Unified Registration System: new identity verification system to combat fraud

The Unified Registration System has a new identity verification process will be simple and promises to reduce fraud in the transportation industry.

A fraud epidemic has been attacking the trucking industry, growing year after year and constantly finding new ways to infiltrate the sector. Despite the threat, few measures had been implemented to support carriers targeted by this issue. For this reason, in an effort to curb these attacks, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is updating the Unified Registration System (URS) for motor carriers, now requiring identity verification.

Unified Registration System: extra measures to secure freight

The Unified Registration System is the process carriers use to apply for a Department of Transportation (DOT) number. This number consists of a series of digits that serve as a unique identifier for a company recognized by the FMCSA. It is used to track a carrier’s safety record, incidents, and regulatory compliance. This DOT number must be displayed on both sides of all commercial vehicles operated by the carrier.

Because the previous URS measures were not very strict, the FMCSA is aiming to change that with its new update. Identity verification is a recent addition to the URS, introduced to protect carriers from fraud. In response to the recent rise in scams, the FMCSA began requiring new URS applicants, starting in mid-April, to complete an identity verification process as part of their registration.

The FMCSA acknowledged that there are currently illegitimate records in the system and is working to remove them, as these fraudulent actors directly impact carriers by hurting their revenue. The new URS identity verification aims to reduce these cases.

Moreover, once the final version of the updated system is launched, identity verification will be mandatory for all registered users—not just new applicants.

Streamlined registration for the Unified Registration System

The new URS identity verification process will be simple, consisting of just five steps, making registration more efficient for all users. To implement the system, the FMCSA has contracted IDEMIA, a company specializing in biometrics and cryptography, which also provides services at TSA security checkpoints. With IDEMIA’s technology, the system will allow necessary databases to securely share information once a person or carrier’s identity has been verified.

The best part? Most applicants will be able to complete the identity verification entirely online. In some cases, an in-person visit to a verification center will be required. However, the FMCSA plans to establish 300 centers across the country to minimize the need for long-distance travel.

According to the FMCSA, nearly 98% of users have successfully completed the online registration so far. The remaining 2% likely includes fraudulent users attempting to bypass the new system. Still, the agency is confident that this update is the solution the transportation industry has been looking for to fight back against fraud.