FMCSA's September 1 final rule raises Unified Carrier Registration fees by an average of 20% for the 2027 registration year, setting a $55 fee for the smallest carrier bracket and $54,165 for fleets with 1,001 or more CMVs.
Final rule sets the 2027 fee schedule
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published a final rule dated September 1, 2026 that amends 49 CFR Part 367. It adopts the Unified Carrier Registration Plan Board's recommended increase for registration year 2027 and subsequent years unless a later rule changes the schedule. The average increase is 20% over the fees used for 2025 and retained for 2026.
Who the rule covers
The UCR program applies to covered motor carriers, motor private carriers of property, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies. Participating states collect the annual registration fees, and the revenues are allocated to the participating states and the UCR Plan. A carrier should confirm its own UCR applicability and fleet count through the official registration system or its compliance adviser rather than relying on a general article.
The six 2027 carrier fee brackets
For carriers and freight forwarders, the final schedule is $55 for zero to two CMVs; $167 for three to five; $333 for six to 20; $1,163 for 21 to 100; $5,548 for 101 to 1,000; and $54,165 for 1,001 or more. Brokers and leasing companies pay $55 per entity. The corresponding 2025–2026 fees were $46, $138, $276, $963, $4,592, and $44,836.
Dollar increases range from $9 to $9,329
The smallest bracket rises by $9, while the largest rises by $9,329. FMCSA says the increase averages 20% across the schedule and that 2027 fee levels remain below those charged from 2019 through 2022. For owner-operators and small fleets, the direct fee change is modest in dollars, but it still belongs in the annual compliance calendar and operating-cost forecast.
FMCSA cites a projected $21.79 million shortfall
The agency says the adjustment is expected to cover a projected $21.79 million funding shortfall and help meet an overall statutory revenue requirement of $118 million. The final rule explains that collections fluctuate with the number of registered interstate entities and fleet sizes, while statutory state revenue entitlements remain fixed. It also says earlier excess collections have been depleted.
The rule follows public comments
FMCSA published the proposal on April 7, 2026 and ultimately received 34 comments, 33 of them within scope, after extending the comment period through May 26. The final rule discusses objections involving business costs, the UCR system, litigation, administrative expenses, calculation methods, and small-business effects. FMCSA finalized the recommended increase without modification.
Effective date and registration-year timing
The rule is effective October 1, 2026, 30 days after its September 1 publication. The new dollar amounts apply to registration year 2027, not the 2026 fee year. The final rule explains that UCR collections for a fee year begin on October 1 of the preceding year and continue through the following year for late registrations and dispute resolution. Covered entities should verify the live registration cycle and payment status through UCR.gov.
What small carriers should do now
Confirm the number of qualifying CMVs used for the UCR bracket, identify the person responsible for registration, update the 2027 compliance budget, and use the official portal rather than an unsolicited third-party payment request. Keep the confirmation with carrier records and reconcile the fleet count with current registration data. If operations, authority, ownership, or entity type changed, obtain qualified guidance before selecting a bracket.
Primary-source note
This report summarizes FMCSA final rule RIN 2126-AC72, docket FMCSA-2025-0655, filed August 31 and published September 1, 2026. The Federal Register document, codified regulation, official UCR portal, and any later correction or rule control. Fee amounts in this article are taken directly from the final table in new 49 CFR 367.50.
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Official sources
Federal Register: 2027 UCR fee final rule, September 1, 2026Official UCR registration portalFMCSA Unified Carrier Registration resourcesCDL Truck Pro provides educational information. Confirm licensing, safety, tax, and regulatory requirements through current official sources and qualified professionals.