Federal compliance
MCS-150 biennial update: deadlines, schedule, and penalties
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. The update is free, your USDOT number sets the filing month, and skipping it gets the number deactivated with civil penalties on top.
By Evan Reid, Founder of Haul Handbook · Updated Jul 18, 2026
Who must file, and when
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.
"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
Carriers seeking to operate in interstate commerce must complete Form MCS-150 (Combined Motor Carrier Identification Report), which establishes the USDOT number. Operating authority is applied for separately with the OP-1 series.
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.
Frequently asked questions
How often is the MCS-150 biennial update due?
- 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.
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.
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.
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.
Sources
Primary statutes and official agency pages this guide relies on. Laws and fees change, so confirm against the current source before you act.
- Updating Your Registration or Authority · Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), U.S. DOT
- New Entrant Safety Assurance Program · Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), U.S. DOT
- Get Operating Authority (Docket Number) · Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), U.S. DOT
Haul Handbook publishes educational information about trucking registration and compliance requirements. This is not legal, financial, or tax advice. Rules, fees, and deadlines change; confirm with the agency before you file or pay.