What Is The MCS-150 Form?

The Motor Carrier Identification Report (MCS-150) includes the company’s information that will be used by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Every organization needs MCS-150 until it becomes operational. 

The form lists various information, such as the company’s contact details and whether it operates interstate or intrastate. It will also indicate the type of goods the company handles, the number of drivers, mileage per year, and the power units consumed. 

The FMCSA must be provided with relevant information on the business based on three parameters: compliance, accountability scores, and safety. 

After submitting the information, the FMCSA will assess the accuracy of the company’s USDOT number. If there are discrepancies between the motor carrier’s information and what the FMCSA has discovered in its records, strict action will be taken against the company. 

An experienced truck accident lawyer may protect your interests if your MCS-150 form has not been updated or if the information you provided is incorrect. 

Why Do You Need The MCS-150 Form?

MCS-150 form must be filed when a motor carrier designation increases from more than ten vehicles or they want to switch from a passenger vehicle to hazardous material. 

By doing so, the trucking company will ensure that it abides by the regulations and that other requirements are fulfilled appropriately. 

When To File MCS 150 Forms?

Motor carriers in the United States must file MCS-150 or MCS-150B forms with the FMCSA when they need a safety permit.

Carriers must submit the MCS 150 form every two years or more frequently if their operation or information based on their USDOT number changes. The Department of Transportation (DOT) number will be examined carefully. 

Your DOT number’s second to last digit will determine which year you should fill. The even and odd numbers will determine when you will do the submission. Look at the following guidelines:

• You can file your MCS-150 form in an even year if your DOT number’s second to last digit happens to be even
• You can file your MCS-150 form in an odd year if your DOT number’s second to last digit happens to be odd

Furthermore, to ensure the accuracy of the biennial update filing, you must consider the last digit of your DOT number. It will tell you the month in which it is due. Carriers must file their MCS 150 forms promptly and accurately to avoid penalties or delays in their operations.

We can understand this better by using an example. Suppose your USDOT number ends in 34; you must update your MCS-150 form in April 2024 and after two years in April 2026. You must update your MCS-150 form every 24 months to keep your business running successfully.

What Happens When The MCS-150 Form Falls Out Of Date?

If a motor carrier’s MCS-150 form is out of date, the FMCSA will take strict action against the company. The FMCSA requires carriers to update their form every two years or more frequently if their operation or information changes.

If a carrier fails to update its MCS 150 form within the required timeframe, the FMCSA may consider its operating authority inactive. This can result in the carrier’s operating authority being suspended or revoked. The carrier may also be subject to fines and penalties for failing to comply with FMCSA regulations. A daily fine of $1,000 will be imposed on the company. However, the penalty will not exceed $10,000. Your license may also be revoked, and if you provide misleading information about fuel consumption or other things, a hefty fine of $10,000 will be imposed.

Updating the MCS-150 form will help to improve your Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) scores. The utilization score is awarded based on miles (VMT) reported per power unit (tractor). 

The utilization score ranges from 0 to 1.5, with 0 being the worst and 1.5 being the best. These ranks will help the FMCSA determine high-risk motor carriers that require more monitoring.

Therefore, carriers must keep their MCS-150 form up-to-date and submit it promptly to avoid negative consequences.

How To File An MCS-150 Form?

As you are filing for the first time, you must register with the Unified Registration System (URS). It will give you access to the MCS-150 form. There are two filing methods from which you can choose:

• Online Medium 
• Filing by mail Medium
• Fax Medium 

Online medium: Online medium is mostly recommended as it is much faster.

In online mediums, you can go to the FMCSA online registration portal https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/ and fill out the form. You need to update your PIN and USDOT number for this. 

After this, your USDOT number will be updated, and you can get a printout to keep for records. This method is recommended as it is much faster. 

Filing by mail medium: In this medium, you can fill out your MCS-150 form through the mail, and the processing time may be from 4 to 6 weeks.

Steps:

• Download an MCS-150 form copy 
• Complete the form according to the FMCSA instructions 
• Always ensure to sign the form before applying 
• Submit the form along with the required documents 

Fax– This option is not recommended due to delays, and a confirmation slip is sometimes not given. In this, you need to fax the MCS-150 form to the FMCSA. 

How Does FMCSA Analyze Your Safety Performance?

According to the Compliance, Safety, and Authority (CSA) program, there are seven Behavior Analysis & Safety Improvement Categories, popularly known as BASICS. These categories are used to determine a motor carrier’s ranking relative to other carriers with the same number of safety events.

Behavior Analysis & Safety Improvement Categories (BASICS) consists of

• Unsafe Driving: Measures driver violations like speeding and reckless driving.
• Driver Fitness: Measures driver qualifications by checking their records like CDLs and medical certificates.
• Hours-of-Service Compliance: Measures how carriers abide by the FMCSA’s Hours-of-Service regulations.
• Vehicle Maintenance: Measures how carriers maintain their vehicles through Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports (DVIRs) and other documents.
• Controlled Substances: Measures whether carriers have been operating commercial motor vehicles while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 
• Crash Indicator: This indicator analyzes your history of previously reported accidents and crashes. 
• Hazardous Materials Compliance: This compliance analyzes how hazmat carriers and other operators comply with health and safety regulations. 

What Is The Importance Of The PRISM Federal Program In MCS-150 Forms?

The PRISM (Performance and Registration Information Systems Management) program is a federal program related to the MCS-150 form in the United States. This program will improve the safety of commercial motor carriers by identifying carriers that pose a safety risk and taking appropriate enforcement actions to mitigate that risk. The main purpose of the program is to comply with safety regulations. 

When a motor carrier files an MCS-150 form, the information provided on the form is entered into the PRISM database. The PRISM program uses this information and other data sources to identify carriers with a higher risk for safety violations, such as carriers with a history of crashes, inspections, or violations.

If the PRISM program identifies a carrier as a potential safety risk, the FMCSA may take enforcement actions, such as increasing inspections or investigations, to mitigate that risk. The PRISM program helps the FMCSA prioritize its enforcement efforts and target carriers that pose the greatest safety risk to the public.

What Is The Deadline For Filing The MCS-150 Form?

The deadline for filing the MCS-150 form is generally within 45 days in the month you have completed the transaction. However, the deadline may vary depending on the last two digits of your USDOT number. 

For example, if your USDOT number is 007, the deadline is December 31st of every year. In some cases, the deadline may be extended by 30 days. However, your USDOT number may end with 098 to get a 30-day extension. 

Involved In a Truck Accident That Has An Expired MCS-150 Form? Talk To An Accident Attorney

Suppose you need legal help with the MCS-150 form or any other legal matter. In that case, you may consider contacting an experienced truck accident lawyer specializing in transportation law or personal injury law. They may help you if you are involved in a truck accident with a vehicle whose MCS-150 form has expired.