What is Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) and who must pay it?

Short answer

The Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) is a federal registration program that requires motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders to register and pay annual fees. Entities subject to UCR must register and pay fees, which vary based on the number of vehicles owned or operated.

The rule says

"The Unified Carrier Registration Act of 2005, enacted as Subtitle C of Title IV of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, as amended." (Federal Register 2010-9674)

"This rule establishes annual registration fees and a fee bracket structure for the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Agreement for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2010, as required under the Unified Carrier Registration Act of 2005..." (Federal Register 2010-9674)

In plain English

The UCR program is a federal registration requirement that applies to motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders. The program aims to ensure that these entities register and pay annual fees to support the administration of the program. The fees are based on the number of vehicles owned or operated by the entity, and the registration process typically involves filing through the official UCR registration system and verifying state-specific requirements.

What to do

• Register with the UCR administrative agency
• Pay applicable annual fees
• Maintain proof of registration for each operating vehicle
• Verify state-specific requirements, such as those outlined by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission or the West Virginia Public Service Commission
• File UCR registration and pay fees via the UCR website, and retain the UCR receipt in safety or compliance files.