Biennial Update

Are you filing the update as mandated?

The federal motor carrier safety administration (FMCSA) mandates all motor carriers to update their information every other year. If you are a motor carrier operating under its authority, you will have to ensure that your company remains in business, and for that, you will have to file an update every two years. Even if your business has had no significant changes in the past, you are required to file this update to be able to perform carrier operations without any hiccups.

What are the Fines And Penalties For Non-Compliance Services?

Are you Going Out of Business?

Shutting Down Operations

You can deactivate your U.S. DOT Number, but there is a specific process you must follow. Unlike other processes, this cannot be completed online. Unfortunately, just going to the official website is not going to help. Instead, you must either mail or fax the necessary information and a signed and updated MCS-150 form. You need to check the box “out of business,” which means out of motor carrier operations – even if your company is still operational. Therefore, you can fill out this form and mail it to the concerned authorities if you are shutting down your transport operations.

Features

Update Every Two Years

A carrier must provide this update every two years - even if the company has not changed its information, has ceased inter-state operations since the last update, or is no longer in business, and you did not notify the FMCSA.

If There are No Changes

Companies must update their details with the authority every two years - even if there are no changes or updates in their fleet size, company name, address, or anything related to the company.

Odd-Even Method

If the next-to-last digit of the DOT Number is odd, the carrier shall file the update in every odd-numbered calendar year, and if it is even then every even-numbered calendar year. The last number of the DOT Number is the month it is due; 1: January, 2: February, 0: October.

VMT Outdated

FMCSA requires all motor carriers to update their Motor Carrier Identification Report (MCS-150) every two years (biennially). VMT is the measure of vehicle miles traveled per capita, which is calculated by the total annual miles of vehicle travel divided by the total population in a state or in an urbanized area. VMT is used to calculate Crash Indicator Behavior Analysis and Unsafe Driving and for Safety Improvement Category (BASIC) percentiles.

Regular Update

According to the FMCSA, it is mandatory for all motor carriers under its authority to update their information every two years. Any time a carrier or other regulated entity changes its address or other details, such as name in their record, they should update their U.S. DOT and operating authority record with FMCSA in a timely fashion.

Reactivation

When it comes to reapplication or reactivating your DOT Number, several factors might have led to the deactivation of your status, such as unpaid International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) taxes, not filing your required biennial update, and more.

Operating without an Authority?

If you are operating without operating authority or beyond the scope of your authority, you can be forced out of service by the FMSCA. You may also be subject to fines.

Listed as “Not Authorized”?

Your Operating Authority is not active and you are NOT Authorized to operate as for-hire in inter-state commerce. Operating authority can be understood as the legal right of a motor carrier to operate a commercial motor vehicle across the United States.

Filing Your Biennial Update CAN Be Simple!

All you need is an Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Social Security Number (SSN). If you are an independent owner-operator, you need a U.S. DOT Number. Other information includes the official name and mailing address of your company in addition to your Personal Identification Number (PIN). The official FMCSA website sends you a pin after your formal request. The rest is usually conveyed to you as you go through their directions.

You must know when you need to file the update and provide the FMCSA with the necessary information it requires before or at the renewal date.
Remember, your renewal date will correspond with the last digit of your U.S. DOT Number.
As a part of the trucking industry, you need to keep track of all your information and update it regularly.

How Do You File Your MCS-150 Form?

The ideal way to file this form is to understand the due date. The due date is different for every company and is determined by the last two digits of your U.S. DOT Number. You will note the second-to-last digit of your number is for the filing year:

Now, the last digit of your U.S. DOT Number is for month: If this number ends in 1, you must file this form by the last day of January. If the number ends in 2, you must file this form by the last day of February. Similarly, if the number ends in 3, you will have to file this form by the last day of March…

Mandatory Requirements:

There are a few other mandatory requirements each trucking company should be aware of, including:

Regardless of when you filed a biennial update previously, you must file another updated report whenever the due date arrives.
Even if your business has had minor changes in the past, you are required to file this update
FMCSA requires they be notified within 30 days of ANY change of operation between filing dates (e.g., address, phone number, driver or vehicle changes, or operations changes).
Any changes made without communication to the FMCSA may subject you to fines and even your U.S. DOT Number revocation.

Have You Checked For Inaccuracies?

Inaccurate Information Can Cost Big Money!

If the information filled out by you on any of the forms is incorrect, it could negatively impact your account. In the following situations, you may need to submit a new updated MCS-150 form:

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is a biennial update?

In the simplest words, a biennial update is a requirement that the federal motor carrier safety administration has put forth. Under this mandate, you must update your MCS-150 form – also known as the motor carrier identification report. You must do this update every two years without exception.

Who is required to submit a biennial update?

All U.S. DOT Number carriers (Interstate or Intrastate Carrier Operations, Motor Carrier, Broker, Shipper, Freight Forwarder and/or Cargo Tank Facility) must update based on a schedule dictated by the last two digits of U.S. DOT Number. You may also need to submit this update if you are no longer in business and have not yet notified the FMCSA, as they are required to be notified within 30 days of any change of operation and a final written report filed.

When should I file a biennial update?

You will be required to provide this update every two years if there is a change in your company information. You should do this even if your company has not changed information. If you have ceased any inter-state operations since the last update or are no longer in business, you may have to submit this update.

Am I required to file a biennial update if there are no changes?

Yes, you are still required to submit a biennial update every two years regardless of whether any information related to your business has been updated, changed, or modified or not.