Washington State Unified Carrier Registration UCR Requirements

Dec. 19, 2025, 5:39 p.m.
The Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) program is a federally-mandated interstate registration system administered by participating states (including Washington) to collect annual fees from certain motor carriers and related entities. The fees fund safety programs and enforcement activities across states. WUTC
Washington State UCR

Who Must Register for UCR in Washington?

You must register for UCR if your trucking business:

  1. Is based in Washington or lists Washington as your base state, and

  2. Operates in interstate commerce — meaning you cross state lines with your commercial vehicles or arrange interstate transport (as a broker, freight forwarder, or leasing company). 

Covered entities include:

  • For-hire motor carriers

  • Private carriers hauling their own freight across state lines

  • Freight forwarders

  • Leasing companies

  • Brokers arranging interstate transportation 

Note: Simply having a USDOT number does not automatically trigger UCR — you must be involved in interstate operations to need UCR registration. 

Definition of a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV)

Under UCR, a CMV typically includes vehicles that:

  • Have a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 10,001 lbs or more

  • Are designed to carry 10+ passengers (including driver)

  • Transport hazardous materials requiring placards 

Registration Process

Where to Register

Washington participates in the national UCR registration system — you register online at the:

https://www.fmcsa.me/

How to Register

  1. Go to the UCR site.

  2. Enter your USDOT number to pull up your business profile.

  3. Report the number of commercial vehicles in your fleet.

  4. Pay the annual UCR fee based on that fleet size.

  5. Keep your receipt as proof of compliance. 

 

Annual Fee Structure

Fees are set by fleet size and do not prorate — you pay once per year for the full calendar year. Example brackets (2025/2026 approx.): 

Fleet Size Approx. Annual Fee (WA/UCR)
0–2 vehicles $129
3–5 vehicles $275
6–20 vehicles $499
21–100 vehicles $1,785
101–1,000 vehicles $9,985
1,001+ vehicles $119,745

Fees can update yearly — always check current UCR tables before paying. 

When to Register

The UCR registration period typically opens each year on October 1 for the upcoming registration year (e.g., 2026 registration opens Oct 1, 2025). 

Deadline: Complete your registration before Dec. 31 of the year preceding the registration year to avoid non-compliance. 

Proof of Compliance

You aren’t required to carry a physical credential in the truck, but it’s a good practice to keep your UCR payment receipt available for inspections. 

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Failing to register or renew UCR can lead to:

  • Fines and penalties during inspections

  • Citation by enforcement officers

  • Delays or holds on your authority until compliance is restored 

Intrastate Carriers & UCR

If your operations are strictly inside Washington (no interstate commerce), UCR generally does not apply — though other state permits and USDOT requirements may still be needed depending on your vehicle weights and services. 

Key Takeaways

 The UCR is federal-mandated but administered by Washington’s Utilities & Transportation Commission.  
Interstate carriers must register annually and pay based on fleet size.  
 Registration is done online at  https://www.fmcsa.me/
 Intrastate trucking only does not generally trigger UCR. 

 

https://www.utc.wa.gov/UCR