UCR Regulation

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation 49 CFR 367

Updated 2025

UCR is the Unified Carrier Registration program. Created by the Unified Carrier Registration Act of 2005 (49 U.S.C. §14504a), it is a system for registering and collecting fees from operators engaged in interstate commerce. While administered by participating states, it is established under federal law. The fees under the UCR program are uniform across participating states and set upon recommendation of the UCR Board. Interstate motor carriers of nearly every type are subject to UCR, as are interstate transportation brokers and freight forwarders, and companies that lease or rent rolling stock to interstate carriers. Each entity subject to UCR must register annually and pay the UCR fee.

UCR Registration is based on fleet size and fees are organized into six brackets depending on the number of vehicles. Brokers and leasing companies that operate no vehicles must still register at the 0–2 level. One annual registration applies to all vehicles under a single USDOT number.

A “commercial motor vehicle” for UCR purposes generally includes a vehicle used in interstate commerce that has a GVWR or GVW of 10,001 pounds or more, is designed to transport more than 15 passengers including the driver, or transports hazardous materials in quantities requiring placarding.

The number of commercial motor vehicles used to determine UCR fees is typically based on the most recent MCS-150 filed with the FMCSA.

It is advisable to use a professional DOT compliance agent to register under the UCR program to avoid confusions regarding the participating states and the assignment thereof. To file through an agent.

Entities not required to register under the UCR program include: purely intrastate carriers, that is, those that do not engage in interstate transportation across state lines or otherwise operate in interstate commerce.

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