In the United States, if you are a part of the transportation industry, you are regulated by two authorities, namely the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the US Department of Transportation (US DOT). There are a few critical things to be aware of when filing your DOT biennial update in 2023.
If you decide to make any changes to your company such as name, address, operations, or any other little detail about it, you are required to update your USDOT and operating authority record. There are time constraints with this process which you have to make this update effective.
The FMCSA has several entities under its jurisdiction, all are required to update their information every two-years. Hence the name is “biennial update”.
Front Range Compliance Services can act as third party administrator, and assist you with this update and all of your other compliance needs. Contact Nicole Hall at nicole@frontrangecompliance.com or click the link below.
Does Failing To Update Your Biennial Record Lead To DOT Number Deactivation?
Your DOT Number might be deactivated if you do not meet the predefined requirements when completing your biennial update. If your USDOT number is deactivated you may also be subject to civil penalties up to $1,000 per day and up to $10,000 total.
The best way to make sure that this doesn't happen is to call your third party administrator (TPA), Front Range Compliance, and have them do it for you. As your TPA, they are going to promptly complete the entire filling process of your MCS-150 and make sure that your biennial update is on the file.
In the event that your DOT number has been deactivated before the update is filed, you will need to perform a USDOT number reactivation.
Understand The MCS-150 Form - Complete Your DOT Biennial Update Accurately
By understanding your MCS-150 form, you will be able to perform your biennial update more accurately. This is the form you are going to use to update all company-related information. The FMCSA is going to use this record to calculate your safety scores based on various factors such as safety, compliance, and accountability.
Filling out these forms accurately is of the highest importance because if the forms are filled out incorrectly it is going to impact your business negatively and can also affects your overall score with the authorities. You should proactively file your updated MCS-150 form every two-years if you have:
- New trucks, tractors, or vehicles to your already existing fleet
- Changed or edited the name of your business
- Made any changes to your business activities or its structure
Having your TPA file for you ensures that the form is filled out promptly and correctly, and they will be able to easily identify when forms need updated.
Managing Your Biennial Update Intelligently
If you are filling out the MCS-150 on your own, it is imperative to understand the entire procedure of filing your MCS-150 form for your biennial update.
Look at your USDOT number, identify the second last digit of your DOT number. If it is odd, you will file your MCS form in odd years, for example 2023, 2025, 2027 and so on. If it is even, you will complete the form in 2024, 2026, 2028 and so on. The next step is to identify the last digit of your DOT number. This denotes the number of the month in which you will file and update your MCS-150 form.
Hiring A Dependable Third Party Administrator To Perform Your Biennial Update
Again, it is one of the most intelligent decisions you could make for your company. If you want to complete your registration or update online, just make sure to provide the following information to your third party administrator:
- Your USDOT number
- PIN
- EIN/SSN
- Company official information
Mailing And Obtaining The Tracking Number
If your company is required to complete a combined identification and hazardous materials safety permit application which is the MCS-150B, you can do that online or let your third party administrator do it for you. The update can also be done through fax or US mail, however, online is the most efficient option. Once received, they will scan and upload the completed application forms to the website. At completion, they will receive the tracking number of the submission and keep you updated on any developments that take place henceforth.
Front Range Compliance Services Compliance Experts
At Front Range Compliance Services, LLC we pride ourselves on being compliance experts with unique expertise in every DOT Compliance situation you or your company could find yourselves in. Reach out to us to see how we can help you!
In the meantime, make sure to check out our online DOT Training platform, DOT University! We currently are offering Reasonable Suspicion for Supervisors, Cargo Securement, Defensive Driving, and Pre/Post Trip Inspection. In the coming months, we plan on releasing Designated Employer Representative and Appendix A.
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