Short answer
The Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) is an annual registration and fee required by federal law (49 U.S.C. 14504a) for interstate motor carriers, private carriers, freight forwarders, brokers, and leasing companies. Carriers pay a fee based on how many commercial motor vehicles they operate, through their base state. The current fee brackets are published at plan.ucr.gov.
- UCR is not insurance and not operating authority. It is a separate annual compliance item, and Texas carriers that run only intrastate generally are not part of it.
Who has to register
UCR applies to entities operating in interstate commerce: for-hire and private motor carriers, freight forwarders, brokers, and leasing companies. Each pays through its base state, which is generally the state of its principal place of business.
For a Texas carrier that runs only within Texas, the statute leaves it to each state whether to bring intrastate-only carriers into UCR. TxDMV has told carriers with a Texas intrastate certificate and no interstate operations to update their USDOT profile to intrastate only, so they stop receiving UCR notices. If you haul even occasional interstate freight, plan on registering. See Texas intrastate requirements for the state side.
How the fee is set
The fee is per company, not per truck, and rises by bracket with the number of commercial motor vehicles. Under 14504a(f)(3), the count comes from your most recent MCS-150 or your total for the 12 months ending June 30 before the registration year. That is one more reason to keep your MCS-150 accurate. Brokers and leasing companies pay the smallest carrier fee.
Fees change by registration year, so check the current bracket table on the UCR plan site rather than relying on last year's number.
Where UCR fits with insurance
UCR, operating authority, the BOC-3, and your insurance filings are separate items that tend to show up together when you start new authority. An insurer cannot file UCR for you, and paying UCR does not satisfy any insurance requirement. Brokers' onboarding checks sometimes look at UCR status along with insurance, so a lapsed UCR can hold up a packet.
Common questions
When is UCR due?
UCR is annual and tied to a registration year. Register before the year begins. The UCR plan site lists the current registration year and its fees.
Do I count trucks I lease from an owner-operator?
The fee is based on commercial motor vehicles you own or operate. Leased-on equipment can affect the count, so follow the UCR plan's instructions for your situation.
Does UCR replace IFTA or IRP?
No. IFTA (fuel tax) and IRP (apportioned plates) are separate programs with their own filings.
Sources
- 49 U.S.C. 14504a, Unified carrier registration system plan and agreement (Cornell LII). Who is covered, base state, fee basis on vehicle count, broker fee, state option for intrastate-only carriers.
- Unified Carrier Registration Plan, Fee Brackets. Current bracket table by number of vehicles and registration year.
- TxDMV UCR bulletin (January 28, 2019). Intrastate-only Texas carriers advised to update USDOT profile to intrastate to stop UCR notices.
This page explains insurance, not law. Have your attorney review indemnity and contract language; our job is making the insurance match it.
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