USDOT Number and Biennial Update Requirements
Interstate carriers need a USDOT number and must update their registration every 24 months. The month is set by the last digit of your number, and the second-to-last digit sets odd or even years (49 CFR 390.19). FMCSA's new Motus system opened on May 19, 2026. FMCSA has paused enforcement of biennial updates and inactivation of USDOT numbers for updates due on or after June 1, 2026. Your number must stay on both sides of each truck.
Facts checked October 16, 2026
Key Points
- You need a USDOT number if you run a vehicle rated 10,001 pounds or more in interstate commerce, or a vehicle that carries passengers for pay or placarded hazmat in interstate commerce (49 CFR 390.5 and FMCSA)
- You must register before you begin operations and update every 24 months (49 CFR 390.19T(b))
- The last digit of your USDOT number sets the month. If the next-to-last digit is odd, update in odd-numbered years. If it is even, update in even-numbered years (49 CFR 390.19T(b))
- Missing the update can bring penalties and deactivation of the number (49 CFR 390.19T(b)(4)). FMCSA has temporarily paused enforcement and inactivation for updates due on or after June 1, 2026
- FMCSA's registration system is now Motus. It replaces the old online application and the FMCSA Portal, and forms become fields in the system. FMCSA no longer accepts paper filings
- Show your legal name or one trade name and your USDOT number on both sides of every self-propelled CMV, readable from 50 feet in daylight (49 CFR 390.21T)
- Use only your legal name or a single trade name on your registration forms (49 CFR 390.19T(f))
Biennial update month, by the last digit of your USDOT number (49 CFR 390.19T)
| File by the last day of | |
|---|---|
| Number ends in 1 | January |
| Number ends in 2 | February |
| Number ends in 3 | March |
| Number ends in 4 | April |
| Number ends in 5 | May |
| Number ends in 6 | June |
| Number ends in 7 | July |
| Number ends in 8 | August |
| Number ends in 9 | September |
| Number ends in 0 | October |
Who needs a USDOT number?
Companies that run commercial vehicles in interstate commerce must register with FMCSA and have a USDOT number. A vehicle counts if it has a gross vehicle or combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more. It also counts if it is built or used to carry more than 8 people for pay, or more than 15 people not for pay. Intrastate carriers of hazmat in amounts that need a safety permit must register too (FMCSA, 49 CFR 390.5 and 385.403). Interstate commerce includes a trip between two places in one state that passes through another state. Apart from the federal rule, many states require a USDOT number for in-state commercial vehicles. FMCSA keeps a list on its registration page. Check with your state agency for trips that stay inside one state.
How do you get a USDOT number, and what is Motus?
A new motor carrier registers with FMCSA before it begins operations. A for-hire carrier that needs operating authority applies for both at the same time. FMCSA issues the USDOT number after it processes the filing (49 CFR 390.19T(h) and 390.200T). In April 2026, FMCSA announced Motus, a new online registration system. Motus launched on May 19, 2026. It replaces the old online application and the FMCSA Portal. It also folds the old forms, such as the MCS-150 and the operating authority applications, into fields in one system. Identity checks are stricter, and FMCSA has not accepted paper filings since September 30, 2025. FMCSA says the Motus release does not remove MC numbers or change how a BOC-3 is filed. New USDOT number suffixes show only inside the system and are not needed to mark your truck.
When is your biennial update due?
You must update your registration before you begin operations and every 24 months after that (49 CFR 390.19T(b)). The last digit of your USDOT number sets the month, as the table above shows. The next-to-last digit sets the year. If it is odd, you update in odd-numbered years. If it is even, you update in even-numbered years. A number that ends in 67, such as 1234567, ends in 7 for July. The 6 is even, so the update is due by July 31 of every even-numbered year. A number that ends in 51 is due by January 31 of every odd-numbered year. An update confirms that your company information on file is current. In Motus, you complete it in the system.
What happens if you miss the update, and what has FMCSA paused?
Under the rule, a person who fails to complete the update faces penalties and deactivation of the USDOT number (49 CFR 390.19T(b)(4)). False or misleading information on the form brings penalties too (49 CFR 390.19T(g)). FMCSA has also said something new. To help during the move to Motus, it has temporarily suspended enforcement of biennial updates and the inactivation of USDOT numbers. Registrants whose update was due on or after June 1, 2026 get more time and will not have their number inactivated for failing to submit it. FMCSA's page was last updated September 10, 2026, and it says more guidance will come. The rule has not been repealed. Keep your due date on your calendar, and check FMCSA's registration page before you rely on the pause.
How must your USDOT number be displayed on your truck?
Every self-propelled commercial motor vehicle must show the legal name or a single trade name of the carrier that operates it. The name must match the one on your registration. It must also show the USDOT number, with the letters USDOT in front of it (49 CFR 390.21T(b)). The marking goes on both sides of the vehicle. The letters must contrast sharply with the background. They must be easy to read in daylight from 50 feet away while the vehicle is stopped, and you must keep them that way (49 CFR 390.21T(c)). The marking may be painted on, or it may be a removable device that meets the same rules. If another business's name is on the vehicle, the operating carrier's name and number must follow the words "operated by" (49 CFR 390.21T(b)). Other information may be shown if it does not conflict.
What about rented trucks, leased vehicles and driveaways?
A carrier that rents a truck for 30 days or less can meet the marking rule in either of two ways. It can mark the truck with its own name and number. Or the rental company's name and USDOT number can stay on the truck, if the rental agreement has the renter's name, address and USDOT number and a required statement, and the agreement is carried in the truck for the whole rental (49 CFR 390.21T(e)). In a driveaway operation, a removable device with the carrier's name and number may be placed on both sides, or on the rear, of a single driven vehicle (49 CFR 390.21T(f)). Leases of trucks to for-hire carriers have their own rules in Part 376.
Are there exceptions?
A carrier that registers its vehicles in a state in the PRISM program can satisfy the update rule by filing the information with that state's office, if it files all the required information (49 CFR 390.19T(i)). Mexican and non-North American carriers have extra steps before they receive a number, including a safety audit (49 CFR 390.19T(h)). Intrastate carriers outside the hazmat permit rule follow their state's rules.
Related Free Tools
Authority Age and History Checker
Enter an MC or USDOT number to see how long the authority has been active, every revocation and reinstatement, and every insurance filing.
New Authority Checklist
A step-by-step guide to getting your MC number and starting your trucking operation.
CDL & Compliance Deadline Tracker
Track all compliance deadlines in one place with color-coded alerts.
Carrier & Broker Lookup
Verify MC/DOT authority, check credit scores, and spot red flags before hauling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a USDOT number for a pickup and trailer?+
If the truck, or the truck and trailer together, have a weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more and you use them to haul cargo for business across state lines, yes (FMCSA and 49 CFR 390.5). Check the weight ratings on the certification labels.
When is my MCS-150 or biennial update due?+
Use the last two digits of your USDOT number. The last digit sets the month, and an odd or even next-to-last digit sets odd or even years. A number that ends in 67 is due July 31 of even-numbered years (49 CFR 390.19T(b)).
Is FMCSA enforcing the biennial update right now?+
FMCSA says it has temporarily paused enforcement and inactivation of USDOT numbers for updates due on or after June 1, 2026. The rule itself is still in effect, and FMCSA says more guidance will follow, so check its registration page.
What is Motus?+
It is FMCSA's new USDOT registration system, which launched on May 19, 2026. It replaces the old online application and the FMCSA Portal, and the forms become fields in one system. FMCSA no longer accepts paper filings.
Can I use two business names on my truck?+
The marking must show the legal name or a single trade name that matches your registration, plus your USDOT number. If another business's name also appears, the operating carrier's name and number must follow the words "operated by" (49 CFR 390.21T).
How big do the letters have to be?+
The rule gives no size. The letters must contrast sharply with the background and be readable in daylight from 50 feet away while the truck is stopped (49 CFR 390.21T(c)).
More federal trucking rules
- Hours of Service Rules for Truck Drivers
- ELD Mandate: Who Needs an ELD
- DOT Roadside Inspection Levels Explained
- DOT Drug and Alcohol Testing Rules
- Driver Qualification File Requirements
- DVIR and Vehicle Maintenance Rules
- New Entrant Safety Audit Requirements
- Hours of Service Exceptions and Exemptions
- Motor Carrier Insurance Requirements
- CDL Classes, Endorsements and ELDT Training
- DOT Physical and Medical Card Requirements
- Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Requirements
- Cargo Securement Rules for Trucks
- Hazmat Basics for Truck Drivers and Carriers
- Safety Ratings, Compliance Reviews and DataQs
- Federal Truck Size and Weight Limits
- California Clean Truck Check (HD I/M)
- Truth-in-Leasing Rules for Owner-Operators
- Form 2290 Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax
- Truck Driver Phone, Texting and Seat Belt Rules
- Railroad Crossing Rules for Truck Drivers
- Truck Emergency Equipment and Warning Triangle Rules
- Truck Windshield, Dash Cam and Mirror Rules
- CDL Disqualification: Major and Serious Offenses
- Truck Tire Rules: Tread Depth, Retreads and Pressure
- Trailer Reflective Tape (Conspicuity) Rules
- Truck Brake Rules: Pushrod Stroke, Lining Thickness and ABS
- Driver Conduct Rules: Alcohol, Drugs, Fatigue, Passengers and Pre-Trip Checks
- English Language Proficiency for Truck Drivers: The 391.11(b)(2) Rule
- Weigh Station Rules: Who Must Stop and What Happens If You Skip
- Truck Lighting Rules: Required Lamps and Reflectors (49 CFR 393)
- Driver Road Test Rules: The Company Road Test and Certificate (49 CFR 391.31)
Related terms and pages
Sources
- 49 CFR 390.19, Motor carrier identification reports (eCFR)
- 49 CFR 390.21, Marking of self-propelled CMVs (eCFR)
- 49 CFR 390.200T, USDOT Registration (eCFR)
- FMCSA: Do I need a USDOT number?
- FMCSA: Temporary suspension of the biennial update requirement
- Federal Register, April 29, 2026: Availability of Motus, FMCSA's new registration system
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This is a plain-language summary for reference, not legal advice. Check the official rule text before you rely on any detail. Ask a compliance professional about your own operation.