Unified Carrier Registration
File UCR registration without the maze.
File or renew your Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) online. UCR is the annual filing for interstate motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies. Enter your USDOT number, confirm your vehicle count, and see your total before you pay.
- Annual interstate filing
- Start with your USDOT number
- See your total before payment
Unified Carrier Registration
What is Unified Carrier Registration?
Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) is the annual registration for interstate motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies. You file once per calendar year. The cost follows your commercial vehicle count, often from the MCS-150. UCR sits alongside your USDOT number. It does not replace it.
Who needs to file UCR?
If you operate commercial motor vehicles across state lines, or you broker, forward, or lease those vehicles, you likely need an annual UCR filing. Intrastate-only carriers generally do not. The filing flow confirms your category before you pay.
Interstate motor carriers
For-hire and private carriers operating in interstate or international commerce.
Brokers
Property brokers that arrange interstate transportation file UCR in the 0–2 vehicle bracket.
Freight forwarders
Forwarders in interstate commerce file the same annual registration as carriers.
Leasing companies
Companies that lease commercial motor vehicles for interstate use are in the UCR program.
UCR vs USDOT vs MCS-150
How UCR registration differs from a USDOT number and the MCS-150.
| Requirement | What it is |
|---|---|
| UCR registration | Annual registration based on fleet sizeOnce each calendar year |
| USDOT number | Carrier identity for your safety recordOnce, then keep it current |
| MCS-150 | Census of your operation and vehiclesBiennial update, or when counts change |
How filing works
How to file UCR online
Start with your USDOT number. Confirm the vehicle count that sets your bracket, often from the MCS-150. Pay securely online, then save the registration record. Most single-carrier filings take about three minutes.
Enter your USDOT number
We look up your carrier record so you are not retyping legal name, address, and operation type.
Confirm your vehicle bracket
Your fleet size sets your UCR bracket. Most carriers use the MCS-150 count. Your total is visible before you continue.
Pay securely online
Pay for your bracket in one step. Brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies use the 0–2 vehicle bracket.
Save your registration record
Your completed UCR registration arrives ready to save, print, or share with your team.
Simple pricing
UCR pricing by fleet size.
One total per filing, set by how many commercial motor vehicles you operate. Brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies use the 0–2 vehicle bracket. You always see your total before you pay.
UCR help
UCR questions, answered.
Do I need to file UCR?
If you operate a commercial motor vehicle in interstate or international commerce, you likely need an annual UCR filing. That includes private and for-hire motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies. Intrastate-only carriers generally do not. The filing flow confirms your category before you start.
When is UCR due?
UCR registration covers the calendar year. Filing usually opens on October 1 for the next year and is due by December 31. After January 1, participating states can cite carriers who have not filed.
How much does UCR filing cost?
Pricing follows your fleet size, from the 0–2 vehicle bracket up to 1,000 vehicles. Brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies use the 0–2 vehicle bracket. Your total is shown before you pay. Fleets over 1,000 vehicles get a custom quote.
Is UCR the same as a USDOT number?
No. A USDOT number identifies your business and safety record. UCR is a separate annual registration. Many interstate carriers need both. The MCS-150 is the census form that often supplies the vehicle count for your UCR bracket.
Do I need to renew UCR every year?
Yes. UCR covers one calendar year and does not carry over, so every year you operate in interstate commerce needs its own registration. Renewal usually opens October 1 for the next year.
Who is exempt from UCR?
Carriers that operate only within one state are generally exempt, as are private motor carriers of passengers. Brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies in interstate commerce are not exempt; they pay the lowest bracket.
Can I file UCR for a past year?
Yes. If you operated interstate in a year you did not register, you can still file for that year. Looking up your USDOT number shows which years are unregistered.
How do I file UCR online?
Enter your USDOT number, confirm your vehicle bracket, pay securely online, and save the registration record.
What information should I have ready?
Have your USDOT number, legal business name, and the number of commercial motor vehicles you operate. Most carriers use the count already on the MCS-150.