When Is UCR Registration Due for 2024?

No matter whether you’re a new broker or have been in the game for many years, you’ve no doubt heard the term “UCR.” However, if you don’t know what it is or have no idea when the registration deadline occurs each year, you could face some challenges. For one, you would have to pause service to reinstate your USDOT number and could end up losing clients.

So when is UCR registration due for you? Don’t worry; in this post, we will go over some details about the program. You can also renew a USDOT UCR registration on the Federal Motor Carrier Authority Online Filings website to avoid the fines or penalties from individual states if you fail to file.

What is UCR?

The United States Congress established the Unified Carrier Registration program in 2005. Its purpose is to partially fund the enforcement of motor carrier safety regulations in each participating state.

Do you have an active USDOT number? You must register for the annual UCR permit. Not all states require UCR registration, but state enforcement is a requirement, apart from in the following states: 

• Oregon
• Wyoming
• Nevada
• Arizona
• Hawaii
• Maryland
• Florida
• New Jersey
• Vermont

Washington, D.C., though not a state, also does not require UCR registration. 

However, if you live in a state that doesn’t participate, you will still have to obtain a UCR registration to legally travel across state lines. So, to remain in good standing and avoid penalties, it’s best to file UCR in any participating state close to you.

What Do UCR Fees Cover?

Unified Carrier Registration acts as a tax for OTR transport. Fees go to individual states to support roadside inspections, routine audits, and other methods of enforcement for commercial vehicles that carry cargo across state lines.

Unified Carrier Registration Renewal

Each broker must submit a yearly renewal, even if no information about the business or the fleet size has changed. The policy ensures there are no inactive carriers on file. That’s why failing to submit for the year could halt business as you deal with revoked authority and other penalties.

It’s helpful to keep good records of what you need to renew each year. For instance, you may need additional licensure for states you travel through or the freight you carry. Regulations can vary between states, but compliance is mandatory.

The UCR Enrollment Period

You have to think ahead to file your annual renewal in time, but when is UCR registration due? The registration period is the same every year, from October 1 to December 31.

If you miss the compliance deadline, you won’t be able to legally operate, starting on January 1. Drivers who cross state lines without a current UCR registration face penalties and fines of up to $5,000. However, the full scope of consequences depends on the states you travel through.

Who Needs To File a UCR Agreement?

Any operating entity crossing state lines or traveling internationally needs a UCR. Still, this requirement isn’t limited to drivers; leasing companies and brokers who organize freight shipments must also keep up with it. 

Truckers based anywhere in North America and operating in the United States must file UCR. Carriers themselves pay a fee based on the number of vehicles in their fleet. Brokers pay less.

How Much Are UCR Fees?

Unified Carrier Registration fees vary depending on the number of vehicles in your fleet. Fees are negligible for a small fleet (of 2 vehicles) but increase quickly beyond 1,000 vehicles in operation.

The low fee may surprise you, but it changes every year. For example, the 2024 fees decreased by about 9 percent because the total revenue in previous years exceeded the maximum entitlements. So, the fee schedule beyond the current year would depend on the total revenue in that year.

Renew Your UCR On Time To Avoid Penalty

All vehicles carrying cargo across state lines or internationally within North America must update their Unified Carrier Registration once per year. The cost depends on the vehicles operating within the fleet.

When is UCR registration due this year? If you catch yourself wondering this same thing every year, it pays to mark it down on your calendar. Every year, registration opens on October 1st and closes on December 31st, so you must submit your renewal within that time frame to avoid penalties.

How does the process look? The Federal Motor Carrier Authority Online Filings team offers a complete guide to UCR renewal and answers to all your questions. The team is happy to help, whether it’s you’re heading out for the first time, or you’ve been on the road so long you just can’t remember when you filed what.

When is UCR registration due for you? Why not keep your UCR registration current and hassle-free on the FMCA Online Filings portal? Use the chat feature to ask questions or submit the online form for a representative to reach out to you.