New FMCSA rule increases UCR fees by 20% for 2027 and subsequent years

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a new rule that will increase Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Plan and Agreement registration fees for 2027 and the years to follow.

In a final rule unveiled on August 31, 2026, FMCSA announced a 2027 UCR fee increase averaging 20% over the fee structure adopted for 2025 and retained for 2026.

“The final rule increases the fees paid by motor carriers, motor private carriers of property, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies to the UCR Plan and the participating States,” FMCSA said.

The UCR fee increase will range from between $9 and $9,329 per entity.

See the table below for UCR fee increases from 2025/2026 to 2027.

“FMCSA finds the upward adjustment recommended by the Board is within a reasonable range … This adjustment to the 2027 registration year is expected to cover the projected $21.79 million shortfall in the statutorily required funding,” the agency said.

FMCSA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking announcing the fee increase in April 2026. FMCSA received 34 public comments on rule proposal, many of which opposed increasing UCR fees.

“Several commenters opposed UCR registration fees in general, questioned the purpose behind establishing the UCR fees or the current use of UCR fees, or stated they did not know what UCR fees are used for. Some commenters stated that these fees are an unnecessary tax on motor carriers and should not be increased; some commenters also recommended ceasing to collect UCR registration fees entirely. OOIDA stated that the system no longer meets its original objectives and merely generates “slush fund revenue” for States, who may use the revenue as “a non-Federal match for Federal Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program funding”,” FMCSA said.

The agency responded to commenters by saying that the requirement to assess UCR fees was established by Congress and “neither FMCSA nor the UCR Board have the discretion to cease collecting fees.”

FMCSA defended the fee increase, noting that it is necessary to maintain administration of the UCR program.

“Any amount short of the recommended adjustments would impede proper operations of motor carrier safety programs, enforcement, or the administration of the UCR Plan and UCR Agreement. Even after the 2027 fee increase, the fees for registration year 2027 will still be lower than those in effect during registration years 2019 through 2022. This recalibration of fees is reasonable and in accordance with the structure of, and obligations created by, the statute,” the agency said.

Forty-one states participate in the UCR plan.