UCR for freight forwarders
Reviewed by Korey Sharp-Paar · Updated
Freight forwarders holding MC-FF authority register with UCR annually under 49 CFR Part 367. Forwarders without their own CMV equipment lock to Tier 1 ($90); forwarders operating their own trucks pay according to power-unit count. Online filing in either case.
Forwarder UCR fundamentals
The UCR rule under 49 CFR Part 367 applies to every interstate motor carrier, broker, freight forwarder, and leasing company. Freight forwarders are explicitly named in the rule. The fee is keyed to power-unit count, so most forwarders (no own equipment) sit at Tier 1; forwarders with their own LTL operations or line-haul fleet pay according to fleet size.
See brokers and forwarders UCR guide for the per-classification detail.
What you get
- UCR 2027 Tier 1 registration as a freight forwarder (or higher tier if running own equipment)
- Submitted to the National UCR System.
- Receipt PDF for the forwarder's compliance file
Pricing
UCR Tier 1 (forwarders without CMV equipment), one-time per registration year: $90 ($55 UCR government fee + $35 service fee). Forwarders running their own trucks pay the tier for their power-unit count.
| Tier (power units) | UCR government fee | Service fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 (0–2 vehicles) | $55 | $35 | $90 |
| Tier 2 (3–5 vehicles) | $167 | $88 | $255 |
| Tier 3 (6–20 vehicles) | $333 | $142 | $475 |
| Tier 4 (21–100 vehicles) | $1,163 | $337 | $1,500 |
| Tier 5 (101+ vehicles) | Quoted | ||
The UCR government fee is itemized separately from our service fee, and both are shown before you pay. Brokers, leasing companies and freight forwarders that operate no commercial motor vehicles pay the Bracket 1 fee. One-time price per registration year.
Forwarder UCR questions
Do freight forwarders need UCR?
Yes. UCR applies to every interstate motor carrier, freight broker, freight forwarder, and leasing company under 49 CFR Part 367. Forwarders holding an MC-FF (or operating as part of an MC entity) need annual UCR registration regardless of business model. Forwarders without their own CMV equipment pay Tier 1 ($90 ($55 UCR government fee + $35 service fee)); forwarders operating their own trucks pay based on power-unit count.
How is freight forwarder UCR different from broker UCR?
For a forwarder without CMV equipment, the UCR filing is essentially identical to a broker filing - both pay Tier 1 ($90 ($55 UCR government fee + $35 service fee)) with the same registration form. The distinction matters for FMCSA operating-authority licensing (different OP-1 application: OP-1(P) for property carriers, MC-FF for freight forwarders, MC-B for brokers) but doesn't change the UCR fee structure.
I'm a forwarder operating my own LTL fleet - what tier?
You pay according to power-unit count, not the forwarder classification. A forwarder running 8 trucks in their own LTL operation pays Tier 3 ($475 ($333 UCR government fee + $142 service fee) - based on the 8 power units) for the UCR. The forwarder business model doesn't change the tier; the equipment count does. Same applies to ocean/air forwarders that also run their own truck fleet for last-mile.
Other UCR contexts
You might also need
- BOC-3 (forwarder BOC-3) - Order a BOC-3
Order your UCR registration online
We prepare your UCR registration; it is submitted to the National UCR System. The UCR government fee is itemized separately from our service fee, and both are shown before you pay.
Submitted to the National UCR System.
Independent filing service operated by Fast Filing Group LLC. Not affiliated with FMCSA, USDOT, UCR.gov or any government agency.