Trucking Compliance Calendar 2026
Missing a compliance deadline in trucking doesn't just cost a late fee — it can deactivate your operating authority, trigger roadside out-of-service orders, get your loads rejected by brokers, and increase your insurance premiums. This calendar covers every recurring federal deadline a motor carrier needs to track, with links to the official sources.
Recurring Federal Deadlines
IFTA Quarterly Tax Return
International Fuel Tax Agreement quarterly returns reporting fuel use across jurisdictions. Required even if you operated in only one jurisdiction or had no taxable fuel use. Late filings trigger interest, penalties, and can result in license revocation.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): due April 30 · Q2 (Apr-Jun): due July 31 · Q3 (Jul-Sep): due October 31 · Q4 (Oct-Dec): due January 31
IFTA official site →IFTA License Renewal
Annual IFTA license renewal with your base jurisdiction. Required to legally operate interstate with apportioned fuel tax reporting. Renewal window typically opens 60-90 days before expiration.
December 31 annually (varies by jurisdiction — check your base state)
IFTA official site →IRP Registration Renewal
International Registration Plan — apportioned plate registration. Renewal dates vary by base jurisdiction. IRP has NO grace period. An expired IRP plate is a federal out-of-service criterion at any weigh station. File early — many states have multi-week processing backlogs.
Varies by state — typically April, June, or December. Check your cab card expiration date.
IRP official site →Unified Carrier Registration (UCR)
Annual registration for carriers operating in interstate commerce. Fees based on fleet size. Enforcement typically begins January 1. Register early at UCR.gov to avoid roadside citations.
2027 registration year: opens ~October 2026, due December 31, 2026
UCR registration portal →MCS-150 Biennial Update
FMCSA requires every registered motor carrier to update its MCS-150 (Motor Carrier Identification Report) every two years. Your filing month is determined by the last digit of your USDOT number. Missing it can deactivate your USDOT number — which shows up on carrier lookups and can trigger broker rejections within 24 hours.
Filing month based on last digit of USDOT number (see table below). Even-numbered USDOT numbers file in even years; odd-numbered in odd years.
FMCSA registration portal →| Last Digit of USDOT # | Filing Month | 2026 Due Date (even year) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | January | January 31, 2026 |
| 2 | February | February 28, 2026 |
| 3 | March | March 31, 2026 |
| 4 | April | April 30, 2026 |
| 5 | May | May 31, 2026 |
| 6 | June | June 30, 2026 |
| 7 | July | July 31, 2026 |
| 8 | August | August 31, 2026 |
| 9 | September | September 30, 2026 |
| 0 | October | October 31, 2026 |
Form 2290 — Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT)
IRS Form 2290 for vehicles with taxable gross weight of 55,000 lbs or more. Tax year runs July 1 through June 30. For vehicles first used in July, file by August 31. For vehicles first used in other months, file by the last day of the following month.
2026-2027 tax year: vehicles first used in July 2026 — due August 31, 2026. Other months: see table below.
IRS Form 2290 due dates →| Vehicle First Used In | File Form 2290 By |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | August 31, 2026 |
| August 2026 | September 30, 2026 |
| September 2026 | October 31, 2026 |
| October 2026 | November 30, 2026 |
| November 2026 | December 31, 2026 |
| December 2026 | January 31, 2027 |
| January 2027 | February 28, 2027 |
| February 2027 | March 31, 2027 |
| March 2027 | April 30, 2027 |
| April 2027 | May 31, 2027 |
| May 2027 | June 30, 2027 |
| June 2027 | July 31, 2027 |
If any due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, file by the next business day.
FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse Annual Query
Every CDL driver must have at least one Clearinghouse query conducted by the carrier each year. Pre-employment queries are also required before a driver can perform safety-sensitive functions. The annual query requirement is in addition to the pre-employment query.
Due by January 5 each year (annual query for each CDL driver)
FMCSA Clearinghouse →Annual DOT Vehicle Inspection
Every commercial motor vehicle must undergo a periodic inspection at least once every 12 months. The inspection must be performed by a qualified inspector and documented. Expired inspections result in out-of-service orders at roadside — this was the #1 vehicle violation category during 2026 International Roadcheck.
Annual — based on your last inspection date. SafeHaul TMS² tracks this per vehicle and blocks dispatch when expired.
Driver Annual Review & Certification
Every driver must have an annual review of their driving record, including a motor vehicle record (MVR) pull. The carrier must retain the review and certification in the driver's DQF. Missing annual reviews are a common audit finding.
Annual — based on the driver's hire date or last review date
Random Drug & Alcohol Testing
Carriers must conduct random drug testing at a minimum annual rate of 50% of the average number of CDL drivers for controlled substances, and 10% for alcohol. Tests must be spread reasonably throughout the year — never batched into one month. Failing to implement a random testing program carries an average fine of $6,705.
Ongoing — minimum quarterly selection, spread across the calendar year
CDL Validity & Medical Examiner's Certificate
CDL expiration varies by state (typically 4-8 years). Medical examiner's certificate (DOT medical card) must be renewed every 1-2 years depending on the examiner's determination. SafeHaul TMS² blocks dispatch when either is expired — per 49 CFR 383.23(a) and 49 CFR 391.45.
CDL: per state renewal cycle · Medical card: every 12-24 months per examiner
2026 Month-by-Month Quick Reference
- January 5: FMCSA Clearinghouse annual query due for every CDL driver
- January 31: Q4 2025 IFTA quarterly return due
- January 31: MCS-150 biennial update due (USDOT numbers ending in 1)
- February 28: MCS-150 biennial update due (USDOT numbers ending in 2)
- March 31: MCS-150 biennial update due (USDOT numbers ending in 3)
- April 30: Q1 2026 IFTA quarterly return due
- April 30: MCS-150 biennial update due (USDOT numbers ending in 4)
- April (varies): IRP registration renewal due in some states
- May 12-14: CVSA International Roadcheck (completed)
- May 31: MCS-150 biennial update due (USDOT numbers ending in 5)
- June 30: MCS-150 biennial update due (USDOT numbers ending in 6)
- July 1: Form 2290 tax year begins (2026-2027)
- July 22: ELD operator's manual no longer required in cab (rule effective)
- July 31: Q2 2026 IFTA quarterly return due
- July 31: MCS-150 biennial update due (USDOT numbers ending in 7)
- August 31: Form 2290 due (for vehicles first used in July 2026)
- August 31: MCS-150 biennial update due (USDOT numbers ending in 8)
- August 23-29: CVSA Brake Safety Week
- September 30: Form 2290 due (for vehicles first used in August 2026)
- September 30: MCS-150 biennial update due (USDOT numbers ending in 9)
- October 1: 2027 UCR registration expected to open
- October 9: Comments due on FMCSA English-Language Proficiency OOS NPRM
- October 31: Q3 2026 IFTA quarterly return due
- October 31: Form 2290 due (for vehicles first used in September 2026)
- October 31: MCS-150 biennial update due (USDOT numbers ending in 0)
- November 30: Form 2290 due (for vehicles first used in October 2026)
- November (expected): FMCSA ELD Revisions NPRM (per Unified Agenda)
- November (expected): FMCSA Clearinghouse Implementation Revisions NPRM
- December 31: 2027 UCR registration due
- December 31: IFTA license renewal (varies by jurisdiction)
- December 31: Form 2290 due (for vehicles first used in November 2026)
State-Specific Permit Deadlines
Several states require their own permits beyond the federal requirements. These must be tracked per vehicle and renewed on their own schedules:
| Permit | States | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| KYU (Kentucky Weight Distance) | Kentucky | Annual |
| NY HUT (New York Highway Use Tax) | New York | Annual |
| NM Weight Distance Permit | New Mexico | Annual |
| OR Weight Distance Permit | Oregon | Annual |
| CT HUT (Connecticut Highway Use Tax) | Connecticut | Annual |
SafeHaul TMS² allows carriers to configure which state permits apply to their operation. Required permits factor into compliance alerts and dispatch blocking. Optional permits are tracked for informational purposes only.
Record Retention Requirements
Even after you file, you must retain compliance records for audit purposes:
| Record Type | Retention Period | Regulation |
|---|---|---|
| Driver DQF records | 3 years after driver leaves | 49 CFR 391.23 |
| DOT inspection records | 14 months (vehicle), 12 months (driver) | 49 CFR 396.17 |
| Drug & alcohol testing records | 1-5 years depending on record type | 49 CFR 382.401 |
| IFTA records | 4 years from filing or due date | IFTA Article R1010.300 |
| Accident registers | 3 years (for-hire), 1 year (private) | 49 CFR 390.15 |
| Hours of service logs | 6 months | 49 CFR 395.8 |
| Maintenance records | 1 year on-site + 6 months after vehicle leaves | 49 CFR 396.3 |
Sources
References
IFTA — International Fuel Tax Agreement IRP — International Registration Plan UCR — Unified Carrier Registration FMCSA — Motor Carrier Registration (MCS-150) IRS — Form 2290 Due Dates IRS — Form 2290 Instructions (2026-2027) FMCSA — Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse O Trucking — 2026 Trucking Compliance Calendar FleetCollect — Trucking Compliance Calendar 2026 Dakota Group — DOT & FMCSA Deadlines 2026-2027 UC Bureau — Trucking Renewal Calendar Fast2290 — Form 2290 Due Dates by Month CVSA — Commercial Vehicle Safety AllianceRelated Research
- FMCSA News & Regulatory Updates
- The True Cost of Non-Compliance for Trucking Companies
- TMS vs Spreadsheets — What a Connected Platform Actually Saves
- How API-Level Dispatch Blocking Prevents DOT Violations
Never Miss a Deadline Again
SafeHaul TMS² tracks every deadline on this page automatically — IFTA quarters, IRP renewal, MCS-150 due dates, Form 2290, Clearinghouse queries, annual inspections, driver reviews, drug testing, and state permits. Automated alerts before expiration. API-level dispatch blocking when items lapse. $39/truck/month.
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