UCR Fee Increase to Be Applied by FMCSA in 2027

UCR Fee Increase Proposed by FMCSA for 2027

The UCR Fee proposal from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) could raise annual registration costs for motor carriers starting in 2027. The agency is proposing an average increase of 20%, which would affect carriers, brokers, and other transportation businesses across the country.

What the UCR Fee Proposal Means

The proposed UCR Fee increase would apply to companies required to register under the Unified Carrier Registration program. This includes motor carriers, motor private carriers, freight brokers, and leasing companies.

FMCSA said the increase would begin in the 2027 registration year and continue in future years unless updated through another rulemaking.

The UCR program collects fees that are distributed to participating states to support safety enforcement and administrative operations.

Fee Comparison: 2026 vs. 2027

The proposed changes show that the UCR Fee will increase across all fleet sizes starting in 2027. For smaller carriers operating between zero and two trucks, the fee would rise from $46 to $55. Carriers with three to five trucks would see their fee increase from $138 to $167.

For mid-sized fleets, the changes are more noticeable. Carriers operating six to 20 trucks would pay $333 instead of $276, while those with 21 to 100 trucks would see their fee rise from $963 to $1,163.

Larger fleets would face the biggest increases in total dollars. Companies with 101 to 1,000 trucks would see fees go from $4,592 to $5,548. Meanwhile, carriers operating more than 1,000 trucks could see their UCR Fee increase from $44,836 to $54,165.

Overall, the increase ranges from $9 for smaller carriers to more than $9,000 for the largest fleets.

Why FMCSA Is Proposing a UCR Fee Increase

FMCSA said the increase is needed to address a projected funding shortfall of about $21.79 million.

Current fee levels are not expected to generate enough revenue to:

• Cover payments to participating states
• Fund the administrative costs of the UCR program

Under federal law, the program must collect enough revenue to meet these obligations, which is why the increase is being proposed.

UCR Fee Remains Lower Than Past Years

Even with the proposed increase, the Fee would remain lower than the levels seen between 2019 and 2022.

In recent years, fees were reduced due to excess collections and changes in market conditions. Now, the trend is shifting as funding needs increase again.

No UCR Fee Change for 2026

FMCSA confirmed that there will be no UCR Fee change for the 2026 registration year.

This means carriers will continue paying current rates through 2026 before any potential increase takes effect in 2027.

Public Comments Open

FMCSA is accepting public comments on the proposed increase before issuing a final rule.

Stakeholders can submit feedback through the federal rulemaking process. The agency will review all comments before making a final decision.

What the UCR Fee Increase Means for Trucking

The proposed UCR Fee increase could raise operating costs across the trucking industry.

For smaller carriers and owner-operators, the increase may be limited. However, larger fleets could see more noticeable cost changes due to higher fee brackets.

Overall, the proposal reflects how regulatory costs can shift over time based on funding needs and industry conditions.