The Unified Carrier Registration program is established under federal law. Every motor carrier engaged in interstate commerce is subject to its requirements and must register annually.
UCR is the Unified Carrier Registration program, created by the Unified Carrier Registration Act of 2005 (49 U.S.C. § 14504a). It is a state-administered program established under federal law through which motor carriers, freight forwarders, brokers, and leasing companies engaged in interstate commerce must register and pay an annual fee.
Fees are uniform across all participating states, set by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation upon recommendation of the UCR Board. Registration must be renewed every calendar year without exception.
Motor carriers, motor private carriers, freight forwarders, leasing companies, and brokers based in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, or any country that operate across state lines. Includes carriers that transport interstate goods without leaving the state.
Six fee brackets based on the number of commercial motor vehicles operated. Qualifying vehicles are those with a GVWR of 10,001 lbs or more, designed to carry 16+ passengers, or transporting hazmat in placardable quantities. Brokers and lessors with no vehicles register at the 0–2 bracket.
The number of commercial motor vehicles used to calculate UCR fees is the number reported on the carrier’s most recent Form MCS-150 filed with the FMCSA. One registration covers all vehicles under a single USDOT number.
Entities operating commercial motor vehicles exclusively within a single state, with no interstate commerce involvement, are not subject to UCR. All other carriers engaged in interstate commerce must comply regardless of base state.
UCR registration and fee payment must be renewed each calendar year. Failure to renew by the applicable deadline may result in fines and enforcement actions. The 2027 registration period is open now — filing early is strongly advised as applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Carriers with an outstanding 2026 registration should file that separately. Both years can be addressed using the application pages below.