Step-By-Step Guide To Unified Carrier Registration Renewal

As the year closes out, the Unified Carrier Registration renewal deadline creeps closer. If you haven’t renewed your UCR registration for 2025, you might want to get a leg up on that obligation. Federal Motor Carrier Authority Filings explains the process below with a brief guide to help you comply. 

A Brief Overview of the Unified Carrier Registration

The Unified Carrier Registration gathers monetary resources from trucking companies and other business entities that use or rely on interstate roads to reach their destinations. The money helps upkeep those roadways. Registering with the UCR Program is required for DOT compliance if you do any type of interstate commerce.

Chances are you’ve registered in previous years if you’ve worked in the trucking industry for a while. However, you must renew your registration year after year to comply. What should you do to prepare for the renewal?

How To Go About Unified Carrier Registration Renewal

The annual renewal process closes on December 31st of each year. So, once you head into November or December, you should prepare the necessary documents, organize your carrier information, and submit your renewal forms. We'll go over what the process involves below. 

Step One: Get Your Information and Documentation Organized

Your UCR fees depend on your position within the industry and how many, if any, vehicles your business entity owns. Have the following information on hand before you start renewing:

• Number of qualifying vehicles within your fleet: List the fleet vehicles that you use to travel across state lines. 
• The type of cargo you carry: Most carriers specialize in hazardous substances, passenger transport, livestock carriage, or cargo shipments. You might also perform a combination of these. 
• Your industry role: Are you a motor carrier, broker, forwarder, or leasing company? These specifics will help classify your operation. 
• Your USDOT number: This 17-digit sequence connects you to your information. 
• Your tax I.D. number: You can use your social security or employer identification number for this slot. 
• Your carrier contact information: Include your business’s physical address, phone number, and email handle alongside any additional contact methods. 

Once you’ve collected this information, navigate to FMCA Filings’s website. 

Step Two: Sign Up With FMCA Filings or Log Into Your Existing Portal

If you haven’t registered with FMCA Filings, you can create a new account to hold your permits and registration information. Otherwise, you’ll just:

1. Click Filings and Permits in the upper-right page corner.
2. Click the Select Options button under the UCR option for the specific year.
3. Read our Unified Carrier Registration information.
4. Click Proceed to Filing. 
5. Enter your USDOT number.

You can easily update any outdated information and submit your Unified Carrier Registration renewal. If you have questions or face any obstacles, contact FMCA Filings for assistance at any time. 

Step Three: Budget for and Pay Your UCR Fees

Your transportation fee depends on your fleet size. If you have two or fewer vehicles, you will likely pay less than 100 dollars. However, the fees can reach over $40,000 under certain exceptional circumstances. Pay your balance through our portal. 

Step Four: Check for Your Registration Confirmation

FMCA Filings will send you a confirmation email to verify your UCR renewal. If you don’t receive it, let your representatives know so you can have it for your records. 

Step Five: Add Next Year’s Renewal Date to Your Calendar

The year’s end always brings about fresh compliance requirements. Don’t get caught up in the fray. Set a notification for the following so you will remember to renew your registration. 

What Vehicles Are Exempt From UCR?

While many motor carrier operations are subject to the UCR program, others, including the following, aren’t:

• Most carriers transporting only passengers with no cargo or other materials
• Vehicles that only travel within one state that doesn't require registration for intrastate travel
• Fleets for first responders, like police officers, firefighters, and paramedics
• Vehicles that weigh less than 10,000 pounds

However, these transport providers will still be subject to other permits and compliance requirements. 

What If My Headquarters Are in a Non-Participating State?

You should still pay the UCR fees if your headquarters are in a state that doesn’t participate in the program, especially if you do interstate transport. You can pick an office located in a participating state as your registration address instead. The states that don’t take part in the UCR Program include:

• Washing D.C.
• Arizona
• Wyoming
• Hawaii
• Vermont
• Florida
• Oregon
• Maryland
• New Jersey
• Nevada

Federal Motor Carrier Authority Filings Can Help You With Renewal and Other Transportation Filings

Have you completed your Unified Carrier Registration renewal this year? Log into FMCA Filings’ portal to complete it before December 31st. We can also help with checking UCR states so you can pick an appropriate base-state office address. Keep your permits in one accessible place!