# UCR Tier Explained by Fleet Size: The 2026 Tier Table

Canonical: https://www.fastucrfiling.com/guides/ucr-tier-explained-by-fleet-size
Category: UCR Filing
Published: 2026-05-02
Updated: 2026-05-02
Read time: 7 min read

> Full UCR tier breakdown for the 2026 registration year by fleet size. Tier 1 through Tier 6 totals, who fits where, and how the count is computed under 49 USC §14504a.

## TL;DR

> The full UCR tier-by-fleet-size table for the 2026 registration year, including how the count is computed under 49 USC §14504a, the 21-truck Tier 3/Tier 4 boundary, and anti-fragmentation guidance.

## Key takeaways

- Six tiers: 0–2 (T1), 3–5 (T2), 6–20 (T3), 21–100 (T4), 101–1,000 (T5), 1,001+ (T6).
- FastUCR Filing Tier 1 = $80 base / $70 auto-renew; remaining tiers scale with the federal schedule.
- Count = peak prior-12-month CMVs operated by the registrant in interstate commerce.
- Leased-in trucks under long-term leases count toward the lessor carrier’s tier.
- Splitting a fleet across multiple shell entities to dodge a tier is a 49 USC §14504a violation.

## Cited entities

- 49 USC §14504a (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/49/14504a)
- 49 CFR Part 367 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-367)
- 49 CFR Part 376 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-376)
- UCR Plan (https://www.ucr.gov/)
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/)

## FAQ

### How is fleet size counted for UCR tier purposes?

Fleet size is the number of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) the registrant operated in interstate commerce during the prior 12 months. The number is statutory under 49 USC §14504a and counts power units, with trailers and other qualifying vehicles included where applicable. Brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies that operate no vehicles file at Tier 1 by default.

### What is the Tier 1 fee for the 2026 UCR registration year?

For 2026, FastUCR’s Tier 1 (0–2 vehicles) total is $80 one-time — $46 federal fee + $34 service fee — or $70/year on auto-renew. The federal portion is set by the UCR Plan board and published in the Federal Register; verify the current schedule against the UCR Plan’s authoritative numbers before filing.

### Does counting 21 vehicles really jump me to Tier 4?

Yes. Tier 3 caps at 20 CMVs. A 21st vehicle moves the registrant into Tier 4 (21–100), which is a steep step. Carriers near the boundary often look for documentation showing trucks were sold, parked, or off-fleet during the prior 12 months — the count is honest, not optimistic, but boundary cases are worth verifying.

### Can I split my fleet across multiple UCR registrations to lower my tier?

No. UCR is one registration per legal entity holding interstate FMCSA authority. You cannot split a single MC number across two filings, and intentionally registering separate shell entities to dodge tier exposure is a violation of 49 USC §14504a and the UCR Plan’s anti-fragmentation guidance.

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Full article: https://www.fastucrfiling.com/guides/ucr-tier-explained-by-fleet-size