By Evan Reid, Founder of Haul Handbook · Updated Aug 27, 2026
Who issues what in Colorado
The permit pages
Colorado-specific requirements
No PUC authority needed for general freight (deregulated 2011, HB 11-1198); intrastate CMV threshold is 16,001 lbs GVWR with USDOT number marked plus 'CO' suffix; legal height is 14 ft 6 in and 85,000 lbs GVW is legal on non-Interstate highways; port of entry clearance system run by Colorado State Patrol.
The permit office and COLO
The COLO Oversize/Overweight Permit Section handles applications and issues permits for loads above the legal size and weight limits. The office's contact and the online permit system are on this page as sourced fields.
The permit types Colorado issues
Single-trip permits cover one non-divisible load over the legal limits. The annual option is for carriers that move over-dimensional loads repeatedly: one yearly fee covers repeated moves inside a published size and weight envelope. Our Colorado oversize and overweight page carries the full fee tables, escort thresholds, and the superheavy process.
Curfews and local restrictions
Movement curfews are set locally and published per route. The responsibility sits with the permit holder: check the current restrictions before each move, not the copy printed on a permit you pulled last season.
Compare beyond Colorado
Running multi-state loads? The trucking permits by state table shows which permit families and issuing offices apply in every jurisdiction, the oversize permit costs by state table compares limits and fees across all 51 jurisdictions, and the permit cost estimator prices a specific load per state.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I apply for Colorado truck permits?
- Through COLO, the Colorado Law Enforcement Agency Oversize/Overweight Permit Section. It handles the application and the permit conditions for oversize and overweight moves.
Does Colorado offer an annual oversize permit?
- Yes, for carriers that move over-dimensional loads repeatedly. One yearly fee covers moves inside a published size and weight envelope. Details and the sourced figures are on our Colorado oversize and overweight page.
When can permitted loads not move in Colorado?
- The largest loads sit out major holidays, and city and county curfews block movement during weekday rush windows in several metro areas. The current list overrides what is printed on older permits.
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.