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Loads that exceed 17 feet in width and/or 200,000 pounds gross vehicle weight are considered specials in Colorado, or as indicated on the Pilot Escort and Oversize Restriction Map.
Super load permits are for vehicle combinations with a weight of 500,000 pounds or more that occupy two lanes OR an unladen combination vehicle with an expandable dual-lane transport trailer that occupies two lanes (a vehicle or load will be deemed to occupy two lanes when the total width exceeds 15 feet).
Special and super load permits are valid for only a single one-way trip.
There may be additional charges if roads need to be closed.
Allow three to five business days for approval.
Super load permit applicants must provide third party documentation establishing the gross weight of the load. Acceptable documentation includes the manufacturer's certification of the weight and load, certified weight ticket from a certified public scale, clearance certification from a law enforcement agency that has weighed the load, or a third-party bill of lading that clearly indicates the weight of the load.
Permit conditions
A movement under a special or super load permit must comply with the following:
Applicable requirements of the oversize/overweight permitting rules.
All conditions of the permit, which the Department of Transportation determined to be necessary after a detailed analysis of the vehicle and load and the move, including but not limited to:
- The size and type of Load to be moved;
- The method to be utilized in making the move;
- The areas where the move originates and terminates;
- Route requested for the move; and
- The distance of the move.
The driver of an extra-legal vehicle or load under a super load permit must have in his/her possession a copy of the acceptable third-party certification of weight provided to the DOT.
If a condition of the permit requires a state highway to be closed because the movement will use the entire highway, the permittee must provide public notification of the temporary closure of a state highway at least two weeks in advance of the move. Public notification consists of one or more of the following:
- Local newspaper,
- Radio,
- Television, or
- On-site location signs (Department-approved).
The permittee must comply with additional requirements, including but not limited to the following, when included as condition(s) of the permit:
- Bridge shoring;
- Setting up turn out areas;
- Traveling in the center of the driving lane;
- Posting a bond or establishing an escrow account to pay for potential damage to the Highway or any Highway structure, or for cost of Department employees and/or Colorado State Patrol to accompany the load and supervise movement, or for response to any problems encountered during the move;
- Removing all material used in the move from the highway or right-of-way; and
- Any other requirements the Department deems necessary.
Pilot escort vehicles
Movements under special or super load permits must have at least one pilot escort vehicle in the front and at least one pilot escort vehicle in the rear, except when expressly designated otherwise by the Department.
The Department may require the permittee to provide Colorado State Patrol escorts, or additional pilot escort vehicles and flagpersons based upon certain factors including, but not limited to:
- State highway width,
- Traffic volume,
- Visibility, and
- Whether the width of the load interferes with or blocks more than one lane of traffic.
If additional pilot escort vehicles and flagpersons are required, they must stop traffic at all intersections and other turn out areas ahead of the load as necessary to allow the load to pass such areas without causing safety or traffic hazards.