Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) in Colorado

Who has to file in Colorado?

If your business is based in Colorado and operates in interstate commerce, you file. That covers:

• For-hire carriers: companies that move freight or passengers across state lines for pay.
• Private carriers: businesses that haul their own goods in their own equipment.
• Freight brokers and forwarders: anyone who arranges freight moves, even without owning a single truck.
• Leasing companies: businesses that lease commercial vehicles to interstate carriers.

A vehicle counts if it’s a power unit with a GVWR or GVW of 10,001 lbs or more, is built to carry 10 or more passengers, or hauls placarded hazardous materials.

2026 Colorado UCR fees

Your fee depends on how many power units you have. Trailers don’t count. Fees are the same as last year. Brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies with no power units pay the lowest tier.

What happens if you miss the deadline?

Registration opens October 1 for the coming year, and payment is due December 31. Enforcement starts January 1. If you haven’t filed by then, expect problems:

• Out-of-service orders: Inspectors and weigh station staff can hold your trucks until the UCR fees are paid.
• CSA score damage: A violation for failing to pay UCR (FMCSR 392.2) counts against your CSA score and can push up your insurance rates.
• Audits: If the fleet size on your UCR filing doesn’t match your MCS-150 records, that mismatch often leads to a full DOT safety audit.

How to file with Simple Truck Tax

• Confirm your base state: Your principal place of business needs to be in Colorado.
• Count your power units: Include every active unit running in interstate commerce, and make sure the number matches your current MCS-150.
• File through Simple Truck Tax: Enter your USDOT/MC number, check the fleet details that fill in automatically, and pay the fee.
• Save your Certificate of Filing: Keep digital and printed copies of your UCR receipt for at least three years. You may need them for roadside checks or an audit.

FAQs

Do I have to keep a paper UCR certificate in the truck?

Federal rules don’t require it. Still, having a digital or printed copy handy for drivers can speed up a roadside inspection, especially when the state verification system is slow.

Do intrastate carriers in Colorado pay UCR?

No. UCR only applies to carriers, brokers, and leasing companies operating in interstate commerce, meaning across state or international lines. If you run only inside Colorado, you’re exempt.

How is the MCS-150 different from UCR?

The MCS-150 is the biennial update where you give FMCSA your current carrier information. UCR is a yearly fee for operating across participating states. The two are linked, though, because FMCSA checks the vehicle count on your UCR filing against your MCS-150 data.