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State guide

Start and run a trucking company in Colorado

Colorado asks less of a general-freight carrier than most states. There is no state operating authority to apply for, because the Public Utilities Commission stopped regulating property hauling in 2011, except towing and moving. What remains is a USDOT number once your truck meets the Colorado commercial vehicle definition, apportioned plates from the Division of Motor Vehicles, an IFTA license from the Taxation Division, and CDOT permits for anything oversize.

By Haul Handbook editorial team· Updated Oct 6, 2026

The short answer

State authority
No general requirement recorded
USDOT number
Prerequisite recorded

Authority application scope; check the DOT number page for registration criteria

State agency Colorado Public Utilities Commission (towing carriers, household goods movers and passenger carriers only)

What these terms cover

USDOT number: The USDOT requirement is separate from PUC authority: Colorado requires a USDOT number for any intrastate vehicle meeting its commercial vehicle definition, starting at 16,001 lbs.

Latest stored record/source date: Oct 6, 2026. Review each field's source, scope and unconfirmed notes.How we verify

Colorado compliance topics

Each topic has its own page with stored fields and source notes. Review the operation scope and unconfirmed fields before applying a requirement.

First, the federal side

Identical in every state, and not part of the Colorado sequence below: get your own authority, USDOT number, Form 2290, and what it all costs.

Before you file

  1. Start a trucking companyFederal steps plus this state, in order
  2. DOT numberState USDOT triggers and carrier numbers
  3. CDLLicense fees, testing, endorsements

State credentials

  1. Intrastate authorityState operating authority: rule, agency, fee
  2. Insurance requirementsState liability minimums and insurer filings

Plates, fuel tax and trip permits

  1. IRP registrationApportioned plates and cab cards
  2. IFTAFuel tax license, decals, filing
  3. Trip and fuel permitsTemporary IRP and IFTA permits

Permits and state taxes

  1. Trucking permitsEvery state permit a carrier may need
  2. Oversize permitsLegal limits, permit fees, escorts

How Colorado organizes trucking compliance

Four offices split the work. The Colorado State Patrol enforces the federal safety rules Colorado adopted for intrastate carriers, including the USDOT number, the "CO" marking suffix and the insurance minimums. The Department of Revenue runs two programs: the Division of Motor Vehicles handles IRP apportioned plates, and the Taxation Division handles IFTA. CDOT's Office of Freight Mobility and Safety sells oversize and overweight permits through COOPR.

The Public Utilities Commission still licenses towing carriers, household goods movers and passenger carriers. A carrier hauling ordinary freight never deals with it.

What you will find here

The authority page explains the general-freight exemption and who still needs a PUC permit. The USDOT page covers the intrastate weight trigger and marking. The permits pages carry the legal limits from the Colorado Revised Statutes and the CDOT fee schedule for single-trip, annual, Chapter 6 and superload permits. The IFTA and IRP pages cover base-state licensing, quarterly returns and apportioned plates.

Each figure on those pages ties to the statute or agency page it came from.

Free calculators that cover Colorado

Frequently asked questions

Does Colorado require its own operating authority?

No, not for general freight. C.R.S. 40-10.1-105(1)(i) takes property transportation out of PUC regulation except towing and moving. Towing carriers, household goods movers and passenger carriers still need a PUC permit.

Which agencies handle trucking compliance in Colorado?

The Colorado State Patrol for USDOT and safety rules, the Division of Motor Vehicles for IRP plates, the Taxation Division for IFTA, and CDOT for oversize and overweight permits. The PUC covers only towing, moving and passenger carriers.

Do I need a USDOT number to haul only inside Colorado?

Yes, once your vehicle meets the Colorado commercial vehicle definition: the weight threshold shown on this page, an apportioned plate, a tow truck, or placarded hazmat. Intrastate-only carriers add "CO" after the number on the truck.

Does Colorado charge for an IFTA license?

No. The Taxation Division charges nothing for the license or the decals.

Sources

The official sources used on this page. Check the current instructions before you file or pay.

  1. Colorado Revised Statutes 2024, Title 40, section 40-10.1-105 · Colorado General Assembly, Office of Legislative Legal Services
  2. General Regulations (FMCSR Part 390) · Colorado State Patrol

Haul Handbook publishes educational information about trucking registration and compliance requirements. This is not legal, financial, or tax advice. Rules, fees, and deadlines change; confirm with the agency before you file or pay.