Transcript Unified Carrier Registration (UCR)

Unified Carrier Registration
(UCR)
Update August 24, 2006
Unified Carrier Registration
(UCR)
• The Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) replaces the Single
State Registration System (SSRS)
– What is the purpose of SSRS – UCR?
• SSRS is a state administered registration program covering forhire inter-state motor carriers. SSRS ensures that all inter-state
motor carriers maintain public liability insurance at the
appropriate levels and are properly authorized to operate.
• The new UCR will include all motor carriers, private, for-hire,
brokers, freight forwarders, leasing companies and exempt forhire motor carriers.
• SAFETEA-LU ensures that all participating states will not lose
essential funding due to the re-structuring of the fee structure.
Unified Carrier Registration
(UCR)
• The Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) replaces the Single
State Registration System (SSRS)
• The UCR Agreement is the interstate agreement developed under
the UCR Plan to govern the collection and distribution of
registration and financial responsibility information provided and
fees paid by motor carriers including for-hire & private motor
carriers, freight forwarders, brokers and leasing companies
• The UCR Plan means the organization of State, Federal and
Industry representatives responsible for developing, implementing
and administering the UCR Agreement
Unified Carrier Registration
(UCR)
• What is the Unified Carrier Registration System (UCR)?
– The UCR is a unified carrier registration system that shall serve as a
clearinghouse and depository of information on and identification of
all foreign and domestic motor carriers, motor private carriers, freight
forwarders, brokers and others required to register with the US
Department of Transportation, including information with respect to
carrier’s safety ratings, compliance with required levels of financial
responsibility, and compliance with the provisions of the law. The
US DOT shall ensure that Federal agencies, States, representatives of
the motor carrier industry and the public have access to the UCR
system including records and information contained in the system.
Unified Carrier Registration
(UCR)
• UCR Agreement
– The UCR Agreement shall provide the following
• Determination of fees
• Determination of Ownership or Operation
• Calculation of Number of Commercial Motor Vehicles Owned or
Operated
• Payment of Fees
• Distribution of UCR Agreement Revenue
• Distribution of Funds from the Depository
• Intra-State Carriers
• Identification of Vehicles
Unified Carrier Registration
(UCR)
• UCR Plan Governance
– The UCR Plan shall be governed by a Board of Directors
– The UCR Board of Directors shall consist of representatives of:
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Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
State Agencies
Motor Carrier Industry
US Department of Transportation
Unified Carrier Registration
(UCR)
• Rules and Regulations Governing the UCR Agreement
– The Board of Directors shall issue rules and regulations to govern the UCR
Agreement
– The rules and regulations shall
• Prescribe uniform forms and formats
• Provide for the administration of the UCR Agreement, including procedures for
amending the Agreement and obtaining clarification of any provision of the
Agreement
• Designate a Depository (Bank)
– The Board may contract with any private commercial or non-profit entity or
any agency of a State to perform administrative functions required under the
UCR Agreement, but may not delegate its decision or policy making
responsibilities
Unified Carrier Registration
(UCR)
• Determination of Annual Fees Carriers Pay
– The Board of Directors shall recommend to the DOT
Secretary the initial annual fees to be assessed to carriers
– In making its recommendation the Board shall consider
• The administrative cost associated with the UCR Plan and the
Agreement;
• Whether the revenues generated in the previous year and any
surplus or shortage from that or prior years enable the
participating States to achieve the revenue levels set by the
Board
Unified Carrier Registration
(UCR)
• Seeking Extension of SSRS for One Year
– Working with other interested organizations to try to secure an
extension of the SSRS for one year to be repealed January 1,
2008 instead of January 1, 2007 as it will under the current
provisions.
• On Thursday July 20th the full Senate Appropriations
Committee approved the Transportation, Treasury, the
Judiciary and Housing and Urban Development
appropriations. The SSRS extension language stayed in the
bill and was included in the bill. Stay tuned for future updates
as they come.
Unified Carrier Registration
(UCR)
• Seeking Extension of SSRS for One Year
– Senate Appropriations Committee Language
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ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS—FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
Section 130 subjects the funds in this act to section 350 of Public Law 107-87 in order to ensure the safety
of all cross-border long haul operations conducted by Mexican-domiciled commercial carriers.
Section 131. SAFETEA-LU includes a provision for the repeal of the Single State Registration System
[SSRS] on January 1, 2007, and its replacement with a new Unified Carrier Registration System [UCR].
The Committee, however, believes that a repeal of SSRS is premature given that progress on instituting
the UCR has been insignificant. The current SSRS brings in approximately $100,000,000 in registration
fees to the States that participate in the program, funds that are often used to cover the cost of
transportation safety and enforcement programs. For this reason, the Committee includes language that
would delay the repeal of SSRS by 12 months, and require the Government Accountability Office to
report to the Congress on the progress being made in establishing the UCR.
Section 132. This section makes a correction to Public Law 109-59 regarding the definition of a
commercial motor vehicle and regulation of freight forwarders and brokers.
Unified Carrier Registration
(UCR)
• Unresolved issues to be addressed by UCR Board
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UCR rules and regulations
UCR Agreement
UCR Fees
UCR Board administrative procedures
UCR on-line system
Approval of UCR State Plans
Creation of sub-committees (dispute resolution, etc.)
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Unified Carrier Registration
(UCR)
• Issues States need to address:
– Obtain enabling legislation to participate and collect fees under the
UCR
– Submit UCR Plan for approval
– Carrier education
– Implement UCR processing system
– Establish enforcement plan
Unified Carrier Registration
(UCR)
• UCR Enabling Legislation
– State will, in most cases, need to obtain enabling state legislation
allowing them to participate in the UCR
– In some cases states may only have to change SSRS to UCR in
their current law
– In some states they are including much of the requirements of the
UCR
– In some state they are simply stating the States authority to
participate
– Some states are using this an a opportunity to give clearer
authority
Unified Carrier Registration
(UCR)
• UCR State Plans
– No State shall be eligible to participate in the UCR plan or to
receive any revenues derived under the UCR Agreement, unless
the State submits to the US DOT Secretary not later than 3 years
after the date of enactment of the UCR Act of 2005, a plan
• Identifying the State agency that has or will have the legal authority,
resources, and qualified personnel to administer the UCR Agreement
• Demonstrate that an amount at least equal to the revenue derived by
the State from the UCR shall be used for motor carrier safety
programs, enforcement, or the administration of the UCR Plan and
UCR Agreement.
Unified Carrier Registration
(UCR)
• A lot of work to be done and not a lot of time
to get it done.
• Please share:
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Enabling legislation
State Plans
Implementation plans
System information