MCS-150 Biennial Update: When It's Due and How to File in 2026

Your MCS-150 biennial update is due once every 24 months. The month comes from the last digit of your USDOT number, and the year (odd or even) comes from the second-to-last digit. In 2026, FMCSA paused enforcement for updates due on or after June 1, 2026, but the rule itself is still on the books, so you should keep your record current.

What the MCS-150 is

The MCS-150 is the Motor Carrier Identification Report. It is the form that creates and maintains your USDOT number record. It tells FMCSA who you are, where you are based, what you haul, how many trucks and drivers you run, and how many miles you drove.

FMCSA uses this information for a lot of things. It shapes your safety data, helps decide when you get an audit or investigation, and is what shippers, brokers and insurers see when they look you up.

Under 49 CFR 390.19T, there are three versions of the form:

The same rule says you must file before you start operating and then again every 24 months. That second filing is what everyone calls the "biennial update."

How to find your MCS-150 due date

Your schedule is set by your USDOT number. You only need two digits: the last one and the one right before it.

Step 1: The last digit sets the month

No updates are scheduled for November or December.

Step 2: The second-to-last digit sets the year

• If the second-to-last digit is odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9), you file in odd-numbered years, such as 2025 and 2027.
• If the second-to-last digit is even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8), you file in even-numbered years, such as 2026 and 2028.

Two examples

• USDOT 1234567. The last digit is 7, so your month is July. The second-to-last digit is 6, which is even. Your update is due in July of even years: July 2026, then July 2028.
• USDOT 3210853. The last digit is 3, so your month is March. The second-to-last digit is 5, which is odd. Your update is due in March of odd years: March 2027, then March 2029.

This schedule comes straight from paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3) of 49 CFR 390.19T.

Not sure what your USDOT number is or what your record currently shows? Look it up with our free USDOT number check.

The 2026 enforcement pause: what it does and does not mean

In 2026, FMCSA posted a notice called "Temporary Suspension of the Biennial Update Requirement" on its registration pages. It came during the move to Motus, when many carriers had trouble getting into the new system and claiming their USDOT numbers.

According to FMCSA's notice, as reported by trade outlets including Trucksafe and HDT Truckinginfo:

• FMCSA has temporarily suspended enforcement of the biennial update requirement.
• FMCSA has also suspended the inactivation of USDOT numbers for entities that have not completed the update.
• The relief covers biennial updates due on or after June 1, 2026.
• It stays in place until further notice. FMCSA has said it will give advance warning before it brings the requirement back.

Here is what the pause does not do:

• It does not repeal 49 CFR 390.19T. The rule still requires the update.
• It does not clearly cover updates that were already overdue before June 1, 2026. If your update was due before that date and you never filed it, do not assume you are protected.
• It does not stop your record from going stale. Old data still shows up to brokers, shippers, insurers and FMCSA.

Our advice is simple: file your update as soon as you can get into Motus. The pause is a safety net for people who can't file because of system problems. It is not a reason to skip the update. Check FMCSA's registration pages for the current status before you rely on it.

What happens if you miss your MCS-150 update

Under normal enforcement, paragraph (b)(4) of 49 CFR 390.19T says a person who fails to complete the biennial update:

• is subject to civil penalties under 49 U.S.C. 521(b)(2)(B) or 14901(a), as appropriate, and
• is subject to deactivation of the USDOT number.

Penalty amounts are adjusted for inflation, so we don't list a figure here. Check FMCSA's current penalty schedule if you need one.

Deactivation is the bigger day-to-day problem. With an inactive USDOT number, you cannot legally operate in interstate commerce. Your record also looks bad to anyone who checks it, and brokers and shippers often stop loading carriers with inactive numbers.

Paragraph (g) of the same rule adds that filing false or misleading information on the form can also bring penalties. So the update has to be accurate, not just on time.

If your USDOT number has already been deactivated or you are dealing with an out-of-service order, see our guide on FMCSA out-of-service order reinstatement.

Updating your record when something changes

The biennial update is the minimum. Many carriers should update their record more often. You should review and update your FMCSA record when things like these change:

• Your legal business name or the single trade name you use
• Your physical or mailing address, phone number or email
• Your company officials or owners
• The number of power units or drivers you run
• What you haul, including whether you haul hazardous materials
• Your type of operation, such as moving from private to for-hire, or from intrastate to interstate

Some of these changes, like a name change or a new entity, can also affect your operating authority. A new legal entity, such as switching from a sole proprietorship to an LLC, may need its own USDOT number and authority instead of an update. If you are unsure, check FMCSA's current instructions before you file.

Also keep in mind that your power unit count matters elsewhere. Your UCR fee bracket is tied to your fleet size, so make sure your numbers line up. See our UCR registration guide.

How to file your biennial update in Motus

FMCSA's Federal Register notice of April 29, 2026 (91 FR 23144) announced Motus as FMCSA's new registration system. It replaced the Unified Registration System and the registration parts of the FMCSA Portal. The notice lists completing your biennial update as one of the things you do in Motus.

Here is the general flow. Screens can change, so follow FMCSA's own Motus job aids for the exact steps.

1. Go to motus.dot.gov. Type the address yourself. Do not click links in unexpected emails or texts.
2. Sign in with Login.gov. The company official should use the same Login.gov email they used in the FMCSA Portal.
3. Pass the identity check the first time you sign in.
4. Claim your USDOT number if you have not done it yet.
5. Review every part of your company record. Check name, addresses, contacts, officers, operation type, cargo, power units, drivers and mileage.
6. Correct anything that is wrong, then complete and submit the biennial update.
7. Save a copy or screenshot of what you submitted, and check your public record afterward.

For a detailed walk-through of getting into Motus, see our FMCSA Motus registration guide.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using the wrong digit. The month comes from the last digit, and the year comes from the second-to-last digit. Mixing them up is the most common error.
• Leaving old mileage or fleet counts. Out-of-date numbers can skew how FMCSA views your safety data.
• Letting an ex-employee be the company official. If that person leaves, you may have trouble getting into Motus. Keep your company official current.
• Mismatched names and addresses. Your FMCSA record, IRS records, state filings and insurance should all match.
• Assuming the pause covers you. Check FMCSA's current notice and file anyway.

Related filings to keep in order

The MCS-150 is only one piece of your registration. If you are a for-hire carrier, you also need active operating authority, insurance on file, a BOC-3 process agent, and an annual UCR registration. These are all separate:

• BOC-3 filing and process agents
• Insurance cancellation and authority revocation
• UCR registration
• Is FMCSA eliminating MC numbers?

How JMM Compliance can help

We can review your FMCSA record, tell you when your update is due, and help you complete it accurately in Motus. If you are still getting set up, our USDOT and MC number setup service and ELD and Motus setup service cover account access and first filings. For carriers who want someone to track deadlines like the biennial update all year, our compliance management service does that. We are a compliance consultancy, not a law firm, and FMCSA makes the final decision on any filing.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Requirements depend on your operation; confirm details with FMCSA or a qualified professional.