Colorado oversize load rules
Legal limits, pilot car requirements, travel restrictions, superload thresholds and permit fees for oversize and overweight loads in Colorado.
Legal limits without a permit
| Width | 8′6″ (102 in) |
|---|---|
| Height | 14′6″ |
| Length | 45′ single unit; combinations per C.R.S. 42-4-504 |
| Weight | 80,000 lb on interstates · 85,000 lb on non-interstate highways |
At a glance
| Escorts | 7 escort rules, starting at 12′ wide |
|---|---|
| Superload | 4 review triggers (height, length, weight, width) |
| Travel | 5 restrictions (curfews, night, holidays) |
| Fees | 5 published fee lines |
Escort (pilot car) requirements
- 7 width, height and length thresholds with the escort count for each
- Police escort triggers
- Overhang and route-type conditions
Travel restrictions
- 5 restrictions: curfews, night travel, weekends and holidays
- Which ones apply to a given load size
Superloads
- Exact thresholds and what the state requires past them
- Lead times, route surveys and police escort conditions
Permit fees
- 5 published fee lines with links to the fee schedule
- Validity periods and add-on charges
Common questions
When does a load need a pilot car in Colorado?
By route: CDOT's highway color map sets daylight escort needs by width, with fixed triggers at over 16′ high, over 85′ long on mountain two-lanes, 110′ on other two-lanes and 115′ on four-lanes.
Can oversize loads use I-70 through the mountains on weekends in Colorado?
With restrictions: westbound is closed Friday afternoons and weekend mornings and eastbound on weekend afternoons during the winter and summer windows.
What is the legal height in Colorado?
14′6″, among the highest in the country, but lower structures govern on many routes.
Sources
- 2 CCR 601-4, Rules Pertaining to Transport Permits (PDF)
- CDOT FYI, legal load and permit information (PDF)
- CDOT permitting information
Planning reference. Permits carry their own conditions, and city and county roads have separate rules. Confirm with the CDOT Freight Office, Transport Permits before moving a load. Found an error? Report it.
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