Who needs UCR
UCR applies to companies that operate in interstate commerce and hold a USDOT number: for-hire and private motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders and leasing companies. It is required even if you also have state registrations, and it is required whether or not your base state participates in the UCR program. Carriers based in non-participating states (including Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Wyoming and the District of Columbia) register through a participating state.
Carriers that operate only within one state and do not handle interstate freight generally do not need UCR.
How the fee works
The fee is set each year and depends on the number of power units you operate, counted in brackets: 0 to 2, 3 to 5, 6 to 20, 21 to 100, 101 to 1,000, and more than 1,000. Trailers do not count. Brokers and freight forwarders with no vehicles pay the lowest bracket. Registration for the coming year opens in the fall and enforcement starts on January 1.
What we do
- Confirm that UCR applies to you and work out the correct vehicle count for your bracket.
- File the registration or renewal and send you the receipt for your records and for roadside inspections.
- Note your renewal and contact you before the next registration period opens.
- Catch mismatches between your UCR vehicle count and your MCS-150 record, which is where most UCR questions from enforcement come from.
What you will need
- USDOT number and, if you have one, MC number
- Number of power units operated in interstate commerce
- Payment for the UCR fee for your bracket
Registration is usually confirmed as soon as the filing and payment are processed.
Common questions
Do trailers count toward my UCR bracket?
No. Only power units (trucks and tractors) count. Your count should be consistent with the vehicle figures on your MCS-150.
What happens if I do not register?
UCR is enforced at the roadside and through state audits. Operating without a current registration can result in fines and, in some states, the vehicle being placed out of service until it is resolved.
I registered last year. Do I need to do it again?
Yes. UCR is annual. Each registration covers one calendar year.
Next step: Send us your USDOT number and vehicle count and we will confirm your bracket and file it.
Think and Thank LLC is an independent, privately owned service provider. We are not a government agency and are not affiliated with FMCSA, USDOT, the IRS or any state agency.