What Does the Unified Carrier Registration Agreement Board Do?

The Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Act has been in existence for over two decades, so people working in the motor carrier industry know they must comply with its regulations. However, you might not be as familiar with the Unified Carrier Registration Board and its role in managing the act.

Learn more about this board’s role in setting interstate trucking regulations and how our team at FMCA Filings can keep you up to date with all of them.

What Is the UCR Board? 

The Unified Carrier Registration Board is a 15-member organization that manages UCR agreement governance. It consists of people of various backgrounds, including: 

• U.S. Dept. of Transportation (USDOT)
• State DOT representatives
• Motor carrier industry representatives

The USDOT secretary appoints members to the board for three-year terms. The terms are staggered, ensuring two-thirds of the board consists of returning members and one-third are new members. The UCR website maintains a list of all current board members, including their email addresses.

The UCR Board sets motor carrier registration fees and manages commercial vehicle safety funding as spelled out in the UCR Act. The board provides oversight of the rules found in UCR for freight brokers. It also maintains a searchable library of digital documents and resources that commercial motor carriers can access at any time.

Even with all these resources, it can be difficult for those working in the commercial motor carrier industry to understand the rules and fees associated with UCR. FMCA Filings tracks all current and proposed UCR rules and fees, helping our clients understand how UCR affects them. We save our clients time and prevent UCR-related errors.

What Is the UCR Act?

Federal legislation established the Unified Carrier Registration Act in 2005. It requires that any companies or individuals operating motor vehicles as part of commercial interstate commerce follow the rules under the UCR Act. It can apply to several different people working in the commercial motor vehicle (CMV) industry, including:

• Motor carrier companies
• Private motor carriers
• CMV leasing companies
• Freight carriers and forwarders
• CMV brokers

As part of following those rules, CMV operators must pay an annual fee based on the size of their fleets. (The UCR Board sets the fees.) 

The UCR program replaced the Single States Registration System (SSRS). UCR’s primary focus was to make it easier for commercial operators to register and operate in more than one state. The UCR applies to anyone who drives a CMV across state lines or into a foreign country. 

The Unified Carrier Registration Act also defined a CMV as any vehicle that has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 10,000 pounds or that transports more than 10 passengers. Any operator who’s transporting hazardous materials that need a placard on the vehicle also fits the definition of a CMV.

Understanding UCR Fees

The primary usage for UCR fees is to fund and manage CMV safety and awareness programs. The fees also cover expenses for enforcing UCR rules, including the training of USDOT officers.

Companies that operate fleets with more vehicles will pay more in UCR fees than smaller operating companies. Each of the 40-plus states that participate in UCR then receives some of the money paid into the UCR. 

The fees are due annually, typically by December 31. Fees may change from year to year, depending on the decisions made by the UCR Board. During the 2020s, fees have fluctuated both upward and downward from one year to the next, making it challenging for operators to track all changes.

Failing to pay the correct amount in UCR fees or missing the deadline for paying your fees can result in fines and penalties. When you allow the experts at FMCA Filings to manage your UCR fees, be confident that we’ll deliver accurate calculations and keep you in compliance. Should changes to fees occur because of the work of the Unified Carrier Registration Board, our experts will inform you and help you avoid errors.

Let FMCA Filings Help With All Your UCR Needs

When you’re running a commercial motor carrier business, you have a lot of different things to track. Having help with managing UCR filing and other aspects of staying in compliance with federal regulations can be among the most challenging.

At FMCA Filings, we can help. Our experts possess the experience and skills to ensure you remain compliant with all federal and state requirements, including those related to Unified Carrier Registration. To learn more, contact us by completing our online form or using our live chat feature.