UCR - Who Must Apply
The Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) program applies to all of the following that are required to be registered with the United States Department of Transportation (DOT):
- For-hire motor carriers
- Exempt for-hire motor carriers
- Private motor carriers
- Freight forwarders
- Brokers
- Leasing companies
Classification Definitions
Commercial motor vehicle - (as defined under 49 USC Section 31101) means a self-propelled or towed vehicle used on the highways in commerce principally to transport passengers or cargo, if the vehicle: (1) Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of at least 10,001 pounds, whichever is greater; (2) Is designed to transport more than 10 passengers including the driver; or (3) Is used in transporting material found by the Secretary of Transportation to be hazardous under section 5103 of this title and transported in a quantity requiring placarding under regulations prescribed by the Secretary under section 5103.
Motor carrier - means a person providing motor vehicle transportation for compensation.
Motor private carrier - means a person who provides interstate transportation of property or passengers in order to support its primary line of business.
Broker - means a person, other than a motor carrier, who sells or arranges for transportation by a motor carrier for compensation.
Freight forwarder - means a person that arranges for truck transportation of cargo belonging to others, utilizing for-hire carriers to provide the actual truck transportation, and also performs or provides for assembling, consolidating, break-bulk and distribution of shipments and assumes responsibility for transportation from place of receipt to destination.
Leasing company - means a person or company engaged in the business of leasing or renting for compensation motor vehicles they own without drivers to a motor carrier, motor private carrier, or freight forwarder.
