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Heard on the CB

How to Update Your MCS-150

The MCS-150 is the form that tells FMCSA who you are and what your operation looks like: your company name and addresses, the kind of freight you haul, how many trucks and drivers you run and how many miles you drove. Most carriers must update it every two years. With the move to FMCSA's new Motus registration system, many carriers are doing it for the first time in a new place. Here is how it works and how to get it done.

Who has to update it

Every motor carrier with a USDOT number must file an MCS-150 before it starts operating and then update it every 24 months. This is the biennial update, and it is required even if nothing has changed. The rule is in 49 CFR 390.19T. FMCSA's guidance also says to update your information within 30 days of a change such as a new address, phone number, email or a change in the number of trucks.

When it is due

Your USDOT number sets the schedule, and it never changes:

  • The month is set by the last digit of your USDOT number. The update is due by the last day of that month: 1 is January, 2 February, 3 March, 4 April, 5 May, 6 June, 7 July, 8 August, 9 September and 0 October.
  • The year is set by the next-to-last digit. If it is odd, you update in odd-numbered years. If it is even, you update in even-numbered years.

For example, a USDOT number ending in 42 is due by the end of April in every even-numbered year, and one ending in 75 is due by the end of May in every odd-numbered year.

What happens if you miss it

A carrier that does not complete its biennial update is subject to the penalties set by federal law and to deactivation of its USDOT number. A deactivated number means you cannot legally operate, and carriers have reported being placed out of service at roadside when the number is inactive. Brokers also check this, which is why you may be asked for a recent update (see Why brokers are asking for an updated MCS-150). Heavy Duty Trucking reported that FMCSA paused enforcement of biennial updates for carriers with due dates on or after June 1 while it stabilizes Motus, so do not count on that continuing.

Before you start

  • Your USDOT number and, if your company has not claimed its Motus account yet, your USDOT PIN. A lost PIN is mailed to the address on file and can take 7 to 10 business days.
  • Your Company Official's Login.gov account. The first sign-in has to come from the Company Official using the same email as their FMCSA Portal account. See the Motus post for the identity check.
  • Current company details: legal name and any trade name, physical and mailing addresses, phone and email.
  • Operation details: the type of operation (for example interstate for-hire carrier), the cargo you carry, the number of trucks and drivers, and the miles your trucks drove in the most recent year and which year it was.

How to file it

  1. Sign in to Motus on FMCSA's registration page as the Company Official.
  2. Choose the biennial update (MCS-150) for your USDOT number.
  3. Check each screen. Motus fills in what FMCSA has on file. Correct anything that is wrong or out of date, especially addresses, phone, email, truck and driver counts and mileage.
  4. Certify that the information is true and submit. If nothing changed, it should take only a few minutes.
  5. Save the confirmation. A screenshot of the confirmation is worth keeping.

Filing is free. Paper forms are still being accepted for the time being, but reported processing times are at least eight business days. FMCSA had not published detailed screen-by-screen instructions for Motus when I wrote this, so follow the on-screen prompts and check FMCSA's site if a step looks different.

Check that it went through

Look your company up on FMCSA's SAFER company snapshot. It shows the date of your last MCS-150 form and the mileage you reported. It can take a short time to refresh. If the date is still old after a few days, check your filing for errors or open a support request with FMCSA.

Common problems

  • Locked out. Usually the Login.gov email does not match the Company Official's email on the FMCSA record. Do not make a second account. Fix the email or the Company Official first.
  • Mileage and truck counts. Report what you actually ran and operate. If your fleet changed, update it. Your Trip Sheet Central IFTA reports show your miles by state, and your total miles for the year should be consistent with what you tell FMCSA.
  • Paying a service. You do not need to pay anyone to file this. Registration is done directly with FMCSA, and fake "overdue" notices and look-alike sites that charge a fee are common. See how to protect your company from scam emails and calls.

Sources: 49 CFR 390.19T, FMCSA's MCS-150 form and instructions page. Confirm anything that affects you with FMCSA.