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Colorado trucking

How to start a trucking company in Colorado

Starting a general-freight carrier in Colorado comes down to federal registration, Department of Revenue credentials and the State Patrol's safety and insurance rules. Colorado adds no operating authority for property hauling, so the paperwork is shorter than in states with a commission permit. Towing, moving and passenger work are the exceptions and go through the PUC.

By Haul Handbook editorial team· Updated Oct 6, 2026

The launch sequence

Federal first, then Colorado. The federal side is identical in every state and is covered in depth by how to get your own authority; the state facts below come from our sourced Colorado data.

  1. Get a USDOT number. Register with FMCSA once your truck meets the Colorado commercial vehicle definition, and add "CO" to the marking if you stay in-state.
  2. Confirm you need no PUC authority. General freight needs none. Towing, moving and passenger carriers apply to the PUC.
  3. Buy the required insurance. Carry the liability minimum for your cargo class plus the Colorado cargo minimum.
  4. Open IRP and IFTA accounts if you run interstate. Apportioned plates from the Division of Motor Vehicles, then a free IFTA license from the Taxation Division.

The order that works in Colorado

Form the business with the Colorado Secretary of State first; both the IRP and IFTA applications check that registration. Get a USDOT number from FMCSA once your truck meets the Colorado commercial vehicle definition, and mark it with the "CO" suffix if you stay in-state. Buy the liability and cargo coverage the State Patrol rules require.

If you will cross state lines, open an IRP account with the Division of Motor Vehicles in Lakewood or online, then apply to the Taxation Division for IFTA on Form DR 7119. Until those credentials arrive, buy trip and fuel permits for each trip.

Where Colorado differs from other states

Colorado draws its intrastate commercial vehicle line higher than the federal interstate one, and it asks intrastate-only carriers to mark "CO" after the USDOT number. It also requires cargo coverage on intrastate hauls, which federal rules do not. Legal height runs taller than in most states, and gross weight off the Interstate can go above the usual federal cap by formula. IFTA costs nothing to join.

The Colorado facts you will need

State authority required
No
State agency
Colorado Public Utilities Commission (towing carriers, household goods movers and passenger carriers only)
State filing fee
No general-freight authority fee exists because Colorado requires no general-freight authority. The PUC sets permit and vehicle stamp fees for the services it regulates and adjusted several of them effective November 1, 2025.

The complete tables live on the dedicated pages: intrastate authority, IRP registration, IFTA, and trucking permits.

Budget the launch before you file

The trucking startup cost calculator builds a line-item estimate from the sourced fee data, and the cost pillar explains every line. Neither replaces a quote for your truck and insurance, which are the two biggest variables.

Common mistakes when launching in Colorado

  • Applying the federal weight line to intrastate trucks

    Colorado uses its own intrastate threshold, plus apportioned plates, tow trucks and placarded hazmat. Check the figure on the USDOT page.

  • Skipping cargo insurance on intrastate loads

    Colorado requires cargo coverage per vehicle even though federal rules do not, unless the shipper waives it in writing.

  • Trying to buy a trip permit from CDOT

    CDOT sells oversize and overweight permits only. Trip and fuel permits come from the Port of Entry or COOPR.

Frequently asked questions

Can I skip the USDOT number if I only run inside Colorado?

Only if your vehicle falls below the Colorado commercial vehicle definition, carries no placarded hazmat, has no apportioned plate and is not a tow truck. Above that line Colorado requires the number even for intrastate work.

What does it cost to start a trucking company in Colorado?

There is no state authority fee for general freight and no IFTA license or decal fee. Your main state costs are apportioned registration, which depends on weight and miles, and any oversize permits. Insurance is usually the largest bill.

Who handles fuel tax for Colorado carriers?

The Colorado Department of Revenue, Taxation Division, Fuel Tax Unit. It issues the IFTA license and decals and collects the quarterly returns.

How fast can I get Colorado credentials?

The Taxation Division processes a complete IFTA application within five business days. General-freight carriers have no authority application to wait on.

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.