Colorado

Colorado Oversize Permits & Escorts Information

Do you need oversize load permits in the state of Colorado? Find out the maximum width and weight allowed on Colorado highways, the legal operating times, the oversize load signage rules, and when Colorado requires pilot cars. The following data is for informational purposes only. We are not a permit service, do not arrange permits for carriers, and do not answer permit and escort requirement questions.

Oversize Load Limits

Maximum load sizes before a permit is required:

• Length: 75′
• Width: 8’6″
• Height: 14′
• Weight: 80,000 lbs gross
• Overhang: 4’ in the front; 10’ off the rear

Permits

Colorado oversize permits are valid for five days. For more information, visit the Colorado Department of Transportation.

Legal Operating Times

• Sunrise to sunset, including weekends.
• Night travel, with proper lighting, allowed for loads up 12′ wide. Between 12′ wide and 14′ wide requires an escort for night running.
• Travel restricted through Eisenhower Tunnel on I-70. Loads over 11′ wide must pull over and call to get clearance to pass through the tunnel. Loads over 13′11″ must bypass the tunnel via US-6.
• City permit required to travel on Denver streets.
• No travel on Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day.

Pilot Cars & Escort Vehicles

Escort vehicle or pilot car required for heavy-haul or oversize loads if:

• Length: Over 85’ requires one front on some mountain roads. Over 110’ requires one front on two-lane roads. Over 115’ requires one rear on four-lane roads.
• Width: Over 13’ requires one front on two-lane roads. Over 15’ requires one rear on four-lane roads.
• Height: Over 16’ requires one front with height pole.
• Weight: Undefined.
• Overhang: Undefined.

Pilot Car and Escort Vehicle Requirements

Pilot car and escort vehicles shall display “WIDE LOAD”, “LONG LOAD”, or “OVERSIZE LOAD” signs mounted on the top of the vehicle and visible to approaching traffic from the front and the rear. All signs shall be at least 5′ wide and 10″ tall and no more than 7′ wide and 18″ tall. The background must be yellow with black letters that are at least 8″ high with a brushstroke of at least 1″ wide. A yellow flashing, oscillating, or rotating yellow warning light must be mounted as high as possible and be visible from at least 500′ in normal sunlight. All pilot cars or escort vehicles must be equipped with two handheld two-way radios, a standard 18″ Stop/Slow paddle, three reflective triangles, eight flares, three orange traffic cones, an orange or white hardhat, a reflective orange safety jacket, shirt, or vest, a flashlight, an additional oversize load sign, , a first aid kit, spare tire, a tire jack, a lug wrench, and one B and C fire extinguisher (minimum of 15 lbs) or one 110-lb ABC fire extinguisher. All headlights and rear lights of the pilot car or escort vehicle must be turned on while in operation. Drivers must be in possession of a certification card at all times.

Oversize Load Sign Requirements

“OVERSIZE LOAD” signs are required on the front and rear. Wide and over-length loads also require flags at all four corners of any extremities and at the end of load projections exceeding 4′. Overweight only loads require no signs. For night travel, the following applies: wide loads require a flashing yellow light mounted on front of the vehicle and two or three mounted to the extreme rear; over-length loads or loads with a rear overhang exceeding 10′ require a flashing yellow light mounted to front of vehicle and from one to three cluster lights mounted to overhang; and loads with rear overhang exceeding 4′ but less than 10′ require a red light or lantern at the end of load projection that is visible from at least 500′.

The data on this page is for informational purposes only, and we do not guarantee its accuracy.