Fmcsa.com

07/10/2026

When filing UCR, should you count your trucks, or your trucks and trailers? How much interstate activity makes it required to report?

This is one of the most common questions carriers and owner-operators have during UCR registration.

In general, UCR fleet-size brackets are based on commercial motor vehicles, commonly called power units, not trailers. Counting trailers by mistake could put your business into the wrong UCR fee bracket.

Our latest Fmcsa.com article explains:
- What generally counts as a UCR power unit
- Why trailers are typically treated differently
- How fleet size affects your UCR fee bracket
- How MCS-150 information can affect your UCR filing
- Common mistakes for owner-operators and private fleets

Read the full guide > https://fmcsa.com/blog/is-my-ucr-power-unit-count-based-on-trucks-or-trailers/

Ready to file your UCR? Call our U.S.-based team at (800) 500-9295 for live filing assistance or visit FMCSA.com to self-file online.

FMCSA.com is an independent third-party service provider and is not affiliated with or part of the U.S. Government.

One of the most common questions carriers ask during UCR renewal is simple: Is my UCR power unit count based on trucks or trailers? The general answer is that UCR registration is based on commercial motor vehicles, also commonly referred to as power units, not trailers. That distinction matters. UCR...

05/10/2026

UCR season is now here. Is your business ready for your 2027 renewal?

UCR is an annual registration requirement for qualifying interstate motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies, and you must handle each registration year separately.

Our latest article breaks down what trucking businesses need to know about 2027 UCR registration dates, deadlines, fees, fleet-size requirements, and how to prepare for the upcoming filing period.

If you still have an outstanding UCR requirement from a prior year, filing for 2027 does not automatically resolve it.

Read the full article > https://fmcsa.com/blog/2027-ucr-registration-dates-deadlines-fees/

Ready to file? Call our U.S.-based team at (800) 500-9295 for live UCR filing assistance or visit FMCSA.com to self-file online.

FMCSA.com is an independent third-party service provider and is not affiliated with or part of the U.S. Government.

2027 UCR registration opens October 1, 2026 with a practical deadline of December 31, 2026. See proposed fee increases, fee brackets, who must register, and how Dakota Group can help carriers, brokers, and fleets file on time.

01/10/2026

It's October 1. The 2027 UCR Filing Is now open.

Before submitting, review your power unit count, fleet changes, vehicle dispositions, and other information that could affect your registration.

The filing window runs from October 1 through December 31, 2026.

Call (800) 500-9295 or visit FMCSA.com/ucr-filing-portal to complete your renewal in minutes with help from our team of third-party industry professionals.

Disclaimer: Fmcsa.com is a third-party compliance service provider and is not affiliated with the U.S. federal government or any of its agencies.

Independent third-party trucking compliance professionals providing live U.S.-based support for UCR, MCS-150, MOTUS, SAFER, DOT registration & more. Not affiliated with or part of the U.S. Government.

29/09/2026

The Supreme Court’s 2026 decision in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II has brought renewed attention to carrier safety records and how brokers, shippers, insurers, and carriers interpret FMCSA data.

What does an FMCSA safety rating actually tell you about a motor carrier?

The labels are often misunderstood:
- Satisfactory does not guarantee a carrier is risk-free.
- Conditional is a meaningful FMCSA finding that deserves attention.
- Unsatisfactory carries serious regulatory consequences.
- Unrated does not mean a carrier received a bad safety rating—it means FMCSA has not assigned one.

Our latest Fmcsa.com article explains what these ratings actually mean, why current inspection and compliance information matters, and what the Montgomery decision could mean for carrier selection and public compliance records.

Read the full piece > https://fmcsa.com/blog/understanding-fmcsa-safety-ratings-after-montgomery-v-caribe-transport-ii/

Need help reviewing or updating your trucking paperwork? Call our U.S.-based team at (800) 500-9295 for live filing assistance or visit FMCSA.com to self-file online.

FMCSA.com is an independent third-party service provider and is not affiliated with or part of the U.S. Government.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s May 14, 2026 decision in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC has put renewed attention on a question the trucking industry has wrestled with for years: What should brokers, shippers, insurers, and motor carriers make of a carrier’s FMCSA safety rating? The answer requ...

25/09/2026

2027 UCR Filing Opens Next Week.

The 2027 UCR registration period begins October 1 and runs through December 31, 2026.

If your business is required to renew, now is the time to prepare. Confirm your power unit count and current business information so you are ready when the filing window opens.

Don't wait until the end of the year to address your annual registration.

Call (800) 500-9295 or visit FMCSA.com/ucr-filing-portal to complete your 2027 UCR renewal in minutes with professional filing support.

Disclaimer: Fmcsa.com is a third-party compliance service provider and is not affiliated with the U.S. federal government or any of its agencies.

Quickstart Filings 2026 / 2027 UCR Filing Portal Unified Carrier Registration Details: The UCR registration filing period officially opens on October 1st every year. All required carriers must complete their registration by December 31st. UCR fees are based on the number of trucks operating under yo...

23/09/2026

The FMCSA registration system is changing. If you still rely on the legacy FMCSA Portal, now is the time to prepare for MOTUS if you are not already enrolled.

Registration functions are transitioning into MOTUS, changing how motor carriers and other regulated businesses access and manage their federal registration information.

Waiting until you urgently need to update your USDOT information can create unnecessary problems if your Login.gov account, Company Official designation, USDOT linkage, or authorized-user access is not ready.

Carriers should have a strong handle on:
- MOTUS enrollment and access
- Login.gov credentials
- Company Official information
- Authorized users
- USDOT number linkage
- Current company and MCS-150 information

Our latest article explains what is changing, what carriers should prepare for, and how the transition from the legacy FMCSA Portal could affect future registration activity.

Read the full article > https://fmcsa.com/blog/is-motus-replacing-the-fmcsa-portal/

Need professional assistance with your MOTUS enrollment? Call our U.S.-based team at (800) 500-9295 for live assistance or visit FMCSA.com to get started online.

FMCSA.com is an independent third-party service provider and is not affiliated with or part of the U.S. Government.

Many carriers are asking the same question: Is MOTUS replacing the FMCSA Portal? The answer is yes, but with important context. MOTUS is FMCSA’s new USDOT Registration System. It is part of FMCSA’s broader registration modernization effort and is intended to replace outdated registration tools, ...

22/09/2026

Could military driving experience create a faster path into a civilian trucking career?

The new Freedom Haulers initiative is designed to expand military-to-CDL pathways for veterans and transitioning service members, including greater recognition of qualifying military heavy-vehicle experience, CDL testing waivers, training resources, and connections with trucking employers.

For motor carriers, the initiative could create another pipeline for recruiting experienced drivers, but a faster path to a CDL does not eliminate normal driver qualification, medical, Drug & Alcohol Testing, Clearinghouse, or other applicable compliance requirements.

Our latest Fmcsa.com article breaks down Freedom Haulers, the Military Skills Test Waiver, Even Exchange, state participation, and what carriers interested in recruiting veterans should know.

Read the full article > https://fmcsa.com/blog/freedom-haulers-trumps-veteran-trucking-initiative/

Need help with your MOTUS Enrollment or UCR Renewal? Call our U.S.-based team at (800) 500-9295 for live filing assistance or visit FMCSA.com to self-file online.

FMCSA.com is an independent third-party service provider and is not affiliated with or part of the U.S. Government.

For thousands of service members leaving the military, the transition to civilian employment can mean starting over in an unfamiliar industry. However, for veterans who spent their military careers operating heavy vehicles some of the skills required in civilian trucking are already familiar. The Tr...

17/09/2026

You do not have to consider yourself a trucking company for DOT Drug & Alcohol Testing requirements to apply.

Construction companies, utilities, manufacturers, distributors, landscapers, municipalities, and other private fleets may operate CDL-required vehicles even when transportation is only one part of the business.

If employees operate covered commercial motor vehicles, requirements may include DOT Drug & Alcohol Testing, random testing, Clearinghouse queries, reasonable suspicion training, post-accident procedures, and proper driver records. Even an employee who only drives a CDL vehicle occasionally may require review.

Our latest Fmcsa.com article explains what construction, utility, and private fleets should know about their testing requirements.

Read the full piece > https://fmcsa.com/blog/dot-drug-testing-for-construction-utility-and-private-fleets/

Need help with DAT program? Call our U.S.-based team at (800) 500-9295 to enroll in a management program or visit FMCSA.com to enroll online.

FMCSA.com is an independent third-party service provider and is not affiliated with or part of the U.S. Government.

Many construction companies, utility operators, manufacturers, distributors, landscapers, municipalities, and private fleets do not think of themselves as trucking companies. They may own dump trucks, bucket trucks, utility trucks, service vehicles, fuel trucks, water trucks, crane trucks, equipment...

15/09/2026

CDL school enforcement is getting more aggressive. What does that mean for motor carriers and drivers heading into 2027?

Federal regulators are increasing scrutiny of CDL training providers, instructors, testing practices, driver credentials, and the records behind commercial driver licensing.

For carriers, the impact goes beyond the school itself. A CDL does not eliminate the need for proper driver qualification and verification.

Our latest Fmcsa.com article breaks down the CDL school crackdown, what regulators are reviewing, and what trucking companies should be watching as enforcement continues.

Read the full article > https://fmcsa.com/blog/cdl-school-crackdowns-2027-fmcsa-enforcement/

Need help with your trucking paperwork? Call our U.S.-based team at (800) 500-9295 for live filing assistance or visit FMCSA.com to self-file online in minutes.

FMCSA.com is an independent third-party service provider and is not affiliated with or part of the U.S. Government.

FMCSA is removing non-compliant ELDT providers and linking roadside violations to CDL schools. Learn what carriers, schools, and drivers must prepare for in 2027.

14/09/2026

Need to handle your 2027 UCR and MOTUS enrollment?

Don't spend your day bouncing between compliance tasks.

Self-file your 2027 UCR at FMCSA.com/UCR-Filing-Portal/ or call (800) 500-9295 to reach our team for live assistance with MOTUS enrollment and your UCR update together in one quick call