The Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA) has published a final rule that will combine 16 different forms that carriers, freight forwarders, and brokers currently use to register and update their information with the agency into a single, electronic “smart form.”
The new Unified Registration System will increase efficiency by streamlining the registration process for industry and enabling FMCSA to maintain more accurate information on the entities it regulates, according to FMCSA officials. The streamlined web-based system will begin operating in 2015. At that time, all new applications and updates to existing records will be handled through the new system.
The Unified Registration System (URS) is a new electronic on-line registration system that will streamline and simplify FMCSA’s registration process and serve as a clearinghouse and depository of information on all entities regulated by the agency, including motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, intermodal equipment providers (IEPs), hazardous materials safety permit (HMSP) applicants/holders, and cargo tank manufacturing and repair facilities. The URS will combine multiple registration processes, information technology systems and forms.
FMCSA officials say the agency undertook this rulemaking to simplify and reduce the amount of time entities must spend filling out paperwork as part of the registration process as well as enable the agency to maintain more accurate information.
Portions of this rule are also required by the ICC Termination Act of 1995 and the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users. The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) also included several provisions relevant to the new URS, but these provisions will be addressed in a separate rulemaking.
There are two effective dates for this rule. Taking effect on November 1, 2013, are new enforcement provisions for failing to file biennial updates according to the schedule in 49 CFR 390.19(b)(2), and a prohibition on operating with an inactive US DOT Number. Starting October 23, 2015, the Agency will require all entities registering or providing information to the agency to do so through the URS electronic online registration process.
FMCSA set November 1, 2013 as the compliance date for the biennial update requirements because carriers are already required to update their registration information biennially under 49 CFR 390.19 and the information is very valuable to the Agency in carrying out its safety mission. The October 23, 2015 effective date to comply with the remaining URS requirements is to provide sufficient time for the Agency to launch the new URS website. ♦