Interstate Carrier ResourcesUCR for Freight Brokers, Freight Forwarders, and Leasing Companies
Reviewed by Austin Park, founder of ICR Filings · Updated November 5, 2026
- Brokers operating in interstate commerce register for UCR every year, even with no trucks.
- Federal law sets a broker's or leasing company's fee equal to the smallest carrier fee: $55 for 2027.
- Freight forwarders pay by the vehicles they operate, like carriers. With no trucks, that is the smallest bracket.
- Register before January 1, 2027. UCR is separate from your broker authority, BOC-3, and bond.
A lot of brokers assume UCR is a trucking fee and skip it because they do not own a truck. It is not tied to trucks. The UCR Plan says all motor carriers, plus brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies operating in interstate or international commerce, are subject to the UCR Agreement.
What each type of business pays
The federal UCR law (49 U.S.C. 14504a) sets the fee rule for each:
| Business | How the fee is set | 2027 fee |
|---|---|---|
| Broker | Equal to the smallest carrier fee | $55 |
| Leasing company | Equal to the smallest carrier fee | $55 |
| Freight forwarder | By commercial vehicles owned or operated, like a carrier | $55 with 0 to 2, more with a larger fleet |
| Motor carrier or private carrier | By commercial vehicles owned or operated | $55 to $54,165 |
For UCR, a leasing company is one that leases or rents vehicles without drivers to carriers, private carriers, or freight forwarders for pay. Full brackets are in 2027 UCR fees and deadline.
Freight forwarders with light vehicles
The UCR Plan's handbook covers forwarders that operate only lighter vehicles: such a business must register for UCR because it has a federal MC number. A light fleet does not exempt you.
If you broker and run trucks
Plenty of small carriers also broker overflow loads. The UCR system has a category for exactly that: a motor carrier or private carrier that is also a broker, freight forwarder, or leasing company. The UCR Plan's public pages do not spell out a separate fee rule for the combination. Your truck count is what puts a carrier above the smallest bracket, so make sure the system is using your real interstate vehicle count before you pay.
UCR is not part of your broker authority
Broker authority goes active with a BOC-3 and a $75,000 BMC-84 bond or BMC-85 trust on file, and losing either one can suspend it. UCR is none of those. It is a yearly registration paid through your base state, and it is checked separately by USDOT number. Keeping your authority active does not keep your UCR current, and the reverse is true too. More on the authority side in BOC-3 for freight brokers.
Deadline and what happens if you skip it
Register for 2027 before January 1, 2027. States check UCR from January 1, and federal law lets them fine brokers, forwarders, and leasing companies that fail to pay, not only carriers. A missed past year is still owed at that year's fee. See UCR penalties.
Your base state works the same way as for a carrier: your principal place of business if it is in one of the 41 participating states. See UCR registration by state.
Common questions
Do freight brokers need UCR?
Yes. The UCR Plan says brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies operating in interstate or international commerce are subject to the UCR Agreement, the same as motor carriers.
How much is UCR for a broker?
The smallest fee in the schedule. Federal law sets the broker and leasing company fee equal to the smallest fee charged to carriers. For 2027 that is $55.
I broker loads and also run trucks. What do I pay?
The UCR system has a category for a motor carrier that is also a broker, freight forwarder, or leasing company. The UCR Plan does not publish a separate fee rule for that combination on its public pages, so check the bracket the system shows against your truck count before you pay, or let us check it for you.
Does UCR replace the broker bond or BOC-3?
No. Broker authority needs the BOC-3 and the $75,000 bond or trust. UCR is a separate yearly fee that goes to the participating states.
Do I carry anything to prove a broker UCR?
No. The UCR Plan says no credential is needed. Registration is checked by USDOT number on ucr.gov or SAFER.
Official sources
- UCR Plan: how UCR is enforced (enforcement brochure)
- 49 U.S.C. 14504a: Unified Carrier Registration
- UCR Plan: do I need to register?
- UCR Plan: frequently asked questions
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you file.
Related guides
- UCR for Texas Carriers: Interstate, Intrastate, and Your TxDMV Number
- What Is UCR Registration? Who Needs It, What It Costs, and How to Renew
- 2027 UCR Fees and Deadline: What Every Carrier Owes
Want us to handle it?
Annual Unified Carrier Registration, filed for you. Our turnaround: same business day.
See UCR Registration