MCS-150: when it's due and how to file it free

By Ashton McLellan · Last reviewed October 2026

Every company with a USDOT number has to update its company record, the MCS-150, every two years, even if nothing changed. Filing it is free.

Find your month and year

Your schedule comes from the last two digits of your USDOT number.

• The last digit sets the month. 1 is January, 2 is February, and so on through 9 for September. 0 is October.
• The next-to-last digit sets the year. If it is odd, you file in odd-numbered years. If it is even, you file in even-numbered years.

Example: USDOT 1234567. The last digit is 7, so the month is July. The next-to-last digit is 6, which is even, so it is due in even years: July 2026, then July 2028.

Want it done for you? Use the free checker on our home page.

How to file it free

1. Pull up your current record on SAFER and check the name, address, truck count and driver count.
2. Go to FMCSA's biennial update page and follow the steps there. Have your USDOT number, EIN, mileage for the last year, and current counts of trucks, trailers and drivers.
3. Save the confirmation and put the next due date on your calendar.

Also update it whenever your company details change, such as a new address or a different number of trucks.

Throw away the paid letters

Private companies mail official-looking notices that charge a fee to "file your MCS-150." FMCSA does not charge for the update. If a letter asks for money, it is not from the government.

What happens if you miss it

The update is due by the last day of your month. FMCSA will deactivate a USDOT number that is not updated on time, and it can assess civil penalties. A deactivated number can stop trucks at the scale house and cause trouble with customers who check your record.

Not running trucks anymore?

File an MCS-150 marked out of business so the number is deactivated on purpose. A stale active record keeps the update clock running.