The short version: a Colorado single-trip permit starts at $30 before bands, overweight and the transaction charge; an escort is first required at over 8'6" wide; and the load becomes a superload at over 200,000 lb. Everything below carries the Colorado document it came from, that document's own revision date, and the date we read it.
1. Colorado legal limits
Anything over one of these needs a permit. Every value links to the document that sets it.
| Measure | Legal limit |
|---|---|
| Width | 8'6"rev. 2008-08-05 · read 2026-09-03 |
| Height | 14'6"rev. 2016-08-10 · read 2026-09-03 |
| Semitrailer length | 57'4"rev. 2016-08-10 · read 2026-09-03 |
| Overall length | 75'rev. 2016-08-10 · read 2026-09-03 |
| Kingpin to rear axle | None published |
| Front overhang | 4'rev. 2016-08-10 · read 2026-09-03 |
| Rear overhang | 10'rev. 2016-08-10 · read 2026-09-03 |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lbundated document · read 2026-09-03 |
| Single axle | 20,000 lbundated document · read 2026-09-03 |
| Tandem axle | 36,000 lbundated document · read 2026-09-03 |
2. When Colorado requires an escort
| Measurement | First escort trigger | First police escort trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Width | over 8'6"rev. 2025-06-10 · read 2026-09-03 · varies by road class | None published |
| Height | None published | None published |
| Length | over 85'rev. 2025-06-10 · read 2026-09-03 · varies by road class | None published |
| Rear overhang | over 25'rev. 2025-06-10 · read 2026-09-03 | None published |
| Gross weight | over 200,000 lbrev. 2018-04-16 · read 2026-09-03 | None published |
Every escort rule on file, in full27 rules
- Any load over 8 ft 6 in wide on a RED segment needs a Chapter 6 Special permit, not the ordinary oversize permit — §408.2 the colour width ladders; §408.3 the night-time rules; §409.4 the signal contractor; §410 the length triggers; §411 the overhang triggers; §402 the I-70 seasonal restrictions; §403.2 the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnel limit rev. 2025-06-10 · read 2026-09-03
- Over 8 ft 6 in and up to 11 ft wide on a BLUE segment — one front pilot car — §408.2 the colour width ladders; §408.3 the night-time rules; §409.4 the signal contractor; §410 the length triggers; §411 the overhang triggers; §402 the I-70 seasonal restrictions; §403.2 the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnel limit rev. 2025-06-10 · read 2026-09-03
- Over 11 ft and up to 13 ft wide on a BLUE segment — one front and one rear pilot car — §408.2 the colour width ladders; §408.3 the night-time rules; §409.4 the signal contractor; §410 the length triggers; §411 the overhang triggers; §402 the I-70 seasonal restrictions; §403.2 the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnel limit rev. 2025-06-10 · read 2026-09-03
- Over 13 ft wide on a BLUE segment — a Chapter 6 Special permit — §408.2 the colour width ladders; §408.3 the night-time rules; §409.4 the signal contractor; §410 the length triggers; §411 the overhang triggers; §402 the I-70 seasonal restrictions; §403.2 the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnel limit rev. 2025-06-10 · read 2026-09-03
- Over 11 ft and up to 13 ft wide on a YELLOW segment — one front pilot car — §408.2 the colour width ladders; §408.3 the night-time rules; §409.4 the signal contractor; §410 the length triggers; §411 the overhang triggers; §402 the I-70 seasonal restrictions; §403.2 the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnel limit rev. 2025-06-10 · read 2026-09-03
- Over 13 ft and up to 15 ft wide on a YELLOW segment — one front pilot car, and a rear car or a rear amber light — §408.2 the colour width ladders; §408.3 the night-time rules; §409.4 the signal contractor; §410 the length triggers; §411 the overhang triggers; §402 the I-70 seasonal restrictions; §403.2 the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnel limit rev. 2025-06-10 · read 2026-09-03
- Over 15 ft wide on a YELLOW segment — a Chapter 6 Special permit — §408.2 the colour width ladders; §408.3 the night-time rules; §409.4 the signal contractor; §410 the length triggers; §411 the overhang triggers; §402 the I-70 seasonal restrictions; §403.2 the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnel limit rev. 2025-06-10 · read 2026-09-03
- Over 13 ft and up to 15 ft wide on a two-lane GREEN segment — one front pilot car — §408.2 the colour width ladders; §408.3 the night-time rules; §409.4 the signal contractor; §410 the length triggers; §411 the overhang triggers; §402 the I-70 seasonal restrictions; §403.2 the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnel limit rev. 2025-06-10 · read 2026-09-03
- Over 15 ft and up to 17 ft wide on a two-lane GREEN segment — one front pilot car, and a rear car or a rear amber light — §408.2 the colour width ladders; §408.3 the night-time rules; §409.4 the signal contractor; §410 the length triggers; §411 the overhang triggers; §402 the I-70 seasonal restrictions; §403.2 the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnel limit rev. 2025-06-10 · read 2026-09-03
- Over 13 ft and up to 17 ft wide on a four-lane GREEN segment — a rear pilot car or a rear amber light — §408.2 the colour width ladders; §408.3 the night-time rules; §409.4 the signal contractor; §410 the length triggers; §411 the overhang triggers; §402 the I-70 seasonal restrictions; §403.2 the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnel limit rev. 2025-06-10 · read 2026-09-03
- Over 15 ft and up to 17 ft wide on a WHITE segment — a rear pilot car or a rear amber light — §408.2 the colour width ladders; §408.3 the night-time rules; §409.4 the signal contractor; §410 the length triggers; §411 the overhang triggers; §402 the I-70 seasonal restrictions; §403.2 the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnel limit rev. 2025-06-10 · read 2026-09-03
- Over 85 ft and up to 110 ft long on a MOUNTAINOUS two-lane highway — one front pilot car — §408.2 the colour width ladders; §408.3 the night-time rules; §409.4 the signal contractor; §410 the length triggers; §411 the overhang triggers; §402 the I-70 seasonal restrictions; §403.2 the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnel limit rev. 2025-06-10 · read 2026-09-03
- Over 110 ft long on any two-lane highway — one front pilot car — §408.2 the colour width ladders; §408.3 the night-time rules; §409.4 the signal contractor; §410 the length triggers; §411 the overhang triggers; §402 the I-70 seasonal restrictions; §403.2 the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnel limit rev. 2025-06-10 · read 2026-09-03
- Over 115 ft long on a four-lane highway — one rear pilot car — §408.2 the colour width ladders; §408.3 the night-time rules; §409.4 the signal contractor; §410 the length triggers; §411 the overhang triggers; §402 the I-70 seasonal restrictions; §403.2 the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnel limit rev. 2025-06-10 · read 2026-09-03
- Front overhang over 15 ft — one front pilot car, on every road — §408.2 the colour width ladders; §408.3 the night-time rules; §409.4 the signal contractor; §410 the length triggers; §411 the overhang triggers; §402 the I-70 seasonal restrictions; §403.2 the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnel limit rev. 2025-06-10 · read 2026-09-03
- Rear overhang over 25 ft — one rear pilot car, on every road — §408.2 the colour width ladders; §408.3 the night-time rules; §409.4 the signal contractor; §410 the length triggers; §411 the overhang triggers; §402 the I-70 seasonal restrictions; §403.2 the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnel limit rev. 2025-06-10 · read 2026-09-03
- Over 16 ft high — any front pilot car on the move must run a height pole — §505.1.7 the height-pole specification and the "exceeding sixteen feet in Height" trigger; §500.2, §500.4.3 and §500.5 the operator certification, insurance and driving-record requirements rev. 2018-04-16 · read 2026-09-03
- Over 17 ft high — a licensed signal contractor must accompany the move through signalised intersections — §408.2 the colour width ladders; §408.3 the night-time rules; §409.4 the signal contractor; §410 the length triggers; §411 the overhang triggers; §402 the I-70 seasonal restrictions; §403.2 the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnel limit rev. 2025-06-10 · read 2026-09-03
- Between 80,000 lb and 85,000 lb — Colorado’s own statutes disagree about whether an interstate move needs an overweight permit — "Single trip permit, fifteen dollars plus five dollars per axle;"; subsection (1.7), the super-load class and its 25 mph / 10 mph speed restriction; subsection (11)(a), the full fee schedule rev. 2024-08-07 · read 2026-09-03
- Over 200,000 lb — a Chapter 6 Special or Super Load permit, with a front and a rear pilot car required whatever the load measures — §603 the mandatory front and rear escorts and the discretionary State Patrol escort; §606.4 the bond or escrow for actual Department and CSP costs; §607 the applicant's duty to resolve overhead conflicts; §609.1 "deemed to occupy two Lanes when the total Width ... exceeds 15 feet" rev. 2018-04-16 · read 2026-09-03
- At 500,000 lb, or on a dual-lane trailer wider than 15 ft, Colorado’s own Super Load class applies — "Single trip permit, fifteen dollars plus five dollars per axle;"; subsection (1.7), the super-load class and its 25 mph / 10 mph speed restriction; subsection (11)(a), the full fee schedule rev. 2024-08-07 · read 2026-09-03
- Over 17 ft 6 in high or over 130 ft long — Colorado requires a route survey and publishes no fee for one — "300.1 Single Trip Permit: A permit that is valid for a single move not to exceed a maximum of five days"; "303.16 Route Survey for all Vehicles or Loads that exceed 17' 6" in height. 303.17 Route Survey for all Vehicles or Loads that exceed 130' in Length." rev. 2018-04-16 · read 2026-09-03
- Colorado has no published police-escort rate because it bills the actual cost through a bond or escrow — §603 the mandatory front and rear escorts and the discretionary State Patrol escort; §606.4 the bond or escrow for actual Department and CSP costs; §607 the applicant's duty to resolve overhead conflicts; §609.1 "deemed to occupy two Lanes when the total Width ... exceeds 15 feet" rev. 2018-04-16 · read 2026-09-03
- Colorado restricts wide loads after dark and closes the I-70 mountain corridor on a published calendar — §408.2 the colour width ladders; §408.3 the night-time rules; §409.4 the signal contractor; §410 the length triggers; §411 the overhang triggers; §402 the I-70 seasonal restrictions; §403.2 the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnel limit rev. 2025-06-10 · read 2026-09-03
- Colorado certifies its pilot-car operators and recognises six other states plus the SC&RA — "Valid certification from Colorado, Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Utah, Washington or the Specialized Carriers and Rigging Association" undated document · read 2026-09-03
- Every Colorado permit fee below is the FASTER-doubled figure, and the $4 charge is card-only — "Single Trip Oversize: $15* and total of $30"; "Single Trip OSOW: $15 plus $5 per axle* and a total of $30 plus $10 per axle"; "Credit Card Fee: $4 per transaction per permit"; the SB 09-108 surcharge note and its six-axle worked example undated document · read 2026-09-03
- A Colorado single-trip permit runs at most five days, and a Special or Super Load permit is one trip only — "300.1 Single Trip Permit: A permit that is valid for a single move not to exceed a maximum of five days"; "303.16 Route Survey for all Vehicles or Loads that exceed 17' 6" in height. 303.17 Route Survey for all Vehicles or Loads that exceed 130' in Length." rev. 2018-04-16 · read 2026-09-03
3. Colorado single-trip permit fees
4. How Colorado prices overweight
Colorado adds "$10 per axle" to the $30 single-trip base and nothing else. There is no weight increment and no mileage component at all: an 81,000 lb load and a 199,000 lb load on the same six axles pay exactly the same $90, and a seventh axle costs more than 118,000 lb of cargo does.
5. Colorado's superload threshold
Above one of these, the state stops issuing over the counter and prices the move after an engineering review.
| Trigger | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Gross weight | over 200,000 lbundated document · read 2026-09-03 |
| Width | over 17'rev. 2025-06-10 · read 2026-09-03 |
| Height | None published |
| Length | None published |
| Short axle spacing | Not yet covered |
6. Route survey and bridge review
The dimensions at which Colorado triggers a physical route inspection or an engineering review, and what the agency charges to review it.
| Measurement | Inspection / review trigger |
|---|---|
| Width | Not yet covered |
| Height | over 17'6"rev. 2018-04-16 · read 2026-09-03 |
| Length | over 130'rev. 2018-04-16 · read 2026-09-03 |
7. Police escorts
No schedule exists, and that is structural rather than a gap. Structural, not a gap: 2 CCR 601-4 §606.4 bills the actual cost of Colorado State Patrol time through a bond or escrow. There is no rate card to find — the number is whatever the escort actually costs.
This is a positive finding: we searched and there is nothing to quote. It is not the same as "no police escort is ever required here".
8. When you can move it
Holiday, curfew and night-travel windows are not yet encoded for Colorado.
Colorado spring thaw restrictions →
Why those windows are absent rather than estimated
They are not guessed at here. What we do publish is the seasonal weight-restriction picture, with the date we last read each state's own bulletin — a curfew invented from a plausible pattern is worth less than an honest gap, because a reader cannot tell the two apart on the page.
9. Permit office
The agency behind each figure above is linked from that figure. We publish no per-state permit-office phone number.
Why there is no phone number here
We are not publishing per-state permit-office phone numbers yet, and the reason is worth stating: the two seed lists available for them are both demonstrably stale — the federal one gives two different states the same phone number — and a wrong number on a page like this costs somebody a morning. The agency behind each figure above is linked from that figure, which is the part we can stand behind today.
11. What this does not include
Named rather than gestured at, because each of these can exceed the permit itself. Every item is listed; open one for why it is excluded.
Line haul, fuel and driver time
This is a permit fee, not a freight rate.
Civilian pilot car rates
We hold no rate data, and the two commercial sites that publish market rates disagree by nearly a factor of two on the same service.
Route-survey engineering
The agency's review fee is shown where the state publishes one; the engineer's own fee is a private cost with no schedule.
Bonds and escrow
Set per move by the agency, and in at least one state the escort is billed at actual cost against it.
Utility coordination and line lifts
Arranged with each utility, priced by each utility.
Second-issuer permits
A toll, bridge or city authority inside the same state issues its own permit, and a state total that omits it is missing a whole permit.
Need a pilot car for this lane? Browse the pilot car & escort directory.
12. Every source behind this page (10)
Every document behind Colorado10 sources
- 2 CCR 601-4 Chapter 3 — Permit types and required documentation — Cornell Legal Information Institute, reproducing 2 CCR 601-4 — "300.1 Single Trip Permit: A permit that is valid for a single move not to exceed a maximum of five days"; "303.16 Route Survey for all Vehicles or Loads that exceed 17' 6" in height. 303.17 Route Survey for all Vehicles or Loads that exceed 130' in Length."
rev. 2018-04-16 · read 2026-09-03 - 2 CCR 601-4 Chapter 4 — Travel restrictions and pilot escort requirements — Justia, reproducing 2 CCR 601-4 — §408.2 the colour width ladders; §408.3 the night-time rules; §409.4 the signal contractor; §410 the length triggers; §411 the overhang triggers; §402 the I-70 seasonal restrictions; §403.2 the Eisenhower-Johnson tunnel limit
rev. 2025-06-10 · read 2026-09-03 - 2 CCR 601-4 Chapter 5 — Pilot escort vehicle and operator requirements — Cornell Legal Information Institute, reproducing 2 CCR 601-4 — §505.1.7 the height-pole specification and the "exceeding sixteen feet in Height" trigger; §500.2, §500.4.3 and §500.5 the operator certification, insurance and driving-record requirements
rev. 2018-04-16 · read 2026-09-03 - 2 CCR 601-4 Chapter 6 — Special and Super Load permits — Cornell Legal Information Institute, reproducing 2 CCR 601-4 — §603 the mandatory front and rear escorts and the discretionary State Patrol escort; §606.4 the bond or escrow for actual Department and CSP costs; §607 the applicant's duty to resolve overhead conflicts; §609.1 "deemed to occupy two Lanes when the total Width ... exceeds 15 feet"
rev. 2018-04-16 · read 2026-09-03 - C.R.S. §§42-4-507 and 42-4-508 — weight limits (Moffat County compilation, undated — SECONDARY source) — Moffat County, Colorado, reproducing the Colorado Revised Statutes — 20,000 lb single axle; 36,000 lb tandem on the interstate system and 40,000 lb off it; the 80,000 lb bridge-formula cap and the 85,000 lb W = 1,000(L + 40) cap
undated document · read 2026-09-03 - C.R.S. §42-4-502 — Width of vehicles (via Justia) — Justia, reproducing the Colorado Revised Statutes — "The total outside width of any vehicle or the load thereon shall not exceed eight feet six inches, except as otherwise provided in this section."
rev. 2008-08-05 · read 2026-09-03 - C.R.S. §42-4-504 — Height and length of vehicles (via Justia) — Justia, reproducing the Colorado Revised Statutes — 14 ft 6 in height; 45 ft single vehicle; 70 ft combination and four units; the 57 ft 4 in semitrailer exemption; 4 ft front and 10 ft rear projection
rev. 2016-08-10 · read 2026-09-03 - C.R.S. §42-4-510 — Permits for excess size and weight (via Justia) — Justia, reproducing the Colorado Revised Statutes — "Single trip permit, fifteen dollars plus five dollars per axle;"; subsection (1.7), the super-load class and its 25 mph / 10 mph speed restriction; subsection (11)(a), the full fee schedule
rev. 2024-08-07 · read 2026-09-03 - CDOT Freight — Permitting Information (undated) — Colorado Department of Transportation, Division of Freight Mobility — "Single Trip Oversize: $15* and total of $30"; "Single Trip OSOW: $15 plus $5 per axle* and a total of $30 plus $10 per axle"; "Credit Card Fee: $4 per transaction per permit"; the SB 09-108 surcharge note and its six-axle worked example
undated document · read 2026-09-03 - CDOT Freight — Pilot escort resources (undated) — Colorado Department of Transportation, Division of Freight Mobility — "Valid certification from Colorado, Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Utah, Washington or the Specialized Carriers and Rigging Association"
undated document · read 2026-09-03
Questions
How much is an oversize permit in Colorado?
The single-trip base is $30, before the dimension bands, the overweight component and the transaction charge. The base alone is rarely what is paid.
When does Colorado require a pilot car?
The first width trigger is over 8'6", and it varies by road class — the figure shown is the lowest across classes.
What is a superload in Colorado?
Colorado's published gross-weight superload line is over 200,000 lb. It is not 80,000 lb; that is the federal legal gross limit, not a superload threshold.