Oversize / Overweight Permits in Colorado

Colorado Oversize/Overweight Regulations

According to Colorado law, any load exceeding the following weight and size limits is considered an oversize/overweight load:

Legal Size Limit:

Width: 8′ 6″ (from the outside points of the widest extremities, excluding safety devices)
Height: 14′ 6″(from the roadbed to the highest point of the load or vehicle, whichever is higher)
Length: 57′ 4″ (from the foremost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further, to the rearmost point of the vehicle or load, whichever extends further)
Front overhang: 4′
Rear overhang: 10′

Legal Weight Limit:

Maximum GVW: 80,000 lb. (including the weight of the load); 85,000 lb. (non-interstate)
Steer axle: 20,000 lb.
Single axle: 20,000 lb
Tandem axle: 36,000 lb.
Tridem axle: 54,000 lb.

Colorado Single Trip Oversize/Overweight Permits

A single-trip permit (laden weight registration trip permit) is issued for non-divisible oversize non-Colorado-registered commercial vehicles. It covers multiple movements within the State and is valid for 72 hours. The cost varies from $60 to $80, depending on the gross vehicle weight.

For more details:

https://www.codot.gov/business/permits/truckpermits

Colorado Annual Oversize/Overweight Permits

To obtain an annual permit, a load must meet the following requirements:

maximum width – 17′
maximum height – 16′
maximum GVW: 200,000 lb.
maximum length for 4-lane highways: 130′
maximum length for non-mountainous, 2-lane highways: 120′
maximum length for mountainous 2-lane highways: 110′
maximum front overhang: 25′
maximum rear overhang: 35′

The cost of an oversize annual permit is $250, whereas an overweight permit costs $400.

Colorado Wide Load Requirements

All loads wider than 8′ 6″ require an oversized permit issued by the Colorado Department of Transportation.

Oversize Load Flag Requirements:

All extremities of oversized loads must be marked with red or fluorescent orange square flags.

Oversize Load Banner Requirements:

Colorado requires trailers and vehicles hauling oversized loads to be equipped with “oversize load” banners. The other applicable banners are “wide load,” “long load,” or “Oversize.”

Oversize Load Sign Requirements:

All signs must be 5′(or 7′) wide, 10″(or 18″) high with 1″(or 1,41″) wide brush stroke. The signs must feature 8″(or 10″) high black letters on the yellow background.

Oversize Load Lighting Requirements:

One yellow light on the cab and two or three yellow lights at the rear to mark the extremities of the vehicle or load are required.

Oversize Pilot Cars or Escort Vehicles Requirements:

Authorized pilot escort:

1 front escort with a height pole for vehicles or loads exceeding height 16′
1 escort and a route survey for vehicles or loads exceeding height 17′ 6”
vehicles or loads exceeding height 17′ must be accompanied by a licensed signal contractor
1 front escort for vehicles or loads exceeding length 85′ on mountainous 2-lane highways
1 front escort for vehicles or loads exceeding length 110′ on non-mountainous 2-lane highways
1 rear escort for vehicles or loads exceeding length 115′ on 4-lane highways
1 front escort for vehicles or loads with 15′ or greater front overhang
1 rearescort for vehicles or loads with 25′ or greater rear overhang

Colorado Wide Load Restrictions

All loads wider than 8′ 6″ are subject to the following restrictions:

Oversize Holiday Restrictions:

Oversize vehicles are not allowed to travel on Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. If Independence Day is on a Saturday or Sunday, oversized vehicles are also prohibited from traveling on the Friday before or the following Monday respectively. At the same time OSOW vehicles may be permitted to travel on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas, whereas if any of them falls on a Saturday or Sunday, oversized vehicles are prohibited from traveling on the Friday before or the following Monday respectively.

On Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, superloads are not allowed to travel between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. If Independence Day falls on a Saturday, they are also prohibited from traveling on the previous Friday between 12:00 p.m. (noon) and 9:00 p.m. Similarly, if Independence Day falls on a Sunday, they cannot travel on the following Monday between 12:00 p.m. (noon) and 9:00 p.m.

Oversize Legal Travel Times Restrictions:

Oversized loads are allowed to transport from sunrise till sunset. Vehicles or loads up to 12′ may travel with property lights. Vehicles or loads over 12′ up to 14′ may travel at darkness hours with escort cars.

Oversize Road and Bridge Restrictions:

Colorado adheres to the Federal Bridge Formula that provides specific bridge restrictions. As for the oversize road restrictions, they include but not limited to the following:

driving through work zones that are under construction
neglecting warning signals when driving through work zones
not giving traffic priority to law enforcement, emergency vehicles, etc

Travel restrictions for the Eisenhower tunnel: Vehicles taller than 13′ 11″ must take the US 6 bypass. If a vehicle is wider than 11′, it must stop and request permission to pass through the tunnel.

Oversize Seasonal Weight Restrictions:

OSOW vehicles must wear chains when the frost (chain) law is in effect.

Level 1: All commercial vehicles with a single drive axle must use tire chains on all four driver wheels. Other commercial vehicles should have at least snow tires.

Level 2: All commercial vehicles must use tire chains.

Note: Commercial vehicles moving on I-70 between milepost 133 (Dotsero) and 259 (Morrison) must carry chains at all times from September 1 to May 31.

Colorado Wide Load Limits

Colorado sticks to the Federal legal width limit of 8′ 6″. Everything wider requires a permit to be moved on public roads.

Maximum Load Limits Until a Trucking Permit Is Required:

8′ 6″ (from the outside points of the widest extremities, excluding safety devices)

Axle Weight Limits:

Legal axle weight limit:

Maximum GVW: 80,000 lb. (including the weight of the load); 85,000 lb. (non-interstate)
Steer axle: 20,000 lb.
Single axle: 20,000 lb
Tandem axle: 36,000 lb.
Tridem axle: 54,000 lb.
Weight per inch of tire width: 600 lb. for steering axles; all other axles 500 lb.

Note: Axles weighing over 10,000 lbs must feature 4 tires.

The maximum permitted axle weight limit:

is determined by the Federal Bridge Formula “B”

Western Region:

single axle – 21,500 lbs
tandem axle – 43,000 lbs
triple axle – 53,000 lbs (8′-13′ wheelbase)
GVW – 160,000 lbs

Oversize Tire Regulations:

Tires must be in normal operating condition, properly inflated, and feature the minimum tread depth of 2/32″.

Colorado Trip Permits

The state of Colorado issues a 72-hour license for $60 up to $80, depending on the GVW. There can also be a fee for handling and processing your permit.

Colorado Fuel Permits

IFTA permits are necessary for all interstate motor carriers driving in or through Colorado. The permit is applied to:

Vehicles with 2 axles and GVW more than 26,000 lbs.
Vehicles with 3 or more axles.
Vehicle combinations with the GVW over 26,000 lbs.

Colorado Specialty Permits

The need for special permits may arise from your load’s nature, size, and weight.

Special Permits:

Special permits are valid for only a single one-way trip over designated state highways for an OSOW vehicle or load exceeding the maximum limits. Such permits are subject to the provisions of chapter 6 of the rules.

Manufactured Houses and Mobile Homes:

The permits are issued for houses not exceeding:

width: 14′
eave width: 2′

Note: Manufactured houses with open sides must be fully enclosed with paneling.

Oversize/Overweight Load Fines in Colorado

Oversize and overweight fines in Colorado start at $50 (up to 2,500 lbs of unpermitted weight) and can reach over $400 (over 7,500 lbs of unpermitted weight). Their size depends on the weight exceeding the maximum legal weight.

Oversize/Overweight Permits Costs in Colorado

The cost of Colorado OSOW permits varies depending on the load type, its nature, and its excessive weight and size. It starts at $60 for a single-trip permit and can reach over $400 for an annual permit.

You may also be charged an application fee for processing your permit request.

Trucking Permit Service

Express Permits provides a full spectrum of trucking permit services, assisting motor carriers in obtaining the appropriate oversize and overweight permits, coordinating with authorities, and ensuring compliance with state regulations, saving valuable time, effort, and potential penalties. You can rely on us regardless of your load’s type, nature, and destination.