Stay on Track with Your MCS-150 Filing
What is Form MCS-150?
Form MCS-150 is the Motor Carrier Identification Report that all trucking companies must file with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This form is required when applying for or updating a USDOT number as part of the Unified Registration System (URS). If you operate a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) and transport goods or passengers across state lines, this form is mandatory.
You are required to file Form MCS-150 if any of the following apply:
- You operate a commercial vehicle that meets any of these conditions:
- Weighs 10,001 pounds or more
- Carries 8 or more passengers (including the driver) for compensation
- Carries 15 or more passengers (including the driver) without compensation
- Transports hazardous materials that require placarding
- You are applying for a new USDOT number
- You already have a USDOT number and need to Update your business information, or complete the required biennial update, even if nothing has changed since your last filing.
This includes for-hire carriers, private carriers, and brokers operating in interstate commerce. Certain exemptions apply only for intrastate carriers.
All motor carriers must file a biennial update of Form MCS-150 every two years, even if no company information has changed, you no longer operate interstate, and/or you’ve stopped operating but haven’t officially notified the FMCSA.
Important: This update is required by law, even if your business status hasn’t changed.
How Your Filing Date Is Determined:
Your due date is not based on when you received your USDOT number. Instead, it’s based on the last two digits of your USDOT number:
- The second-to-last digit determines if you file in an odd- or even-numbered year
- The last digit tells you which month your update is due
Because of this system, you might be required to file your first update just a few months after getting your USDOT number.
Your filing deadline is based on the last two digits of your USDOT Number:
If your USDOT ends in an odd number → File in odd-numbered years (e.g., 2025, 2027)
If your USDOT ends in an even number → File in even-numbered years (e.g., 2024, 2026)
Other Situations When MCS-150 Must Be Filed Immediately:
- New USDOT Number Application:
Required when registering for a USDOT number as you begin operations. - Information Change:
Must be filed to update key business details such as company name, address, operating authority, number of vehicles/drivers, or operational status. - USDOT Reapplication:
Needed if your New Entrant Registration was revoked due to a failed safety audit and your USDOT number was deactivated. - USDOT Reactivation:
Required if your USDOT number was deactivated because you either voluntarily filed as “Out of Business”, or failed to submit a required MCS-150 update, resulting in non-compliance.
Out of Business Notification:
Must be filed to inform FMCSA that you are no longer operating and wish to cancel your USDOT number.
Filing MCS-150 online is the quickest and easiest way to complete your update. E-file with eMCS150 and become compliant in a few minutes.
- Register yourself on the eMCS150 website.
- Pre-fill business details: Enter your USDOT number and review your company information on the page
- Prepare For Filing: Review and update your details as needed, add your signature, and upload a copy of your Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)
- File your MCS-150: Pay the service fee, finish your filing, and get confirmation sent straight to your inbox
Watch this quick video for more information:
Missing your MCS-150 deadline can lead to USDOT number deactivation and steep fines, up to $1,000 per day with a maximum of $10,000.
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What are the MCS-150 filing requirements?
- To comply with FMCSA regulations, all motor carriers must file Form MCS-150 with accurate and up-to-date business information. This includes:
- Legal business name
- SDOT number and, if applicable, your MC number
- Total mileage from the previous year
- Type of carrier operations (e.g., interstate, intrastate, hazardous materials)
- Cargo classification (types of goods you transport)
- Number of commercial vehicles in your fleet
- Number of drivers you employ or contract
This information must be submitted during your initial registration, whenever key details change, and as part of your biennial update, even if no changes have occurred.
Why Is It Important to Provide Accurate Information on Your MCS-150?
Accurate information on your MCS-150 is essential because the FMCSA uses it to evaluate your safety performance through the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program. Your data directly impacts your safety scores in the Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs).
Incorrect or outdated information, such as the number of vehicles, drivers, or type of operations, can lead to misleading safety scores, unnecessary inspections, penalties or fines, and damage to your business’s reputation and compliance status.
Keeping your MCS-150 accurate helps ensure fair evaluations and supports your standing with regulators, customers, and partners.
Why should I update my MCS-150 whenever there’s a change in my business?
It’s essential to submit an MCS-150 update whenever there is a change in your business. This ensures that:
- FMCSA can calculate an accurate safety performance score
- You avoid discrepancies between your truck count and the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR)
Failure to update can lead to inaccurate safety data, potentially harming your business’s CSA scores and increasing the risk of audits.
What happens if I fail to update my MCS-150?
Failing to update your MCS-150 can have serious consequences for your business, including:
- Deactivation of your USDOT number
- Daily fines up to $1,000, with a total penalty of up to $10,000
Without a valid USDOT number, you cannot transport goods or passengers, which can severely disrupt or shut down your operations.
Are there any exemptions for the MCS-150 update?
No. All entities with a USDOT number are required to file the biennial MCS-150 update every two years, regardless of whether their information has changed or not.
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