What You Need to Know About 2024 Unified Carrier Registration

Unified carrier registration is officially open. Are you required to file a UCR for 2024?

You may remember the UCR Board made an announcement in previous years, updating the definition of what qualifies as a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) – and redefined exactly who needs Unified Carrier Registration to legally operate in interstate commerce.

Below, we cover the definition of a CMV, what the UCR is, and when UCR filing is due for the upcoming year.

What is a commercial motor vehicle?

All CMVs that operate in interstate commerce (meaning across state lines) are required to have a valid UCR registration.

But what qualifies as a CMV? Here’s how the UCR Board defines it:

• The vehicle has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of at least 10,001 pounds—whichever is greater. The UCR Board also added that eligible vehicles include those with connected trailing equipment having a gross combination weight rating or gross combination weight of at least 10,001 pounds, whichever is greater.
• The vehicle carries placarded amounts of hazardous materials, regardless of vehicle weight.
• The vehicle is designed to carry more than 10 passengers. The UCR Board has added that the driver is included in this number.

While these changes may not seem significant, it’s important for carriers and drivers to know whether or not they needed a UCR in the past, they should double-check these definitions to see if they are liable. Otherwise, they may not be compliant and risk being subject to fines, violations, and vehicle detainment. 

What is Unified Carrier Registration?

The UCR is a state revenue-sharing program and interstate compact established by federal law in 2005 that requires all operators of commercial vehicles who are involved in interstate and international travel to register and pay annual fees.

Fees collected through the UCR program are used to fund the enforcement of safety and compliance programs throughout the country.

Companies who make arrangements for the shipment of goods, such as brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies, are subject to UCR payments—as is any company with a federal MC number.

When is the Unified Carrier Registration due?

Carriers must file their UCR for the upcoming year no later than December 31 of the preceding year.

For 2024 UCR registration, payments must be made no later than December 31, 2023.

UCR filing officially opened on October 1, with payment amounts based on the size of a carrier’s fleet. It’s important to note that leased vehicles under a carrier’s DOT number are also their responsibility. 

File Your Unified Carrier Registration Renewal Now

If you don’t file your annual UCR and your drivers are caught moving freight over state lines, enforcement officials could detain your vehicles, and you could be required to pay additional fines and penalties—which, depending on the state, can be as high as $5,000 for first-time offenders.

Is your UCR registration ready to carry you into 2024? Rather than waiting until the last minute, Foley can manage the registration for you and ensure your UCR is updated and compliant.

Click here to let Foley take UCR filing off your end-of-year compliance to-do list.