If you’re a motor carrier and you don’t currently have a Unified Carrier Registration (UCR), it’s important to get one right away. Unregistered motor carriers who cross state lines without one could be fined and have their trucks pulled off the road — meaning resources, time, and money can all be wasted.
But what if you’re not sure your business is subject to UCR requirements? Now that the UCR filing period is officially open, the compliance specialists at Foley are ready to answer all your UCR-related questions.
In this article, we’ll cover …
UCR stands for Unified Carrier Registration. It is a federally mandated system for registering operators of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in North America.
Whether you operate CMVs in two states or twenty, you are required to complete your UCR filing every year, as long as you meet the requirements detailed below.
This annual UCR filing must be renewed by December 31st each year. Registration for the upcoming year began on October 1st, giving motor carriers over two months to file before the end of the year.
According to UCR Board policy, enforcement for the 2025 registration year is recommended to begin on January 1st, 2025.
But this doesn’t mean you should wait until the last minute. The sooner you file, the more prepared you’ll be for a successful, compliant year. Foley can take care of your UCR filing for you, so there’s no reason to put it off any longer!
Any motor carrier who drives a commercial vehicle carrying cargo over state or international lines must file an annual UCR. Individuals and companies who arrange the shipment of goods, such as brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies are also subject to the UCR fee.
Specifically, any business that operates CMVs meeting the following thresholds is required to file:
Still not sure if you need a UCR? The Unified Carrier Registration has a convenient questionnaire to help you determine if you must file.
For motor carriers, the cost of the UCR filing fee is dependent on the total number of vehicles in a fleet. Brokers and leasing companies pay the lowest fee to register.
You can see how fees are distributed based on this information in the chart on the bottom of this page.
If you don’t pay for the UCR, and you are caught driving over state lines, enforcement officials could detain your vehicles. Plus, you could be required to pay additional fines and penalties. Depending on which state you’re from, the fine could be anywhere from $100 to $5000 for first-time offenders.
Currently, 41 states in the U.S. are participating in the UCR program. The following states are not participating:
If the state in which your business is located doesn’t participate in the UCR program, that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook.
UCR enforcement starts January 1st. Have you filed your UCR yet?
Any motor carrier who travels over state lines is required to purchase a UCR. If your business is in a state that doesn’t participate, you are required to purchase a UCR filing in the nearest participating state.
Because the UCR system is based on a motor carrier’s unique DOT number, each business needs to file its UCR registration individually.
If your business did not file a UCR for 2024 and it was in operation at any time during the year, however, you can file both your 2024 and 2025 UCR registrations at once to avoid additional fines and the risk of being put out of service.
Now that you have the answers to the most common UCR questions, you should be able to determine if you need to file a UCR.
We know you already have a lot on your plate with other annual DOT compliance matters. Foley can make the UCR filing process simple. Call us at (860) 530-6310 or click here to file your 2025 UCR registration with Foley now!
