Colorado Truck Weight Limits and Permit Sources

At-a-glance summary

Field-level reference data

Colorado adds a layer that most states don’t present as prominently: movement restrictions tied to weather, road conditions, and chain requirements on mountain corridors. These aren’t seasonal weight restrictions in the frost-law sense — no statewide frost-law source was confirmed in this review — but route-specific CDOT restrictions can limit when and how heavy loads move through mountain passes. Check CDOT Truck Permits for current route-level conditions, not just weight limit data.

Reading the Colorado weight table

Gross, single-axle, tandem, and bridge formula checks each run independently. The field rows use the federal Interstate baseline as the starting point, with the FHWA state law compilation for state-specific limits on non-Interstate routes. When a load is close to a tandem limit, confirm that the drive group and trailer group are both within limits — gross clearance doesn’t carry over to axle group checks.

For mountain corridor routes, bridge formula spacing checks matter more than on flat Interstate segments. The axle configuration, spacing, and route type should all be part of the review when bridge formula is close to a limit. If numbers are tight, document which row controlled the decision and what source was checked.

Permit and route authority in Colorado

CDOT Truck Permits is the permit authority for Colorado over-limit moves. The application goes through CDOT’s current portal before the move. Colorado permits frequently include route-specific conditions — approved corridors, escort requirements, travel window restrictions — because Colorado’s mountain passes require route review for certain load sizes and configurations. An old permit route should not be reused without checking whether CDOT’s current requirements match the previous approval.

For repeating lanes, review the permit terms before each move, especially if the route includes mountain segments where conditions and restrictions change seasonally.

Seasonal, route, and local checks

While no statewide frost-law weight restriction was confirmed in this review, Colorado does publish route- and condition-specific movement restrictions through CDOT. These can affect passes, certain state highways, and local roads based on weather, road conditions, or emergency orders. The practical approach is to check CDOT’s current permit materials and any route advisories for the specific corridors in the trip before dispatching.

Tickets and enforcement notes

Colorado State Patrol Ports of Entry are the enforcement agency confirmed in this review. Colorado Revised Statutes Title 42 is the official source reviewed for size and weight penalty context — the specific fine depends on the cited section and the excess weight calculation. A private scale ticket documents weight at that scale, at that moment; it doesn’t modify an enforcement finding. If a citation is issued, the citation, applicable CRS section, and any port of entry documentation are the records to work from.

Source-strength notes for Colorado

7 source records back this page. The confidence breakdown is 3 high, 23 medium, and 3 low across the field set. Permit agency, permit office, and permit URL fields are high confidence. Weight limit fields carry medium confidence because they run through the FHWA state law compilation rather than a direct CDOT source stating the value. The seasonal field is low confidence — route and condition restrictions exist but a single statewide source wasn’t confirmed.

Building a Colorado source file

A practical Colorado dispatch file includes the scale ticket, CDOT permit documentation, approved route, any current CDOT route advisories for mountain segments, and the CRS reference for the fine context. The axle weight table, permit office list, seasonal restrictions, and overweight fines pages support multi-state route planning.

How to Read a CAT Scale Ticket covers ticket reading. How to Slide Tandems covers distribution. Bridge Formula Explained covers spacing math for mountain routes where bridge formula can be the binding constraint.