MCS-150 Biennial Update: Is Yours Due in November 2026?
· Trucking Compliance Services
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If your USDOT number ends in an odd digit, your MCS-150 biennial update could be due this November. Every carrier with a USDOT number must refresh this form every two years, even if nothing changed. Your due month depends on the last digit of your USDOT number, with odd digits updating in odd years. Miss the deadline and FMCSA can deactivate your USDOT number, stopping you from legally operating. Brokers and shippers check carrier status before tendering loads, so a lapsed update can cost you freight. Filing online through FMCSA takes under 15 minutes and costs nothing directly through the agency. If your address, fleet size, or operating status changes, you must update it within 30 days, not just biennially. Need help with this? Trucking Compliance Services can handle it for you. Call 888-700-5704, or get your free DOT compliance check at truckingcomplianceservice.com.
If the last digit of your USDOT number is 0 or 1, and you registered in an odd-numbered year like 2025, your MCS-150 biennial update may be due in November 2026. The exact month FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) expects your update depends on both the last two digits of your USDOT number and which year you last filed. Missing this deadline can get your USDOT number deactivated, which stops you from operating legally.
What is the MCS-150 biennial update?
The MCS-150 is a form FMCSA uses to keep its carrier database current. Every carrier with a USDOT number must update this form every two years, even if nothing about your business has changed.
This is different from applying for a new USDOT number. It's a required refresh of your information — fleet size, number of drivers, vehicle types, and mileage. FMCSA calls this the "biennial update." You do it through the Unified Registration System (URS) or MCS-150 form.
How do I know when my MCS-150 is due?
Your due month is based on the last digit of your USDOT number, not your renewal date. The due year follows a pattern tied to odd and even USDOT numbers.
Here's the general rule FMCSA uses:
| Last digit of USDOT # | Due month |
|---|---|
| 1 | January |
| 2 | February |
| 3 | March |
| 4 | April |
| 5 | May |
| 6 | June |
| 7 | July |
| 8 | August |
| 9 | September |
| 0 | October |
Carriers with an odd last digit update in odd-numbered years. Carriers with an even last digit update in even-numbered years. So if your USDOT number ends in an odd digit and your last update was in 2024 (or your authority is still newer), check your FMCSA record — some carriers fall into November or December cycles depending on when they first registered. Because the exact pairing of digit and year can be confusing, the safest step is to look up your own record directly on the FMCSA Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) system or Login.gov portal tied to your USDOT number, rather than guessing from a table alone.
What happens if I miss my MCS-150 deadline?
If you don't file your biennial update on time, FMCSA can deactivate your USDOT number. Once deactivated, you cannot legally operate, and reinstating it takes time and paperwork you don't want to deal with mid-season.
A deactivated USDOT number also affects your ability to renew insurance, pass broker or shipper compliance checks, and keep your MC authority active. Brokers and shippers increasingly check carrier status before tendering loads, so a lapsed MCS-150 can quietly cost you freight even before FMCSA catches it.
How do I file my MCS-150 biennial update?
You can file your MCS-150 update online, by mail, or by fax, but online through the FMCSA system is fastest and gives you instant confirmation. Most owner-operators finish this in under 15 minutes if they have their numbers ready.
Steps to file:
- Go to the FMCSA URS (Unified Registration System) portal.
- Log in with your USDOT PIN or create a Login.gov account if required.
- Confirm or update your company name, address, and contact information.
- Update your fleet details — number of power units, drivers, and vehicle types.
- Report your mileage for the past year, broken down by state if requested.
- Review and submit. Save or print your confirmation page.
If you don't have your PIN, FMCSA can mail a new one to your business address on file. This can take one to two weeks, so don't wait until the last few days before your deadline.
Does the MCS-150 update cost money?
No. Filing the MCS-150 biennial update directly through FMCSA is free. Be careful of third-party websites that charge a fee to "process" this filing for you — they are not required, and some look like official government pages when they are not.
If you want help making sure the form is filled out correctly and submitted on time, a compliance service can do that for a fee, but the FMCSA filing itself has no government charge.
What if my business information changed since my last update?
If you changed your business address, added trucks, changed your operating status, or changed insurance carriers, you must update your MCS-150 even if your two-year deadline hasn't arrived yet. FMCSA requires updates within 30 days of certain changes, not just on the biennial schedule.
Common changes that require an update outside the normal cycle:
- New business address or phone number
- Change in fleet size (added or removed trucks)
- Change from interstate to intrastate operation or the reverse
- Out-of-business notification
Keeping this current matters because FMCSA, state enforcement, and insurance companies all pull your operating details from this record. An outdated address means you might miss an audit notice or a Clearinghouse alert entirely.
How TCS can help
Tracking your MCS-150 due month, along with UCR, IFTA, and Form 2290 deadlines, is a lot to manage on top of running loads. Trucking Compliance Services (TCS) helps owner-operators and small fleets stay current on every FMCSA filing so nothing slips through and triggers a deactivation.
Run our free DOT compliance check at https://app.truckingcomplianceservice.com/check to see where your account stands right now, including your MCS-150 status. You can also call us at 888-700-5704, or visit our contact page to get a filing started today.
This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Check FMCSA's official site for your specific filing requirements.
Last updated: October 31, 2026
Frequently asked questions
How often do I need to file the MCS-150?
Every two years, based on the last digit of your USDOT number and whether that digit is odd or even. Check your exact due month on FMCSA's SAFER system.
Is there a fee to file the MCS-150 biennial update?
No, filing directly with FMCSA is free. Be cautious of third-party sites that charge for a service FMCSA provides at no cost.
What happens if my USDOT number gets deactivated?
You cannot legally operate until it's reinstated, and brokers or shippers may refuse to tender loads to a carrier with an inactive status.
Can I update my MCS-150 before my official deadline?
Yes, and you must file outside your normal cycle if your address, fleet size, or operating status changes, per FMCSA rules.
Where do I file the MCS-150 form?
Through FMCSA's Unified Registration System (URS) online, or by mail or fax using the paper MCS-150 form available on fmcsa.dot.gov.
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Need help? Call 888-700-5704 or contact us.