Operating Hours, Restricted Travel, and Holiday Restrictions
Vehicles with loads up to 12 feet wide are authorized to travel from sunrise to sunset. Night travel is allowed with proper lighting. Vehicles between 12 and 14 feet wide may also travel at night but require an escort on night routes.
Oversize loads cannot travel on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, or Christmas Day.
Signs, Flags, and Lights Requirements
Signs, flags, and lights may be required while moving oversized and over-dimensional loads to ensure the safety of other drivers and the freight itself. Colorado does not have any specific state light requirements, so it falls under federal guidelines.
Signs
“Oversize Load” signs are required in the front and rear for all oversize loads. They are not required for loads that are overweight only and should not be used for that purpose.
Flags
Flags are required on the extremities of all four corners for loads that are overlength or overwidth. They are also needed at the end of overhangs exceeding 4 feet.
Obtaining a permit
Single trip permits are valid for five days and are one-time use. They are available for oversize, overweight, oversize/overweight, hazmat, and Chapter 6 Special hauls. Multi-trip permits are available for divisible loads only, with a max weight of 97,000 pounds.
Annual permits are vehicle-specific, and company fleet permits are available for companies with two or more vehicles. All permits are issued by the state and must stay in the vehicle at all times.
You can order permits at the Colorado state website here:
https://www.codot.gov/business/permits/truckpermits/on-line-permits.url or by calling the Colorado Truck Permit Office at (800)-350-3765.
