MCS-150 Form: FMCSA Biennial Update Requirements
Read time: 5 minutes
Every motor carrier operating commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) must complete and submit the MCS-150 form. This filing is officially called the Motor Carrier Identification Report.
The MCS 150 update keeps federal motor carrier safety records current. It provides the Department of Transportation with accurate business details, safety performance data, and other relevant information tied to your USDOT number. Completing a biennial update on time is required to maintain operating authority and protect your legal business status.
What Is the MCS-150 Form?
The MCS 150 form is a federal registration and reporting requirement used by the FMCSA. It allows the agency to track regulated entities involved in transportation and interstate operations.
The form collects company name, address, carrier’s DOT number, vehicle miles traveled, fleet size, and cargo classifications. It also covers passengers transported and quantities of hazardous materials hauled. This information supports overall safety performance monitoring and compliance oversight.
Motor carriers, freight forwarders, and intermodal equipment providers must file the form to remain compliant. The data is used to evaluate safety performance, assign a safety score, and confirm financial responsibility and insurance coverage tied to operating authority.
Who Must File the MCS-150 Form?
Any regulated entity operating commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce must submit Form MCS-150. This includes for-hire carriers, private carriers, freight forwarders, owner-operators, and other carriers engaged in interstate operations.
Even if a trucking business has stopped operating, the FMCSA requires carriers to complete a biennial update unless the DOT number has been officially deactivated. Accurate filings are also critical during an operating authority reapplication or when registration and authority details change.
When to File: Biennial Update Schedule
The MCS 150 biennial update must be filed every two years. This requirement applies even if no business or operational details have changed.
Failure to complete a biennial update can result in penalties or loss of authority. The FMCSA enforces this requirement to maintain accurate federal records.
Your filing deadline is based on the last two digits of your DOT number. The next-to-last digit determines whether you file in an odd-numbered calendar year or an even-numbered calendar year. The last digit determines the filing month.
| 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 |
Example:
If a carrier’s DOT number ends in 34, the second-to-last digit (3) means filing occurs in an odd-numbered year. The last digit (4) sets the filing deadline as April. Always determine your filing date using your DOT number to stay compliant.
Consequences of Failing to Comply
Failing to submit your MCS 150 biennial update on time can lead to serious penalties. The FMCSA may deactivate your DOT number or suspend operating authority. Civil penalties of up to $10,000 may also apply.
Missed filings affect a carrier’s ability to transport freight, passengers, or hazardous materials. They can also impact safety performance records tied to roadside inspections and state-reported crashes. Inaccurate data may lower a safety score and delay reinstatement of authority or safety permit eligibility.
Updating Company Information
Carriers must submit an updated MCS-150 form whenever circumstances change. This includes changes to address, ownership, contact details, insurance coverage, fleet size, or type of operation.
Updates are also required if your business begins hauling quantities requiring hazardous materials registration. Keeping records current supports financial responsibility, compliance status, and long-term operational stability.
Processing Times and Filing Methods
Online submissions are processed immediately. Mailed forms may take three to four weeks to process.
Paper filings must be received by the FMCSA on or before the filing deadline. Late submissions can result in enforcement action. Mail submissions are sent to 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, D.C.
When filing online, the official FMCSA website displays a secure site icon and the official U.S. government icon. These indicators confirm submission through an authorized federal platform. While online filing is free, many carriers choose to obtain compliance services to avoid errors.
FCCR Compliance Assistance
FCCR provides compliance service support for motor carriers, owner-operators, and intermodal equipment providers. Our program tracks biennial deadlines, manages MCS 150 updates, and ensures filings are submitted correctly.
If you need help completing your MCS 150B, MCS 150 update, or registration requirements, our compliance specialists can manage the process. This helps protect your authority and keep your business operating without interruption.
FAQ: MCS-150 Form and Biennial Updates
It allows the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to collect information about a carrier’s operation, safety performance, and financial responsibility.
Carriers must complete a biennial update every 24 months based on their DOT number.
Your DOT number may be deactivated, and your authority to operate may be suspended.
Yes. The FMCSA requires all active carriers to complete a biennial update, even if no details have changed.
Yes. However, many carriers use compliance services to avoid mistakes, missed deadlines, or authority disruptions.
Related Articles: