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§ New-entrant audit — Colorado

The new-entrant safety audit in Colorado

The FMCSA new-entrant safety audit works the same way in Colorado as everywhere else: it is a federal program. Every new Colorado interstate motor carrier is monitored for 18 months and undergoes a safety audit of the six factors (General, Driver, Operational, Vehicle, Hazardous Materials, and Accident), generally after at least 3 months of operation. What is specific to Colorado is intrastate registration, handled by the state.

When does the new-entrant audit happen for a Colorado carrier?

After a new entrant satisfies its pre-operational requirements, it is subject to new-entrant safety monitoring for 18 months, and a safety audit is conducted once it has operated long enough to have sufficient records — generally at least 3 months (49 CFR 385.307).

What does the audit check?

The same six factors evaluated in every state: General (Parts 387, 390), Driver (Parts 382, 383, 391), Operational (Parts 392, 395), Vehicle (Parts 393, 396), Hazardous Materials (Parts 171, 177, 180, 397), and Accident (recordable rate per million miles). This grouping is defined in 49 CFR Appendix A to Part 385.

What is specific to Colorado?

Colorado intrastate matters are handled by the Colorado DMV — Commercial Vehicles. These are separate from the federal new-entrant audit.

  • Intrastate reg required: Yes — effective May 1, 2024 (per Senate Bill 23-012), intrastate commercial vehicles weighing 10,001 lbs or more must provide their DOT, EIN or SSN upon registration with the County Motor Vehicle Office. Intrastate-only carriers must obtain a USDOT number and mark vehicles with the number followed by the suffix "CO" on both sides with the company name, legible from 50 feet in daylight. USDOT numbers are issued free.
  • UCR: Not required for intrastate-only carriers. Colorado PUC Rules 6400–6499 apply to interstate motor carriers, private carriers, freight forwarders, brokers, and leasing companies. Intrastate-only carriers (operating entirely within Colorado, not crossing state/national borders) are not subject to UCR and no state may collect UCR from them.
  • State fee: No state intrastate registration fee and no UCR fee for intrastate-only operation. USDOT number is free (motus.dot.gov / FMCSA). Interstate carriers pay UCR by fleet size: $46.00 for 0–2 power units (2025 and 2026, unchanged), $138.00 (3–5), $276.00 (6–20), $963.00 (21–100).
  • New entrant / safety audit: Colorado runs an intrastate New Entrant Safety Assurance program administered by the Colorado State Patrol Motor Carrier Safety Section (MCSS). A carrier that receives a USDOT number is a New Entrant; new intrastate carriers may schedule training with CSP MCSS and are subject to a New Entrant Safety Audit.

Common questions

What does a new motor carrier need to register and operate in Colorado?
A new Colorado-based motor carrier operating intrastate commercial vehicles of 10,001 lbs or more must obtain a USDOT number (marked on the vehicle with a "CO" suffix) and complete the state's intrastate new-entrant safety-assurance program, but pays no Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) fee — UCR applies only to interstate carriers, whose smallest 0–2 power-unit bracket costs $46.00.

Prep your own new-entrant audit

The CarrierReady Audit-Prep Kit gives you fillable templates mapped to all six factors — driver qualification files, a written maintenance program, a drug-and-alcohol testing policy, an accident register, and a document-by-document checklist.

See the kit

Primary sources

CarrierReady is an independent audit-preparation tool — not legal advice, and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the FMCSA or any government agency; always verify against the official regulations at ecfr.gov.