For-hire carrier authority - Colorado

Intrastate

Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) regulates passenger carriers, household goods movers, towing carriers, and hazardous and nuclear materials carriers.

Household goods carriers operating intrastate in Colorado are required to register with the PUC and obtain a permit prior to beginning operations. The annual registration fee is $325. There is no annual per vehicle fee.

Towing carriers must obtain a permit from the PUC prior to beginning service. The registration fee is $150; the annual per vehicle fee is $5.

Intrastate only carriers must have a copy of the authority/permit in each vehicle and present it upon request by enforcement.

Carriers are required to pay an annual fee before the first day of January of each calendar year for each motor vehicle the carrier owns, controls, operates, or manages in Colorado. The proof of payment is a stamp that must be displayed on the vehicle’s windshield. The fee is $50 per stamp. Certain vehicles that are subject to the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) are not subject to this requirement.

Insurance: Household goods mover: 10,000 pounds or more GVWR - $750,000 CSL; less than 10,000 pounds GVWR - $300,000 CSL filed on Form E or Form G or a certificate of self-insurance. Towing Carriers, any GVWR - $750,000 CSL filed on Form E or Form G.

Cargo liability: Household goods mover: $10,000 for loss or damage to household goods or $0.60 per pound per article, whichever is greater.

Towing carrier: an amount sufficient to cover damage to the towed motor vehicle.

Filing required on Form H, Form J, or Colorado Form 12-INS.

General Liability (for Household Goods Movers Only): $500,000 in coverage. Filing required on Colorado Form GL.

Garage Keeper’s Liability Insurance (Towing Carriers only): Provides for coverage of a person’s property in the event that storage facilities are utilized and to the extent of the towing carrier’s legal liability. Filing required on Colorado Form 14-INS.

Towing carriers are required to obtain and keep workers’ compensation insurance coverage according to the Workers’ Compensation Act of Colorado.

Note: Hazardous materials carriers transporting hazardous materials requiring placarding under 49 CFR Parts 172 or 173, must obtain an Annual Hazardous Materials Permit from the Public Utilities Commission before transporting these materials in, to, from, or through Colorado. An original permit must be carried in company vehicles at all times. Companies with 301 vehicles or more may use photocopies of the permit. Carrier must have in effect financial responsibility as required in 49 CFR Part 387. Annual fees range from $10 for 1-5 vehicles to $400 for 301 vehicles or more.

Additional permit and fee requirements apply for the transportation of Class 7, Highway Route Controlled Quantities (HRCQ) of radioactive materials as defined in 49 CFR §173.403; $500 annual permit fee, plus a trip fee of $200 for each trip in, to, from, or through Colorado. Financial responsibility as required by 49 CFR Part 387.

Interstate

Colorado is a participating member of the Unified Carrier Registration Agreement (UCRA). Online registration and fee payment is recommended and available to all carriers at the national UCRA website at ucr.gov.

Refer to Unified Carrier Registration Agreement (UCRA) for the current fee schedule.

See Regulatory Agencies for address(es).