Notice2025-19977
Agency Information Collection Activities; Renewal of an Approved Information Collection: Unified Registration System, FMCSA Registration/Updates
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 17, 2025
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA announces its plan to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for its review and approval and invites public comment. FMCSA requests approval to renew the previously approved ICR now titled "Unified Registration System, FMCSA Registration/Updates," OMB Control No. 2126-0051. This ICR applies to new registrants seeking initial registration and operating authority registration from FMCSA. New registrants seeking to register with FMCSA must use online Form MCSA-1, accessible via the Unified Registration System (URS).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 219 (Monday, November 17, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 219 (Monday, November 17, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51436-51438]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-19977]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
[Docket No. FMCSA-2025-0556]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Renewal of an Approved
Information Collection: Unified Registration System, FMCSA
Registration/Updates
AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Department
of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA
announces its plan to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR)
described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for its
review and approval and invites public comment. FMCSA requests approval
to renew the previously approved ICR now titled ``Unified Registration
System, FMCSA Registration/Updates,'' OMB Control No. 2126-0051. This
ICR applies to new registrants seeking initial registration and
operating authority registration from FMCSA. New registrants seeking to
register with FMCSA must use online Form MCSA-1, accessible via the
Unified Registration System (URS).
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before January
16, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket Number FMCSA-
[[Page 51437]]
2025-0556 using any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Mail: Dockets Operations; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Ground Floor,
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
<bullet> Hand Delivery or Courier: Dockets Operations, U.S.
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building,
Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. To be sure someone is
there to help you, please call (202) 366-9317 or (202) 366-9826 before
visiting Dockets Operations.
<bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods.
See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion of
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for instructions on submitting
comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jeffrey Secrist, Office of
Registration, Chief, Registration Division, DOT, FMCSA, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001; (202) 385-2367;
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#96fcf3f0f0b8e5f3f5e4ffe5e2d6f2f9e2b8f1f9e0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="09636c6f6f277a6c6a7b607a7d496d667d276e667f">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Instructions
All submissions must include the Agency name and docket number. For
detailed instructions on submitting comments, see the Public
Participation heading below. Note that all comments received will be
posted without change to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, including any
personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading
below.
Public Participation and Request for Comments
If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this
notice (FMCSA-2025-0556), indicate the specific section of this
document to which your comment applies, and provide a reason for each
suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your comments and material
online or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but please use only one of
these means. FMCSA recommends that you include your name and a mailing
address, an email address, or a phone number in the body of your
document so FMCSA can contact you if there are questions regarding your
submission.
To submit your comment online, go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FMCSA-2025-0556/document">https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FMCSA-2025-0556/document</a>, click on this notice, click
``Comment,'' and type your comment into the text box on the following
screen.
If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them
in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for
copying and electronic filing.
FMCSA will consider all comments and material received during the
comment period.
Privacy Act
In accordance with 44 United State Code (U.S.C.) 3506(c)(2), DOT
solicits comments from the public to better inform its information
collection process. DOT posts these comments, including any personal
information the commenter provides, to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> as described
in the system of records notice DOT/ALL 14 (Federal Docket Management
System (FDMS)), which can be reviewed at <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/privacy/privacy-act-system-records-notices">https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/privacy/privacy-act-system-records-notices</a>. The comments are posted without edits and are searchable by
the name of the submitter.
Background
FMCSA registers for-hire motor carriers of regulated commodities
and of passengers, under 49 U.S.C. 13902(a); surface freight
forwarders, under 49 U.S.C. 13903; property brokers, under 49 U.S.C.
13904; and certain Mexico-domiciled motor carriers, under 49 U.S.C.
13902(c). These motor carriers may conduct transportation services in
the United States only if they are registered with FMCSA. Each
registration is effective from the date specified and remains in effect
for such period as the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary)
determines by regulations.
The final rule titled ``Unified Registration System,'' (78 FR
52608) dated August 23, 2013, implemented statutory provisions for an
online registration system for entities that are subject to FMCSA's
licensing, registration, and certification regulations. URS streamlines
the registration process and serves as a clearinghouse and repository
of information on motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders,
intermodal equipment providers, hazardous materials safety permit
applicants, and cargo tank facilities required to register with FMCSA.
When developing URS, FMCSA planned that the OP-1 series of forms
(except for OP-1(MX)) would ultimately be folded into one overarching
form (MCSA-1), which would be used by all motor carriers seeking
authority.
FMCSA began a phased rollout of URS in 2015. The first phase, which
became effective on December 12, 2015, impacts only first-time
applicants seeking an FMCSA-issued registration. FMCSA had planned
subsequent rollout phases for existing registrants; however, there have
been substantial delays, and subsequent phases have not been rolled out
to date.
On January 17, 2017, FMCSA issued a final rule titled ``Unified
Registration System; Suspension of Effectiveness,'' which indefinitely
suspended URS effectiveness dates for existing registrants only (82 FR
5292). Pursuant to this final rule, FMCSA is still accepting forms OP-
1, OP-1(P), OP-1(FF), and OP-1(NNA) for existing registrants wishing to
apply for additional authorities. Separately, FMCSA requires Form OP-
1(MX) for Mexico-domiciled carriers that wish to operate beyond the
U.S. municipalities on the U.S.-Mexico border and their commercial
zones.
As described above, only first-time applicants seeking an FMCSA-
issued registration must apply via URS, using Form MCSA-1. Under URS,
all forms described in the current ICR, except OP-1(MX), are folded
into Form MCSA-1. Information collection activities associated with the
OP-1 series of forms are covered under a different ICR, titled
``Licensing Applications for Motor Carrier Operating Authority,'' OMB
Control No. 2126-0016.
Form MCSA-1 requests information to identify the applicant, the
nature and scope of its proposed operations, safety-related details,
and information regarding the drivers and vehicles it plans to use in
U.S. operations. FMCSA and the States use registration information
collected via Form MCSA-1 to track motor carriers, freight forwarders,
brokers, and other entities they regulate. Registering motor carriers
is essential to being able to identify carriers so that their safety
performance can be tracked and evaluated. The data make it possible to
link individual trucks to the responsible motor carrier, thus
implementing the mandate under 49 U.S.C. 31136(a)(1); that is, ensuring
that CMVs are maintained and operated safely). In general, registration
information collected via Form MCSA-1 informs prioritization of the
Agency's activities and aids in assessing and statistically analyzing
the safety outcomes of those activities.
The current information collection supports the DOT Strategic Goal
of Safety. It streamlines registration processes and ensures that FMCSA
can
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more efficiently track motor carriers, freight forwarders, brokers, and
other entities regulated by the Agency.
Title: Unified Registration System, FMCSA Registration/Updates.
OMB Control Number: 2126-0051.
Type of Request: Renewal of a currently approved ICR.
Respondents: Carrier compliance officer or equivalent from
transportation entities subject to FMCSA's licensing, registration, and
certification regulations.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 549,782 (183,261 per year).
Estimated Time per Response: 1.34 hours.
Expiration Date: May 31, 2026.
Frequency of Response: One-time information collection.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 736,708 hours (245,569 per year).
The estimated annual respondents/responses for Form MCSA-1
increased from 94,619 in the previously approved ICR to 183,261 in the
current ICR. The estimated annual burden hours for Form MCSA-1
increased by 118,780 hours [245,569 proposed hours-126,789 currently
approved hours = 118,780 hours]. This estimate is based off the
increased number of respondents/responses calculated based on the
number of new entrants who applied using Form MCSA-1 during calendar
years 2022, 2023, and 2024, which results in these estimates of annual
respondents/responses and burden hours for the upcoming information
collection period.
The estimated labor costs for industry have increased by $7,240,851
annually [$12,713,084 in proposed costs-$5,472,233 currently approved
costs = $7,240,851]. This change is also due to the increased estimates
of annual respondents/responses.
For the Federal Government, estimated annual labor and information
technology costs have increased by $168,982 [$6,453,612 in proposed
costs-$5,946,667 in previously approved costs = $506,945/3 years =
$168,982]. This change is also due to the increased estimates of annual
respondents/responses.
Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of
this information collection, including: (1) whether the proposed
collection is necessary for the performance of FMCSA's functions; (2)
the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways for FMCSA to enhance the
quality, usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and (4)
ways that the burden could be minimized without reducing the quality of
the collected information. The Agency will summarize or include your
comments in the request for OMB's clearance of this ICR.
Issued under the authority of 49 CFR 1.87.
Nicole Michel,
Acting Associate Administrator, Office of Research and Registration.
[FR Doc. 2025-19977 Filed 11-14-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P
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