If your agency has a USDOT number and operates under Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, you are responsible for updating your information with the FMCSA every two years. Along with the biennial update, any time your agency changes its address or its name, you must update your information with the FMCSA. Every agency needs to complete the biennial update, even if there is no change in their information over the past two years. There is no charge from the FMCSA to complete the biennial update.
There are two simple ways to update your records with the FMCSA, it can either be done online or by mail. To file online, you must have your USDOT PIN number. Navigate to the FMCSA registration page and select “I need to update my USDOT number registration information or file my biennial update (MCS-150)” under Existing Registration Updates. Updating your information online is the fastest and most convenient way.
If you do not know your USDOT PIN number you can go to the FMCSA Request a PIN Number page to have it sent to you, or you can download the MCS-150 form and send in the update by mail. Instructions on updating your information, along with the address to send a form in by mail, can be found on the FMCSA Updating your Registration page.
When completing the biennial update, it is best to do it directly through the FMCSA’s website as listed above. There are companies who are not associated with the FMCSA who may offer to do this service for you for a fee. Be wary of these companies and read any notices carefully, often times they will disclose that they are not affiliated with the FMCSA.
The FMCSA has created an easy way to know when your biennial update is due. To know when to submit your biennial update, look at the last two digits of your USDOT number. If the second to last digit is even, then the update is due every even calendar year (2024, 2026, etc.) and if the second to last digit is odd, the update is due on the odd calendar years (2023, 2025, 2027, etc.). To know what month your biennial update is due, you look at the last digit of the USDOT number and compare it to this table found on the FMCSA website.
Your agency may be penalized for not completing the biennial update on time, including a fine and deactivation of your USDOT number. PRISM Risk Control advises that you take steps to ensure that the biennial update is completed when required. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to PRISM’s Risk Control department.