What Is The MCS-150 Form?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) uses the company’s information that the Motor Carrier Identification Report (MCS-150) possesses. Every organization will need an MCS-150 form till the organization is functional.
This form will comprise of the following:
- Company’s contact details (Operating interstate or intrastate)
- Types of goods the company is handling
- Power units of the company
- Total number of drivers in a company
- Annual mileage
After filling out the form, knowing when to file it and other requirements is essential. Let’s take a deep dive into the details.
When Do You File the MCS 150 Form?
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), it is required by all interstate carriers to file MCS-150 or MCS-150B. This is essential if they need a safety permit. Furthermore, the form must be filed every 2 years according to the US DOT number by considering the last two digits.
| USDOT number that ends with | Filing deadlines (Month) |
| 1 | January |
| 2 | February |
| 3 | March |
| 4 | April |
| 5 | May |
| 6 | June |
| 7 | July |
| 8 | August |
| 9 | September |
| 0 | October |
There are two considerations that you must follow:
- If the last digit of your US DOT number is odd, the update of your MCS-150 form will be during the odd odd-numbered year.
- If the last digit of your US DOT number is even, the update of your MCS-150 form will be during the even-numbered year.
Why is Updating Your US DOT Number Essential?
Updating your US DOT number is vital as it prevents fatal crashes such as unsafe driving and others. Moreover, it will also help to avoid shutdowns and fines. Therefore, it is vital to have clarity on the motor carrier identification report that says that the form needs to be updated every 24 months. The modifications can be done based on your reason for filing, or you can also select biennial updates.
Let’s understand this with an example.
Suppose your USDOT number ends in 36. You will update your MCS-150 form in April 2026 and again after 2 years. The MCS-150 form must always be updated and then submitted. It is necessary to submit the MCS-150 form as it will help your business to grow and run.
What Happens When The MCS-150 Form Falls Out Of Date?
Once your MCS-150 form falls out of date, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will deactivate the USDOT number of your motor carrier. The company will also have to pay a penalty of approximately $1,000 per day, and it cannot be more than $10,000.
If a company is regularly updating its MCS-150 form, it will be beneficial in improving Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) scores.
| Utilization score | Rank |
| 0 | Worst |
| 1.5 | Best |
NOTE: the score is calculated based on miles i.e., VMT reported per power unit of a tractor.
How To File An MCS-150 Form?
To file an MCS-150 form, you need to register with the Unified Registration System (URS). This is mandatory for first-time applicants. You can file through 2 mediums:
- Online
- Offline
In online medium, you need to fill out the MCS-150 form and then upload it on the FMCSA portal. USDOT numbers will be issued after that by the FMCSA to the trucking firms. The time to get the response is generally one week. Maximum truck organizations use online mediums owing to ease and comfort.
In offline means, you must complete the MCS-150 form and then mail it to FMCSA. The response time may be longer in paper filing, and the mailing address will be mentioned on the MCS-150 form. Sometimes, it may even take 4 to 6 weeks to get your USDOT number through offline means.
PRISM Federal Program In MCS-150 Forms
PRISM stands for Performance Registration Information Systems and Management Program. PRISM is a federal program used for monitoring motor carriers.
It is used to measure the safety performance of motor carriers in the trucking companies. Furthermore, the PRISM program identifies the risky motor carriers before they would have been involved in severe accidents. The FMCSA also gets the safety check of the carriers through the PRISM program.
If a trucking company fills in an updated MCS-150 form, its PRISM score will be up-to-date. In turn, it will help your business to grow and is also being used by the shippers to analyze the safety checks of carriers.
If you want more information on MCS-150 forms or are involved in a serious truck crash, you can consult a truck accident lawyer. They will provide accurate information on how to proceed if your MCS-150 form expires.
