Unified Carrier Registration (UCR)

The Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Program is a federal law that requires individuals and companies that operate commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce to register their business with their "base state." You pay an annual fee based on the size of your fleet. UCR applies to all states in the continental US. If a Canadian or Mexican carrier travels in the United States, UCR is required.  UCR registration can be paid online at www.UCR.gov.

UCR requires all carriers to annually file their application and pay the fees.

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The following categories of operation are subject to the fees and other rules imposed under the UCR program, provided they operate in interstate commerce in the United States:

• Motor carriers of property, both for-hire and private, whether or not they are considered exempt carriers for purposes of federal regulation
• For-hire passenger motor carriers
• Freight forwarders
• Brokers
• Leasing companies that lease vehicles without drivers to interstate motor carriers or freight forwarders
• Companies whose DOT number is in Active status
• Companies whose DOT number is registered for Interstate operation
• Companies registered as a carrier, broker, freight forwarder, or leasing company on your MCS-150

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Update Your Record or Request a MCS-150 Form

Please go online to http://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov to update your DOT record or call the FMCSA’s toll-free number at 1-800-832-5660 to have an MCS-150 form mailed to you.
Complete the new MCS-150 form, sign, and mail to:

FMCSA, Attn: USDOT Number Application
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20590

Credentials are not required to be carried in the vehicle as proof of compliance. The receipt can be carried in the vehicle as proof of payment if you choose.

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Payment of Fees

The UCR fees are a flat “per carrier” fee, determined by the number of commercial motor vehicles that were reported on your last MCS-150 form. The fees can also be determined by the total number of commercial motor vehicles owned and operated for the 12 month period ending June 30 of the year immediately prior to the year for which the UCR registration is made. Some examples are:

• For-hire motor carriers transporting property or passengers and motor private carriers transporting property, the UCR fees are based only on the total number of commercial motor vehicles operated.
• For brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies that operate motor vehicles, the UCR fees are based on fleet size.
• Brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies that do NOT operate motor vehicles are levied at the smallest fee category.

UCR Registration can be paid online at www.UCR.gov. Log in and follow the step-by-step instructions as prompted. All payments must be made by either credit card or e-check.
NOTE: There is a transaction fee for filing online.

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Consequences for Not Registering

Vehicles operating in interstate commerce may be stopped by any law enforcement officer in any jurisdiction and are subject to any applicable enforcement action including vehicle impoundment and driver arrest. Louisiana will deny IRP registration for any other vehicles associated with the same DOT number. Also, during a roadside inspection, officers may cite carriers operating in violation, resulting in fines.

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If You Are No Longer in Business

If you are no longer in business, you must complete an updated MCS-150 and submit it to the FMCSA to have your DOT number canceled. Complete items 1-16 of a new MCS-150 form, check the “Out of Business” box at the top of the form, sign the form, and mail to:

FMCSA, Attn: USDOT Number Application
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20590

You can call the FMCSA toll free at 1-800-832-5660 to have an MCS-150 form mailed to you.

An updated MCS-150 will only exempt you from fees that are due for the current year. Any previous year’s fees that are outstanding must still be paid unless you can provide acceptable proof as to the date you went out of business. Acceptable proof includes items such as:

Documentation from the Secretary of State
Documentation from the LA Department of Revenue
Copy of an individual Death Certificate

REMEMBER: In almost all cases, UCR registration has to be current to register or renew IRP apportioned accounts.