UCR for new carriers: your first filing, and why Q4 can mean two years

Do new carriers need UCR?

Yes, if you operate in interstate or international commerce. A new trucking company, a new USDOT number, or new operating authority is not an exemption. UCR applies to for-hire and private motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies. Carriers that operate only within one state generally don't file it.

UCR is not part of getting your USDOT number or operating authority. It is a separate registration with the UCR Plan, and FMCSA does not file it for you.

Read the full UCR requirements, including exemptions

When should a new carrier file UCR?

Before your first interstate trip, for the calendar year you start in. Operating without a current registration is a violation, and participating states enforce UCR at roadside inspections, at ports of entry, and in audits. Fines are set by each state.

After that first filing, UCR is annual. Registration for the next year opens on October 1 and is due by December 31.

Why can starting in Q4 mean two UCR years?

Registration for 2027 opens on October 1, 2026, while 2026 is still running. A carrier that starts in the last quarter operates in 2026 for a few weeks and in 2027 from January 1, and each year needs its own registration.

With us, each registration year is its own filing with its own total, and the filing flow shows which years your USDOT number still needs.

How does a new carrier count vehicles for UCR?

Your vehicle count sets your bracket. Federal law allows two counts: the vehicles on your most recent MCS-150, or the vehicles you owned or operated in the 12 months ending June 30 of the year before the registration year. A new carrier has just filed its MCS-150, so the first count usually starts from that form.

• Count self-propelled commercial motor vehicles only: 10,001 pounds or more, built to carry more than 10 people including the driver, or carrying placarded hazardous materials. Trailers don't count.
• Count vehicles you lease for more than 30 days.
• Brokers and leasing companies don't count vehicles. They file in the 0–2 vehicle bracket. Freight forwarders count vehicles like carriers.

What does a new broker or freight forwarder file for UCR?

The same annual registration. Brokers and leasing companies skip the vehicle count and file in the 0–2 vehicle bracket every year, from the year they start operating in interstate commerce. Freight forwarders file by vehicle count, like motor carriers, and so does a broker that also operates its own trucks.

What mistakes do new carriers make with UCR?

• Filing only next year's registration in October to December, and leaving the current year unregistered.
• Assuming FMCSA registered them for UCR along with the USDOT number or authority.
• Filing under a DBA or a related company's USDOT number instead of their own.
• Counting trailers, or leaving out trucks leased for more than 30 days.
• Not saving the registration confirmation with their compliance records.

How to check your UCR status

UCR, USDOT, MC number, and BOC-3: what is each?

New carriers often meet these four at once. UCR is the only one you file every year:

Is UCR the same as a USDOT or MC number?

How do you file your first UCR registration?

1. Enter your USDOT number. The lookup pulls your carrier record and shows each year's status.
2. Choose the registration year. In October to December, file both years you need.
3. Confirm your commercial vehicle count, or your broker or leasing company classification.
4. Review your total and pay online.
5. We submit your registration to the UCR Plan and email you the confirmation once it is issued.

Our total filing price starts at $129 for 0–2 vehicles, and you see it before you pay.

Start your first UCR filing