It might be easy to dismiss United Carrier Registration as just another bureaucratic hoop that takes time and money away from your business.
There are forms to fill out, fees to pay…blah, blah, blah.
And if you don’t comply…you could face some hefty fines.
Thing is, although it seems like a royal PIA, UCR registration makes our roads safer, and, if you understand the system, it actually streamlines the registration process.
Are you in compliance?
Let’s find out!
Understanding the Unified Carrier Registration
The Unified Carrier Registration (also known as the UCR act) came into effect to replace confusing state-administered programs that attempted to register commercial motor vehicles. The UCR agreement created one federally mandated, regardless of residing state, vehicle registration program to pay annual vehicle registration fees via the UCR.
The program is overseen by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the US Department of Transportation (DOT). The UCR is set up to ensure that commercial vehicles crossing state lines have a valid reason to do so.
Who Needs to Register?
The UCR program requires interstate motor carriers, freight forwarders, intermodal equipment providers, etc., that travel across state lines to register their vehicles with the federal government. UCR includes all carriers – private, exempt, or for hire. In addition, brokers and leasing companies are also required to register and pay a fee unless they also operate as motor carriers.
There are a few exceptions to UCR registration:
- Vehicles that remain in a single state for business travel
- Carriers that transport less than ten passengers
- Firetrucks and emergency vehicles
- Companies that only operate vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of fewer than 10,000 pounds.
In other words:
If you operate one or more commercial vehicles across state lines that weigh more than 10,000 pounds, even if you are a broker or leasing company, you most likely need to pay UCR registration fees.
And, we understand the tediousness and frustration of bureaucratic red tape! We can take care of ALL your UCR questions and filing for you with just a quick phone call! No worries, no hassle, and your entire fleet is in compliance. Click the contact us link below to get started!
UCR Fees
In the Unified Carrier Registration plan, there is only one annual fee-based registration needed for each vehicle. The amount of registration fee is based on the number of qualifying vehicles in the carrier’s fleet size.
Here’s a breakdown of the current UCR fee scale:
| 2023 Unified Carrier Registration Plan Fees | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of power units | 0-2 | 3-5 | 6-20 | 21-100 | 101-1000 | 1,001 and above |
| 2023 fee | $41 | $121 | $242 | $844 | $4,024 | $39,289 |
Benefits of Complying with UCR
Obviously, first and foremost, the major benefit of complying with UCR is to avoid fines and potential shutdown of your business by not being registered.
But UCR uses the registration fees to fund safety programs, USDOT officer training, and state enforcement agencies. This in turn helps to ensure that all commercial vehicles are abiding by federal regulations and allows the agencies to carry out their mission of keeping our roads safe for everyone.
Getting Your UCR
Now that you know some of the ins and outs of UCR, you’re ready to complete the registration.
How do you get registered?
You can go to https://www.ucr.gov/ to register yourself.
However, many people find the registration process boring and sometimes confusing.
That’s why we’re here!
Permit Shop is ready to guide you through every step of the registration process and make the experience smooth and easy.
Call us at (417) 833-3355, and we can file the UCR for you!
Have More Questions about UCR?
The Permit Shop is happy to answer any questions you may have about UCR and the registration process.
Whether you’re new to the carrier industry and need a step-by-step walk through or you’re an experienced carrier that just doesn’t want to deal with UCR alone anymore, we are here to help!
Contact us today about any of your UCR needs!
