USDOT Biennial Update

The biennial update is a requirement set by the FMCSA to update your MCS-150 Form (also called the Motor Carrier Identification Report) every two years as part of renewing your truck/fleet registration. You are required to update the form even if no business information has changed.

Yes, trucking companies need to update information associated with the USDOT numbers every two years (hence “biennial” update). All a carrier has to do is file an MCS150 registration form. Trucking organizations, contractors and business owners must keep this in mind. A USDOT number must be attached to the sides of all trucks.

A USDOT number is required for all vehicles and CMVs that:
• Are 10,000+ lbs in GVWR
• Transports 8 or more passengers for compensation
• Transports 15 passengers not for compensation
• Transports Hazardous Materials per 49 CFR 385.403

The Biennial Update has a filing deadline unique to each USDOT number. To determine your filing period locate the last 2 digits of your USDOT number. If the second-to-last digit is an odd number then you must file every odd year. If it is an even number then you must file every even year. The last digit indicates the last day of which month when the filing must take place.

• 1 – January
• 2 – February
• 3 – March
• 4 – April
• 5 – May
• 6 – June
• 7 – July
• 8 – August
• 9 – September
• 0 – October

• USDOT Number
• USDOT PIN Number
• EIN or SSN
• Company Official information

If you don’t update your MCS-150 form, your USDOT number will be deactivated and you could be faced with a $1,000 fee per day up to $10,000.