Question 1

Am I required to pay the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR)?

Accepted Answer

Private property carriers, for-hire passenger, property, and exempt commodity carriers, freight forwarders, leasing companies, and brokers engaged in interstate commerce are subject to annual UCR registration and fees.

Carriers from Canada or Mexico operating in the United States are also subject to UCR registration.

Question 2

How are the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) fees determined?

Accepted Answer

The UCR fee structure is a bracket system, with the per-carrier fees based on the number of vehicles the motor carrier operates. UCR fees are not imposed per vehicle.

Brokers, leasing companies, and freight forwarders (who do not operate any commercial motor vehicles) are subject to the lowest fee bracket. However, if these entities are also motor carriers, they are subject to the fee according to the number of vehicles they operate in interstate commerce.

Question 3

We are a U.S.-based carrier that will be operating into Canada. Do we need to comply with Canada’s hours of service regulations?

Accepted Answer

Yes. U.S-based carriers are subject to Canada’s hours of service regulations and must respect Canada’s rules. Many of Canada’s driving and on-duty limits are more lenient than the U.S. regulations. However, there are additional items required on a daily log that aren’t required by U.S. regulations. The additional items Canada requires on the log includes the driver’s name printed, the driver’s cycle declaration, starting and ending odometer reading, carrier’s principal place of business address, and personal use starting and ending odometer reading (if applicable). Also, if a U.S. driver entering Canada doesn’t have a log for the day immediately preceding the day on which he/she will be entering Canada, he/she must provide in the “Remarks” section a record of all off-duty and on-duty hours for the previous 14 days. These items apply to paper or electronic logs.