What Is a UCR Fee and Who Needs to Pay It?

The Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) program is a federally mandated system designed to support motor carrier safety and compliance across the United States. The UCR fee is the financial component of this program, representing an annual charge paid by motor carriers and other entities. This fee contributes to the funding of state motor carrier safety programs, enforcement activities, and administrative costs.

Understanding the Unified Carrier Registration Program

The Unified Carrier Registration program operates under federal law, specifically the Unified Carrier Registration Act of 2005. This legislation, enacted as part of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act, A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). The primary goal of the UCR program is to establish a streamlined, uniform system for interstate motor carrier registration and fee collection. Funds collected through the UCR program are distributed to participating states to support highway safety initiatives, including enforcement and compliance reviews. It serves as a base-state system, meaning a registrant pays fees through their designated base state on behalf of all participating states.

Defining the UCR Fee

The UCR fee is an annual charge that businesses involved in interstate and international commercial transportation must pay. This registration fee helps fund the UCR program’s objectives. This fee replaced the previous Single-State Registration System (SSRS), which required carriers to register in multiple states. By consolidating registration requirements, the UCR fee simplifies compliance for carriers operating across state lines, ensuring a more efficient and uniform approach to motor carrier oversight.

Who is Subject to the UCR Fee

Entities required to pay the UCR fee include those that operate commercial motor vehicles in interstate or international commerce. This encompasses both for-hire motor carriers transporting property or passengers, and private carriers transporting their own property across state lines. Additionally, freight forwarders, brokers, and leasing companies that lease vehicles without drivers to interstate motor carriers or freight forwarders are also subject to the fee. If a company has a U.S. DOT number and is involved in interstate commerce, UCR registration is required. Even if a carrier is based in a state that does not participate in the UCR program, they must still comply if they operate interstate.

Determining Your UCR Fee

The amount of the UCR fee an entity must pay is primarily determined by the size of its fleet. The program utilizes a tiered structure, where fees increase as the number of vehicles in a fleet grows. A commercial motor vehicle for UCR purposes includes self-propelled vehicles transporting passengers or cargo with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of at least 10,001 pounds, or vehicles designed to carry more than 10 passengers (including the driver) or placarded hazardous materials. Only power units are counted towards the fleet size, while towed units or trailers are not included. The fleet size is based on the number of CMVs owned or operated during the preceding year.

The UCR Fee Payment Process

The UCR fee is an annual requirement. The registration period opens on October 1st and concludes on December 31st for the upcoming year. Payments are generally submitted through an online portal or via state-specific methods, with the UCR National Registration System serving as a common platform. It is important to complete the registration and payment before the annual deadline to avoid potential fines, penalties, or even suspension of operating authority. While the exact fees can vary slightly year to year based on recommendations from the UCR Board, they are uniform across all participating states.