APRIL 16, 2019 – Have you updated your annual UCR yet? If not, you still have a little time thanks to a last-minute extension by the UCR Board. With many motor carriers still not compliant as the April 1 deadline neared, the UCR Board recommended that enforcement officials give carriers an additional month to register before enforcement begins. This was the second time the deadline was extended for the 2019 registration year.
Carriers are usually required to purchase their annual UCR between October and December for the upcoming year, although delays in approving the fee schedule has delayed the process for the last few years. Because the FMCSA approved UCR fees for “registration years 2019, 2020 and thereafter,” carriers should expect the normal process to resume this year, with registration opening for 2020 UCRs on October 1.
All interstate motor carriers, brokers and freight forwarders are required to purchase an annual UCR. The fees from the annual program help supplement funding for motor carrier enforcement and safety programs in all participating states.
The penalties for operating a commercial motor vehicle without a valid UCR vary from state to state, but can result in fines of $500 to $1,000 per violation and out-of-service orders. To avoid penalties, it’s important that you update your UCR as soon as possible. If you aren’t sure whether your registration is up date, please call us at (800) 253-5506 and we’ll make sure you have the registrations you need to operate compliantly.