The Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Board of Directors proposed a fee increase of 20 percent for the 2027 registration year and for the years following.
Under this proposal, increased fees would land between $9–$9,329 per entity depending on the tax bracket. 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 in its proposal to adopt this fee increase that, despite the increased costs, the fees for registration year 2027 would still be less than they were from 2019–2022. Collections are expected to begin October 2026.
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.
Take action
All comments for this proposal must be received by May 7, 2026, under Docket Number FMCSA-2025-0655. Comments may be submitted online, by mail, or by hand delivery.
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Original article published by J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.