Unified Carrier Registration, explained.
The Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) is an annual registration and fee most interstate carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders must pay, based on fleet size. It is separate from insurance. This is general information, not legal advice.
Ready for terms? Get a quote. Want to find the gaps first? Compare your coverage.
What UCR is
UCR is an annual federal program administered through the states that requires interstate operations to register and pay a fee scaled to fleet size. It applies to carriers, brokers, leasing companies, and freight forwarders involved in interstate commerce. It is a registration and fee, not a coverage.
Who pays and when
Most interstate operations must register and pay UCR each year, with the fee tier based on how many vehicles you operate. Registration opens annually, and operating without current UCR can lead to penalties or being stopped. The exact fee tiers change, so verify the current schedule.
Where it fits
UCR sits alongside your USDOT, authority, BOC-3, and insurance filings as part of staying legal to operate interstate. We help you see the full picture, though UCR itself is a registration you complete. This is general information, not legal or FMCSA advice and not a compliance determination. Insurance filings are not the same as legal compliance, and requirements change. Verify current rules and your specific situation with the FMCSA and qualified advisors.
Common questions.
What is UCR?
Who has to pay UCR?
Is UCR the same as my insurance filing?
Make sure your coverage and filings line up
Filings, authority, and coverage are connected. We make sure your insurance supports the filings your operation requires.
Line your coverage up with your filings.
Tell us your authority and operation and we will make sure your insurance supports the filings you need.