Don’t get spooked: UCR fees increasing by 20 percent

September 3, 2026

Effective October 1, 2026, Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) fees have increased by an average of 20 percent.

The UCR Board of Directors finalized this 20-percent fee increase for the 2027 registration year and for the years following, with fees increasing between $9–$9,329 per entity depending on the tax bracket. Fees for the 2027 registration year are as follows:

Bracket	# of CMVs owned or operated	Fee
B1	0-2	$55
B2	3-5	$167
B3	6-20	$333
B4	21-100	$1,163
B5	101-1,000	$5,548
B6	1,001 and above	$54,165

UCR fees must be paid by motor carriers, motor private carriers of property, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) notes that, despite the increased costs, the fees for registration year 2027 will still be less than they were from 2019–2022.

Background

No fee increases were proposed for the 2026 registration year, but on September 18, 2025, the UCR Board of Directors recommended a fee increase for 2027 that averages out to about 20 percent across all brackets.

Supporting documents were submitted, in addition to an explanation of the basis for the recommendation and proposed procedures. There’s also an explanation of the methodology used to calculate the fee to allow the public to properly analyze the data and make comments.

The purpose of the fee increase is to cover a projected shortfall of nearly $22 million in required funding. The proposal for this increase was posted to the Federal Register in April 2026, with comments opened until early May.

Take action

Petitions for Reconsideration of the final rule on fee increases must be submitted by October 1, 2026.

Publish Date

September 3, 2026

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Industry News

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