Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Fees and Filing in Connecticut

What is UCR?

UCR is a federal program that states run. Anyone operating a commercial vehicle in interstate commerce pays an annual fee, and the amount depends on how many power units you run.

Connecticut isn’t a base state for filing, so most carriers register through the national UCR portal or through a participating state like Massachusetts, Maine, or Rhode Island. Either way, if your trucks run in or through Connecticut, you need to be registered.

Who has to file

You need to file if you run interstate and you’re any of these:

• For-hire carrier: you haul people or freight that belongs to someone else.
• Private carrier: you haul your own goods across state lines.
• Broker, freight forwarder, or leasing company: you arrange or coordinate interstate moves, even if you don’t own a single truck.

Which vehicles count

A vehicle falls under UCR if it crosses state lines and meets any one of these:

• GVWR or GVW of 10,001 pounds or more
• Built to carry 10 or more people, driver included
• Hauling hazmat in amounts that require placards

2026 fee brackets

Your fee depends on how many power units you operate. Brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies pay the lowest bracket.

Some online filing services tack on a processing fee, so check the total before you pay.

Deadline

The portal opens October 1 for the coming year, and payment is due December 31. If you run interstate after that date without a valid registration, expect roadside citations, delays, and fines.

How to file

• Check your USDOT number and MCS-150: Make sure your biennial update is current with FMCSA.
• Count your power units: Include every truck, tractor, and passenger vehicle you ran across state lines in the past 12 months.
• Pick your base state: Use the national registration portal or an approved participating state.
• Enter your details and pay: Put in your USDOT or MC number, confirm your bracket, and pay by card or e-check.
• Keep your receipt: Save a digital or printed copy for roadside inspections and audits.

Common questions

What if I run in Connecticut without paying?

You could get a citation, a fine that starts in the hundreds of dollars, and your truck held until you show proof of payment.

I only run inside Connecticut. Do I need UCR?

No. If every mile stays inside the state and you never carry interstate cargo or passengers, UCR doesn’t apply to you.

Do trailers count toward my fleet size?

No. Only self-propelled vehicles count: straight trucks, tractors, and motor coaches.