How Often Do You Need To Renew Your MC Number?

If you’re on the road or have people and vehicles on the road, you must stay in compliance with all the rules and regulations to maintain a legitimate trucking business. Part of that duty will include knowing when to renew MC numbers because you will always need an active MC number to cross state lines while carrying cargo.

If compliance seems tedious, The Federal Motor Carrier Authority Online Filings website can make it easier to maintain your credentials by filling out the USDOT number application online or obtaining other necessary permits. 

In this post, these experienced service providers go over the process of renewing your Motor Carrier number. They also provide other tips to ensure you don’t experience an interruption of service or forget to renew on time.

Keeping Your Information Current

A trucker already knows that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has rules in place to increase road safety and reduce accidents. Keeping your information up-to-date on the system is one of those measures, which is why all truckers must complete Biennial Updates every two years, even if no information has changed. 

An operating authority with an MC number needs to keep the following information current:

• Name change
• Address update
• Reinstatement
• Revocation

When To File The Biennial Update

MC number renewals occur throughout the year. You may receive a renewal notice in the mail, but you shouldn’t rely on that as your only means of remembering to file. If you don’t submit your Biennial Update and renew MC numbers in time, you may end up with an inactive number, and you’ll have to go through the reactivation process.

To find out which month you should submit your renewal, check your USDOT number: 

• The last digit determines the month when your Biennial Update is due. For example, if your USDOT number ends in 1, you have to submit your renewal in January. If it ends in 2, you have to submit it in February, and so on.
• The penultimate digit on your USDOT number tells you which year to file. If it is an even number, you would need to file on even years, such as 2024. If it’s odd, file on years that end in odd numbers.

The experts at FMCA Filings recommend marking your calendar ahead of time so that your renewal date doesn’t sneak up on you.

Information You Need For The Biennial Update

Keeping track of all the necessary information you need to submit for the Biennial Update will help streamline the process so that it doesn’t take time away from your regular operation schedule. The information you need on hand includes the following:

• USDOT Number
• PIN assigned to you
• Your SSN
• Your Company’s EIN

Motor Carrier Identification Report

You may also need to fill out the Motor Carrier Identification Report, known as the MCS-150, to stay in compliance with safety regulations. The FMCSA requires carriers to submit this form annually to avoid penalties. 

Additionally, the FMCSA uses the MCS-150 information to give each carrier a safety score based on Behavior Analysis & Safety Improvement Categories. These BASICS include the following:

• Maintenance records: Regular maintenance receipts, including equipment repair, Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports, and any other appropriate documentation.
• Reported accidents: A history of all traffic accidents, including accident reports that the state files.
• Hazmat compliance: Proof of training, any incident reports, and compliance with all safety regulations regarding hazmat transportation.
• Hours of service: Each driver must record the HOS spent on the road as well as dispatch records and freight bills.

The list above is just an overview of the primary records taken into account when the FMCSA determines your safety score. However, they will take every detail into account, so impeccable recordkeeping will make the process easier when it comes time to submit the renewal form.

What Happens If You Fail To File Your Biennial Update?

If you fail to file your Biennial Update, you could end up with a deactivated USDOT number and fines up to $10,000. 

Thankfully, you can complete the entire update on the Federal Motor Carrier Authority Online Filings website. The platform makes it extremely simple so that you can avoid the administrative hassle and the financial implications of failing to file on time.

Retain Your Operating Authority With The Biennial Update and More

The FMCSA must receive your Biennial Update by its due date, whether you choose to file online or send in a hard copy. If they don’t receive your information in time, you may lose your licensing and then have to renew MC numbers again from scratch.

Besides help with filing, the Federal Motor Carrier Authority Online Filings website can also answer questions like, “Can I get an MC number without a truck?” So, whether you happen to be new to trucking or you’re a seasoned OTR veteran, reach out via the online chat feature, send an email, or use the convenient online form.