reporting requirement that keeps the FMCSA informed about your trucking company’s operations. It collects relevant information such as company name, address, USDOT number, vehicle miles traveled, cargo classification, and details about hazardous materials or non-hazardous materials your company hauls.
Both motor carriers and intermodal equipment providers must complete this form to stay in good standing. The data helps the FMCSA monitor overall safety performance and determine a company’s safety score. Accurate reporting also ensures that your financial responsibility and insurance coverage remain valid under federal transportation law.
Who Must File the MCS-150 Form?
All regulated entities operating commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce must submit Form MCS-150. This includes for-hire carriers, freight forwarders, and owner-operators engaged in interstate operations. Even if you no longer operate or your company has stopped running, you must still file a biennial update unless you have officially deactivated your USDOT number with the FMCSA.
Each submission provides the FMCSA with details about your business operations—such as changes in address, ownership, or contact information—that affect your legal business status or operating authority. If your company is planning an operating authority reapplication, maintaining accurate MCS-150 information is essential.
When to File: Biennial Update Schedule
The biennial update must be submitted every two years, even if none of your information has changed. This rule applies to all carriers and other entities under FMCSA regulation. Failure to complete a biennial update can lead to penalties or suspension of your operating authority.
Each company’s filing deadline is determined by its USDOT number. The second-to-last digit tells you whether you file in an odd- or even-numbered calendar year, and the last digit tells you which month your update is due.
| USDOT Number Ending In: | Must File by Last Day of: |
|---|---|
| 1 | January |
| 2 | February |
| 3 | March |
| 4 | April |
| 5 | May |
| 6 | June |
| 7 | July |
| 8 | August |
| 9 | September |
| 0 | October |
For example, if your USDOT number ends in 34, the second-to-last digit (3) means you file in an odd-numbered calendar year, and the last digit (4) means your filing month is April. Always determine your renewal date based on the last two digits of your carrier’s DOT number to stay compliant.
Consequences of Failing to Comply
If you fail to file your MCS-150 biennial update on time, the FMCSA may deactivate your USDOT number, suspend your operating authority, or issue civil penalties up to $10,000. The FMCSA takes timely filing seriously because it affects public safety and the accuracy of its carrier database. Missed filings also impact your company’s safety performance record and can lead to costly delays in reinstating your authority.
Carriers should regularly review their state-reported crashes and roadside inspection data to make sure all safety information aligns with FMCSA records before submitting the MCS-150 form. Inaccurate or outdated data can lead to compliance issues or affect your safety rating.
Updating Company Information
Trucking businesses must also update their MCS-150 whenever major business changes occur, such as new ownership, a change of address, or updated contact details. Both owner-operators and other carriers are responsible for ensuring that their data stays current.
If your business modifies its insurance coverage or begins hauling new quantities requiring hazardous materials registration, you must also notify the FMCSA. Keeping your records accurate supports your financial responsibility, compliance rating, and overall safety performance.
Processing Times and Filing Methods
Online biennial updates are processed immediately, while mailed forms can take three to four weeks. If you submit a hard copy, make sure it arrives before your due date to prevent USDOT deactivation or penalties. Forms sent by mail must reach the FMCSA office on or before your filing date—1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, D.C.
When you visit the FMCSA’s official U.S. government website, you’ll see the secure site icon and official U.S. government icon in your browser bar. These symbols confirm you’re submitting your update safely through an approved federal platform.
The process is free when filed online, but many trucking companies prefer to obtain help from professional compliance partners like Federal Carrier to ensure their information is submitted correctly and on time.
FCCR Compliance Assistance
FCCR helps trucking companies and owner-operators stay compliant with federal safety and registration requirements. Our team monitors renewal dates, manages filings, and ensures your MCS-150 form is submitted correctly every time. Staying current helps protect your operating authority and keeps your business running smoothly.
Need help filing your MCS-150 Biennial Update? Our compliance specialists can handle the process for you from start to finish so your trucking business stays fully compliant with FMCSA regulations.
FAQ: MCS-150 Form and Biennial Updates
It keeps the FMCSA informed about your company’s safety performance, financial information, and operational details.
Every 24 months, based on the last two digits of your USDOT number and whether you file in an odd- or even-numbered year.
Your USDOT number may be deactivated, and you could face fines up to $10,000.
Yes. Even if no details have changed, the FMCSA requires every active carrier to complete a biennial update.
Yes, but many carriers choose to work with compliance services like FCCR to avoid mistakes, missed deadlines, or problems with their operating authority.
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