MCS-150 Biennial Update (2026): When It's Due, How to File in Motus & What to Do If It's Stuck
Every motor carrier with a USDOT number has to file an MCS-150 biennial update with FMCSA every two years — even if nothing about your company has changed. Miss it and your USDOT number can be deactivated. Since FMCSA moved registration into its new Motus system in 2026, a lot of carriers are also finding their update stuck in “Pending.”
Here's how to find your exact due date, how to file, what it costs, and what to do if it won't go through.
What is the MCS-150?
The MCS-150 (Motor Carrier Identification Report) is the form that keeps your FMCSA registration current: your legal name and address, the type of operation, cargo classifications, number of power units and drivers, and annual mileage. Brokers, shippers, insurers and enforcement all look at this information on your SAFER Company Snapshot.
You file it when you first register, every 24 months after that, and any time your information changes — like a new address or a bigger fleet.
When is your biennial update due?
Your deadline is set by the last two digits of your USDOT number:
- The last digit sets the month. You must file by the last day of that month.
- The next-to-last digit sets the year. Odd digit = file in odd-numbered years (2025, 2027). Even digit = file in even-numbered years (2026, 2028).
| Last digit | Due by end of | Last digit | Due by end of |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | January | 6 | June |
| 2 | February | 7 | July |
| 3 | March | 8 | August |
| 4 | April | 9 | September |
| 5 | May | 0 | October |
USDOT number 1234567: the last digit is 7, so it's due by the end of July. The next-to-last digit is 6 (even), so it's due in even years — July 2026, July 2028, and so on.
How much does it cost?
Nothing. FMCSA says plainly that updating your information is free.
Carriers regularly get official-looking letters, emails and calls warning that their MCS-150 is “overdue” and demanding a fee to file it. Those come from private companies, not FMCSA. You can file it yourself for free — and no paid service can skip the Motus processing queue.
What happens if you miss it?
According to FMCSA, failing to complete your biennial update will result in deactivation of your USDOT number and may result in civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day, up to $10,000. A deactivated USDOT number also blocks reinstatement of your MC authority until it's fixed.
FMCSA has announced a temporary suspension of USDOT inactivations for registrants who couldn't complete their update because of Motus access issues. Check that page for current status — and file as soon as you can either way.
How to file your MCS-150 in Motus
- Check your status first on the SAFER Company Snapshot. Note your MCS-150 date and mileage year.
- Gather your numbers: power units, drivers, annual mileage for the reporting year, cargo types, and your current legal name and physical address — exactly as they appear on your state and IRS records.
- Sign in at motus.dot.gov through Login.gov, using the email of your company's Company Official. Use a desktop or laptop with an updated Chrome or Firefox.
- Open your company record and complete the biennial update. Review every section — even if nothing changed, you still have to submit. FMCSA's “Move to Motus” job aids show the current screens step by step.
- Save your confirmation. Screenshot the confirmation number, the values you submitted and the timestamp.
Can't get into Motus at all? Start with how to fix the 5 most common Motus problems, including Login.gov errors and “DOT Number Already Claimed.” FMCSA's biennial update page also lists uploading your form through the AskFMCSA website, where you receive a confirmation number by email.
Update stuck in “Pending”? Do this
- Don't submit it again. A second update on top of a pending one can freeze your record even longer.
- Keep your proof handy. Print the confirmation and keep it in the truck. Proof of timely filing plus active insurance is your best defense with brokers and at roadside while the backlog clears.
- Open one ticket and follow up on it. If it's still pending after a week or two, submit a single ticket at AskFMCSA with your confirmation number, submission date and a screenshot of the pending status. Duplicate tickets get merged or closed.
- Call and escalate. FMCSA's registration line is 1-800-832-5660 (8 AM–11 PM ET weekdays, 9 AM–4 PM ET Saturday). If you hear “it's a known system issue,” ask for a Tier 2 / Motus technical escalation.
If your USDOT number already went inactive, see how to reactivate a DOT or MC number.
Get the ready-to-send ticket
The Motus Fix includes a copy-and-paste AskFMCSA ticket template for an MCS-150 stuck in Pending — written so support has everything it needs on the first touch — plus the emergency checklist for when your authority drops mid-load, the escalation script, and two more ticket templates for lockouts and insurance sync errors.
Freight to Freedom is a private company and is not affiliated with FMCSA or USDOT. This article is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Requirements change often — confirm current rules at fmcsa.dot.gov.