On January 5, 2018, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”) published a Final Rule setting the fees for the Unified Carrier Registration Plan and Agreement (“UCR”).  The January 5, 2018 Final Rule (the “Final Rule”) reduces annual registration fees to be collected from motor carriers (for-hire and private), brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies for the 2018, 2019, and subsequent years. 

All interstate motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies should endeavor to complete their UCR registration as soon as possible.  Though states’ enforcement of the payment of UCR fees generally begins on January 1 of the registration year, the UCR’s Board of Directors (“UCR Board”) has requested that states delay enforcement for 90 days (April 5, 2018) following the publish date of the Final Rule setting fees due to the delay in setting the fee schedule.  The State of Indiana’s Department of Revenue, which operates and maintains the national online UCR registration system, had announced it would begin accepting registrations on January 5, 2018.  Those interstate motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies based in states that maintain their own UCR systems may require more time for the state department to be prepared to accept registrations.  

The fee schedule, as determined by the Final Rule is as follows:

(*Please note that brokers and leasing companies are to pay the fees associated with the 0-2 vehicle bracket.)

This Final Rule was anticipated in early 2017, as federal law requires that the UCR may only collect up to a statutory maximum, and on March 14, 2017 the UCR Board voted to recommend a reduction of registration fees collected in 2018, 2019, and subsequent years.  The adjustment in fees and the Final Rule were required because the fees collected for the 2016 registration year exceeded the total revenue entitlements for the first time in UCR history.