Compliance
DOT compliance checklist for small carriers
Updated
A one- to five-truck interstate carrier files a short list of federal items on a fixed calendar. UCR is due by December 31 and the MCS-150 every 24 months. Heavier trucks add IFTA returns every quarter and Form 2290 each tax year.
At a glance
- MCS-150 fee at FMCSA
- $0
- MCS-150 update
- Every 24 months
- 2027 UCR, up to two power units
- $55
- 2027 UCR due
- December 31, 2026
- IFTA returns
- April 30, July 31, October 31 and January 31
- Form 2290, 55,000 lb and up
- $100 to $550 a year per truck
- Clearinghouse query
- $1.25 each
Recurring filings and when they're due
Which of these apply depends on your truck's weight and where it runs. Each link has the full rule, the official place to file and the date it was checked.
| Filing | Who files | When it's due | Government charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCS-150 update | Every USDOT number holder | Every 24 months, in a month set by your USDOT digits | $0 |
| UCR | Interstate carriers, brokers and leasing companies | December 31, 2026 for 2027 | $55 for up to two power units, $167 for three to five |
| IFTA | Trucks with three or more axles or over 26,000 lb, alone or with the trailer, in two or more jurisdictions | April 30, July 31, October 31 and January 31 | Tax on fuel and miles, plus base-jurisdiction fees |
| IRP | The same trucks, for apportioned plates | Set by your base jurisdiction | By jurisdiction and distance |
| Form 2290 | Trucks at 55,000 lb taxable gross weight or more | Last day of the month after first use | $100 to $550 a year per truck |
| Clearinghouse | Carriers whose trucks need a CDL, owner-operators included | Before a driver starts and every 12 months | $1.25 a query |
One-time and as-needed items
- BOC-3: filed by a process agent and kept on file.
- New entrant audit: within 12 months of starting operations.
- CSA scores: updated monthly, with no fee or filing.
- Out-of-service orders: each type has its own review path.
- Reinstatement: $80 once your filings are back, your USDOT number is active and no safety case blocks it.
- Motus: where you file the MCS-150 and manage your USDOT record.
- Fake notices: how to check a letter before you pay anyone.
What changed in 2026
- Motus became FMCSA's registration system on May 19, 2026.
- FMCSA paused enforcement and USDOT inactivation for MCS-150 updates due on or after June 1, 2026, with no end date in its September 10 notice. The update is still required.
- 2027 UCR fees took effect October 1, 2026. Up to two power units now pay $55, up from $46.
- DataQs added a three-stage state review on September 18, 2026.
Ready for Loads isn't affiliated with FMCSA, the IRS, the UCR Plan, IFTA or IRP. Each page links the official way to file.
Get your own due dates. Enter your DOT number and the status check works out your MCS-150 month, shows your authority status and lists the dates that come next. Check your status
How to choose
Start with the filings every carrier owes, then add the ones your trucks and routes bring in.
- Every USDOT number holder: the MCS-150 update every 24 months. The status check works out your month.
- Interstate carriers, brokers and leasing companies: UCR, due December 31, 2026 for 2027.
- Three or more axles or over 26,000 lb, alone or with the trailer, in two or more jurisdictions: IFTA returns every quarter and IRP apportioned plates.
- 55,000 lb taxable gross weight or more: Form 2290 each tax year.
- Trucks that need a CDL: Clearinghouse queries before a driver starts and every 12 months.
- Your first year of operations: the new entrant audit, within 12 months of starting.
- Authority revoked after a lapse: reinstatement, which costs $80 once your filings are back, your USDOT number is active and no safety case blocks it.
- A letter that asks for money: check it against fake notices before you pay anyone.
Frequently asked questions
How often do I file the MCS-150 update?
Every two years, in a month your USDOT number's digits decide. FMCSA doesn't charge for the update.
When is 2027 UCR due?
The deadline is December 31, 2026. Fleets of up to two power units pay $55, and fleets of three to five pay $167.
Do I need both IFTA and IRP?
A truck that runs in two or more jurisdictions needs both once it has three or more axles or weighs over 26,000 lb, alone or with its trailer. IRP gives it apportioned plates and IFTA handles the fuel tax.
Which trucks owe Form 2290?
Any truck with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 lb or more owes it, at $100 to $550 a year for each truck.
Do I still file the MCS-150 during the 2026 pause?
The update is still required. FMCSA paused enforcement and USDOT inactivation only for updates due on or after June 1, 2026.