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Oversize freight on the Front Range, over the Continental Divide on I-70, and out to the oil and gas fields. CDOT permits, route-color escorts, Denver curfews and holidays handled for you.
Last verified: against official state sources.
Heavy haul in Colorado
Colorado heavy haul splits into two worlds. The Front Range, from Fort Collins through Denver to Colorado Springs and Pueblo, is I-25, Denver curfews and constant construction. West of Denver is the I-70 mountain corridor: steep grades, winter closures, and the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels at the Continental Divide. East is I-76 and I-70 across the plains. CDOT's rules are detailed, and escort requirements change with the color of the route on CDOT's map.
I drove trucks before I ever brokered a load, I have spent more than 15 years in freight, and I have pulled oversize permits myself. So when a Colorado load comes in, I am not reading the rules for the first time. I am looking for the part of the move that will actually bite: the escort trigger you are an inch over, the curfew that eats your window, the structure that cannot take the weight. Every load runs on CRST's asset-based network, with CRST's authority, insurance and compliance behind it, and one person accountable for it: me.
The numbers
Colorado's legal limits, which are a little more generous than most Western states on height and non-interstate weight:
| Dimension | Colorado legal limit | Over that means |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 8 ft 6 in | Permit. Escorts depend on route color (see below). |
| Height | 14 ft 6 in | Permit. Standard single-trip permits go to 16 ft. |
| Length | Semitrailer up to 57 ft 4 in; single unit 45 ft; combinations 70 ft | Permit. Up to 130 ft on four-lane, 110 ft on mountain two-lane. |
| Overhang | 4 ft front, 10 ft rear | Permit. Up to 25 ft front / 35 ft rear. |
| Gross weight | 80,000 lb Interstate; 85,000 lb non-Interstate | Permit. Standard single-trip permits go to 200,000 lb. |
Sources: CDOT: Rules & Regulations; CDOT: Permitting Information. Checked Oct 22, 2026.
Permits and escorts
Full detail, fees and holiday dates are in our Colorado oversize permit guide.
Sources: CDOT: Permitting Information; 2 CCR 601-4 (PDF); CDOT: Rules & Regulations. Checked Oct 22, 2026.
Roads
Denver to Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction, over the Divide at the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels and then Vail Pass. CDOT runs an over-height detection sensor just east of the tunnels, and placarded hazardous materials must use Loveland Pass (US-6) when it is open. Tall or wide loads get routing specific to the permit: verify with the state for your load's tunnel clearance.
Fort Collins, Denver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Trinidad and Raton Pass. The Denver segment is where curfews and traffic set the schedule.
Open plains toward Nebraska and Kansas, used for energy and agricultural freight.
Sources: 2 CCR 601-8-3.00 (EJMT); CDOT I-70 Bakerville to EJMT Existing Conditions Report (PDF). Checked Oct 22, 2026.
Who ships here
Sources: EIA: Where our oil comes from; EIA Annual Coal Report 2024 (PDF). Checked Oct 22, 2026.
Why Vector
Colorado is the state where a map check saves the most money. The same 12 ft load can need no pilot on one road and two on another, depending on the route color. We check the color, the curfew and the mountain weather before we quote.
Typical Colorado move: an 11 ft 6 in wide excavator, Denver to Colorado Springs on I-25. COOPR single-trip permit, escorts per CDOT's route-color map, and a departure scheduled around the Denver curfew.
Instant answer
Punch in the piece you need moved. We will tell you whether it runs legal, what trailer it belongs on, and what to expect before you ever pick up the phone. Add origin and destination and we will map the route and break down permits state by state.
Estimates based on standard federal and state limits as of June 2026. States change fees and rules, and exact requirements depend on route and axle configuration, so check with your broker for current information. Permits, routing, and escorts are exactly the work we handle for you. Routing by OSRM, geocoding © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Questions we get
14 ft 6 in, which is higher than many Western states. Legal width is 8 ft 6 in.
Yes. CDOT requires extra-legal permits to be obtained before entering Colorado, through the COOPR system.
Escorts depend on route color on CDOT's Pilot Escort and Oversize Restriction Map. On Blue routes, for example, loads over 8 ft 6 in to 11 ft wide need one front pilot.
Yes. No extra-legal travel 6 to 9 AM and 3 to 6 PM Monday to Friday on listed Denver-area segments, unless a Chapter 6 or superload permit allows it.
Routing for tall and wide loads is set on the CDOT permit. CDOT operates an over-height sensor east of the tunnels, and placarded hazmat must use Loveland Pass when it is open. Verify your load's routing with CDOT.
Keep reading
We run all 48 states. Call (310) 989-6530 or send the details. Same-day answer, CRST capacity behind it.
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