How do I find my filing month and year?

File by the last day of the month indicated by the last digit of the USDOT number (1 = January through 0 = October). If the next-to-last digit is odd, file in odd-numbered years; if even, in even-numbered years.

How much does the biennial update cost?

FMCSA states directly that updating your information is free. FMCSA charges $0 for the filing itself.

Federal compliance

MCS-150 biennial update: deadlines, schedule, and penalties

Q: What happens if I skip the update?

Failure to complete the biennial update results in deactivation of the USDOT number and may bring civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day, not to exceed $10,000. FMCSA’s June 22, 2026 notice temporarily pauses USDOT inactivation for entities with required biennial updates outstanding since June 1 during the Motus transition. The update remains required; the notice provides extra time for access and system issues and directs registrants to FMCSA for help.

Q: Does the biennial update renew my operating authority?

No. The USDOT number and operating authority are different registrations. The USDOT number is the safety identifier; the MC/FF docket is the for-hire authority. For-hire interstate carriers of regulated commodities need both.

All entities under FMCSA jurisdiction must update their information (MCS-150 series) every 24 months, even if nothing changed, the company ceased interstate operations, or the business closed without notifying FMCSA. Your USDOT number sets the filing month. Motus handles the update; read the current transition notice below alongside the usual schedule and penalties.

By Evan Reid, Founder of Haul Handbook · Updated Sep 7, 2026

Biennial updates during the Motus transition

FMCSA’s June 22, 2026 notice temporarily pauses USDOT inactivation for entities with required biennial updates outstanding since June 1 during the Motus transition. The update remains required; the notice provides extra time for access and system issues and directs registrants to FMCSA for help.

Claim your existing USDOT record in Motus using the company official’s Login.gov email, then manage registrations or apply for additional authority. Follow the Motus account steps to reach your record.

Who must file, and when

"Even if nothing changed" is the part that catches carriers. The filing is a check-in, not a change form. Your USDOT number itself encodes your deadline:

What it costs

$0 FMCSA states directly that updating your information is free. Third party services will file it for a charge of their own; nothing about the form requires one.

The penalty for missing it

A deactivated USDOT number stops more than the number itself. Brokers, shippers, and insurers all check it, and a dead number reads as a dead company. The fix is a free filing; put your filing years on a calendar now.

MCS-150 vs your operating authority

Motus collects company information for USDOT registration and operating authority in its online application. A USDOT number identifies the company; operating authority is a separate registration that depends on the operation.

The USDOT number and operating authority are different registrations. The USDOT number is the safety identifier; the MC/FF docket is the for-hire authority. For-hire interstate carriers of regulated commodities need both.

The full split lives in our operating authority vs USDOT number guide, and the MC number page covers the authority side.

The other filings that come back around

The MCS-150 is not your only recurring federal obligation. Unified Carrier Registration and the Form 2290 heavy vehicle use tax run on their own clocks, and new carriers face the new entrant safety audit on top. Miss one and the others do not cover for it.