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Commercial Motor Carriers

MCS Goals and Responsibilities
The Motor Carrier Services Division (MCS) protects Montana's and the Federal Government's investment in Montana's highway system and ensures the safety of the traveling public through uniform regulation of the commercial motor carrier industry and enforcement of all state and federal commercial motor carrier laws, rules, and regulations.

MCS is also responsible for the State of Montana's oversize/overweight permit program. MCS administers all policies and rules governing the issuance of oversize/overweight permits and manages Montana's automated web-based permitting system.

For some of our most frequently asked question, please refer to the Trucker’s Handbook.

Fraudulent Motor Carrier Letters
Attention all DOT current or potential contractors and all contracting personnel:

There has been another round of fraudulent letters issued to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) contractors and potential contractors purporting to be issued by DOT. These fraudulent letters request that current or potential contractors register by submitting their company’s financial information on a release form entitled, "Authorization to release financial information". Please be aware that DOT does not require any financial information to be submitted in order to be eligible for procurement.

Please visit the USDOT OIG web site for more information.

UCR - Important Notice for all Interstate Motor Carriers
If you operate a truck or bus in interstate or international commerce there is a new federal law that applies to your business.

The Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Program requires individuals and companies that operate commercial motor vehicles in interstate or international commerce to register their business with Montana and pay an annual fee based on the size of their fleet.

A "Commercial Motor Vehicle" is defined as a self-propelled or towed vehicle used on the highways in commerce principally to transport passengers or cargo, if the vehicle:

  1. has a gross vehicle weight of 10,001 pounds or more;
  2. is designed to transport 11 or more passengers (including the driver); or
  3. is used in transporting hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placarding.
You must register by July 15, 2010, in order to be in compliance to operate in interstate commerce.

THE FEE BRACKETS FOR MOTOR CARRIERS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Number of CMV’s owned or operated by exempt or non exempt motor carrier, motor private carrier or freight forwarder Fee per entity for exempt or non exempt motor carrier, motor private carrier or freight forwarder Fee per entity for broker or leasing company
0-2 $76.00 $76.00
3-5 $227.00
6-20 $452.00
21-100 $1,576.00
101-1,000 $7,511.00
1,001 or more $73,346.00


Example: A motor carrier operating four tractors, eight trailers and nine straight trucks has a fleet size of twenty-one commercial motor vehicles and pays $1,576.00.

To avoid delays it is highly recommended that you register on-line. Go to www.ucr.in.gov and follow the step by step instructions. Payments may be made on-line using MasterCard, Visa or e-Check.