The good news is that your due date isn't random. It's built right into your USDOT number. Here's how to figure out when yours is due and what's at stake.
What Is the MCS-150 Biennial Update?
The MCS-150 (Motor Carrier Identification Report) is the form that keeps your company's information current with FMCSA. That includes your legal name, address, number of power units and drivers, mileage, type of operation, and cargo.
Under 49 CFR 390.19 (currently published as § 390.19T), every motor carrier must file it:
- Before beginning operations, and
- Every 24 months after that, on a set schedule.
FMCSA requires the biennial update even if your company's information hasn't changed since your last filing. You should also update your record any time key details change, such as your address or fleet size.
How to Find Your MCS-150 Due Date
Your schedule comes from the last two digits of your USDOT number.
The last digit sets the month. Your update is due by the last day of that month:
| USDOT Number Ends In | Due by the Last Day of |
|---|---|
| 1 | January |
| 2 | February |
| 3 | March |
| 4 | April |
| 5 | May |
| 6 | June |
| 7 | July |
| 8 | August |
| 9 | September |
| 0 | October |
The next-to-last digit sets the year. If it's odd, you file in odd-numbered years (2027, 2029). If it's even (including 0), you file in even-numbered years (2026, 2028).
Examples:
- USDOT number ending in 47: The 4 is even and the 7 means July, so your update is due by July 31 of every even year (2026, 2028, and so on).
- USDOT number ending in 30: The 3 is odd and the 0 means October, so your update is due by October 31 of every odd year (2027, 2029, and so on).
- USDOT number ending in 82: The 8 is even and the 2 means February, so your update is due by the last day of February in even years.
What Happens If You Miss Your MCS-150 Deadline?
Under 49 CFR 390.19, a carrier that doesn't complete its biennial update is subject to:
- Deactivation of its USDOT number. An inactive USDOT number means you can't legally operate as an interstate motor carrier. It's also a red flag for brokers and shippers who check your status before tendering a load.
- Civil penalties. Missed updates are subject to federal civil penalties under 49 U.S.C. 521(b)(2)(B) or 49 U.S.C. 14901(a). These penalties can add up per day and reach into the thousands of dollars.
Out-of-date information can cause problems even when you aren't late. If your record shows the wrong address, you can miss important mail from FMCSA. If it shows the wrong number of power units, it can affect other filings that rely on that information.
A Note on the 2026 Registration System Transition
FMCSA moved USDOT registration to a new system in May 2026. During that transition, the agency temporarily suspended enforcement of the biennial update requirement, including USDOT number inactivation, for registrants whose update was due on or after June 1, 2026.
This doesn't do away with the requirement. FMCSA has said the suspension stays in place until further notice and that it will give advance warning before enforcement resumes. Your update is still required, and carriers who get current now won't be scrambling when enforcement comes back. MCS follows these FMCSA updates closely so you know where you stand.
How MCS Handles Your MCS-150 Update
Multimodal Compliance Services takes care of your biennial update from start to finish:
- We confirm your due date based on your USDOT number.
- We review your current FMCSA record with you, including address, fleet size, drivers, mileage, and operation type.
- We prepare and submit your MCS-150 update with accurate, current information.
- We confirm with you once your update is complete.
If your company also needs other filings, MCS handles BOC-3 process agent filings, UCR registration, and Form 2290.
MCS-150 FAQ
Yes. FMCSA requires the biennial update every 24 months even if none of your information has changed.
A last digit of 0 means your update is due by October 31. Check your next-to-last digit to see whether you file in odd or even years.
Yes. You should update your record whenever key information changes, like your address or number of trucks, without waiting for your biennial deadline.
Intrastate carriers aren't subject to the federal biennial update requirement, but some states require them to keep their FMCSA record updated on a regular basis.