The good news is truckers won’t be forced to fork out more for one of those pesky annual fees. The bad news is that the deadline is right around the corner.
UCR fees for 2026 are due to be paid or renewed by Jan. 1. The fees for 2026 are:
| Fleet size | Fee |
|---|---|
| 0-2 | $46 |
| 3-5 | $138 |
| 6-20 | $276 |
| 21-100 | $963 |
| 101-1,000 | $4,592 |
| 1,001 and above | $44,836 |
What the heck are UCR fees?
Unified Carrier Registration may sound like bureaucratic alphabet soup, but for most motor carriers, it’s a yearly must-pay. The UCR applies to all motor carriers and entities required to register with FMCSA, including those based in Canada and Mexico. If you have an active U.S. DOT number, whether it’s being used, sitting idle or marked interstate, according to OOIDA’s Permits and Licensing Department.
All states must enforce UCR requirements, even those not participating in the program. Those sitting out of the program are Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont and Wyoming. Washington, D.C., also does not participate.
The fees collected through UCR help fund motor carrier safety programs, enforcement efforts, and the day-to-day administration of the UCR plan itself. Basically, that annual check goes straight into keeping the system running – something the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association has been highly critical of.
Despite criticism and pushback, the 2026 deadline is approaching. If you’re not comfortable handling this on your own, OOIDA’s Permits and Licensing Department can, for a small fee, help members pay their fees.
Beware of the scams
OOIDA members are again being hit with alarming emails and notices from third-party UCR vendors warning that their UCR fees are overdue. In many cases, the warnings are bogus, and the fees have already been paid.
“This really isn’t anything new when it comes to UCR,” OOIDA Permits and Licensing Department Supervisor Crystal Minardi told Land Line. “We’ve been dealing with complaints about these tactics almost since the program started.”
Minardi said some third-party outfits rely on scare tactics and bad information to pressure motor carriers into paying UCR fees they don’t owe, often tacking on hefty “service” charges in the process.
“If you get one of these notices and something feels off, stop and double-check before you pay,” Minardi said.
Carriers can verify their compliance directly through the official UCR website. OOIDA can also help members confirm whether their UCR fee is already on the books. LL
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