COLORADO TRUCK PLATES
Truck plates were first identifiable in 1919 (only for new registrations
after April 9) by a "D", "E" or "F" tab insert instead of "A", "B" or "C".
All trucks renewed for 1920 were issued a Black/White tab (instead of
Silver/Blue) with a "G", "H" or "I" tab insert. 1920 dated (passenger)
front mates were also issued, with one such complete truck pair known.
Tab insert codes:
WEIGHT CLASSES 1919 1920
1 Ton or less D I
Over 1 Ton to 2 Tons E H
Over 2 Tons F G
Registration figures by county 1920, 1922-23, 1925, 1932, 1936,
1938, 1940-76 on file. Counties exceeding assignments:
1922 - 23 (562 P), 1923 - 13 (851 P), 1925 - 21 (1,085 P)
ASSIGNMENT OBSERVED
1921 (1-679 seen) 10-721* [Crowley began 5-830]
1922 T-101 - T-11-685* T-12-811*
1923 T-101 - T-13-455* T-15-587*
1924 T-101 - T-15-740 T-15-301
1925 T-101 - T-18-675 T-20-843*
1926 T-101 - T-24-295* T-25-312*
1927 T-101 - T-28-200* T-27-165*
1928 T-25-947*
1929 T-33-536*
1930 T3-80-65*
1931 T66-289*
1932-53 FORMATS 1T1 - 9T9999 Trucks 1 Ton or over.
10T1 - 63T9999 Hyphen used before "T"
in 1932 only.
1951 1T10000 added
1932: Adams 12-T1096 expected according to registration figures.
7-figure format not seen.
1937: Late issues have no corner holes.
1943-50 COMMERCIAL 1c1 - 9c9999 Trucks under 1 Ton.
10c1 - 63c9999
1948 1c10000 added
Began 1943; discontinued 1951. Commercial trucks were issued
passenger plates before 1943; truck plates 1951-on.
1954 FORMATS No C,E,G,I,L,M,O,Q,T,U,W,X used.
Counties 1 - 9: 1T1 - 1T9999, A1T1 - Z1T999
Counties 10 - 63: 10T1 - 10T9999
Highest expected per registration figures for counties using letter
series: Denver V1T265, Weld B3T495
Trucks divided into 4 categories 1955: Truck, Farm, Metro, City.
City discontinued 1974. Metro replaced by Public Utility 1990.
1955 FORMATS Counties 1 - 9: A/1 1 - C/1 9999
Counties 10 - 63: A/10 1 - A/10 9999
1956 FORMATS Denver County: 1 - 19265
Counties 2 - 9: 2:1 - 2:9999
Counties 10 - 63: 10:1 - 10:9999
1957 FORMATS Denver County: 1001 - 20931
Counties 2 - 9: 2-1001 - 2-9999
Counties 10 - 63: 1/0-1001 - 1/0-9999
1958 FORMATS Denver County: A 1 - C 9999 (K/S)(Verify
1 - 999 (K/C) K/F,K/M)
Counties 2 - 9: 2 1 - 2 9999
Counties 10 - 63: 1/0 1 - 1/0 9999
1959-82 FORMATS AA-1 - ZN-9999 No I,O,Q used.
TRUCK 1959-76 - COUNTIES EXCEEDING FIRST PREFIX (Starting prefix)
Denver (AA-AC) AD 1966, AE 1971, AF-AG 1976
Pueblo (GP) GR 1963, GS 1976
Weld (HY) HZ 1970 (also Farm HZ 1970)
El Paso (JX) JY 1963, JZ 1970, KA 1973
Larimer (LU) LV 1969
Boulder (ML) MM 1968
Mesa (NG 1959, NH 1960-76) NJ 1971
Arapahoe (PH) PJ 1965, PK 1973
Jefferson (RS) RT 1960, RU 1967, RV 1971, RW 1976
Adams (TE) TF 1961, TG 1969, TH 1973
1977-2000 BASE County codes same as 1959-76.
1977 Undated Type 1 ALL TRUCKS AA-1 - ZN-9999
1982 Type 1a TRUCK 0001-AA - 9999-ZN
FARM 1AA-001 - 1ZN-999
METRO 4AA-001 - 4ZN-999
1992 Type 2 TRUCK 10000AA - 99999ZN
FARM 1AA1000 - 1ZN9999
Description of Types: Type 1 - Wide dies
Type 2 - Thin dies
Type 2: NG issued in Moffat County instead of YJ.
Currently revalidated.
DESIGNER BASE No B,E,I,O,Q used.
1-3-89 "8 89" 0001-A1 - 9999-T9
Initial county assignment (11,950 P) in Colorado Book, p.88.
Discontinued 7/1/1992. Currently revalidated.
DENIM BASE
7-1-92 "7 93" 10000A1 - 99999T9
Currently revalidated.
2000-24 NEW MOUNTAIN BASE No Q used.
1-4-2000 "11 00" 001-ALA? - 999-ARE?
2000-24 NEW DESIGNER BASE No Q used.
1-4-2000 "11 00" 001-AXA? - 999-AXL?
Trucks 16,000 lbs. or less issued passenger plates starting 2003,
but truck plates still issued to heavier vehicles.
LEGENDS
TRUCK: 1921 "TRUCK" bottom
1922-54 No legend (1922-31 T suffix = Trailer)
1944, 1952 TABS "TRUCK"
COMMERCIAL: 1943-47 Vertical "COMM" after county code
1944 TAB "COMMERCIAL"
1948-50 Small "C" after county code
ALL TRUCKS:
1955 Vertical suffix TKS, TKF, TKM (small font) or TKC
1956 "STATE TRUCK", "FARM TRUCK", "METRO. TRUCK" or "CITY
TRUCK" top, "COLO. 56" bottom
1957-58 Vertical suffix KS, KF, KM or KC
1959-99 "TRUCK", "FARM", "METRO" or "CITY" in place of slogan or
mountains ("CITY TRUCK" on Black/White sticker 1972 only)
(FARM TR., METRO TR., CITY TR. = Tractor)
(CITY as slanted prefix = Municipal)
1976 STICKER "TRUCK"
1989-99 DESIGNER/DENIM "TRUCK" bottom in place of county name
2000-22 Vertical "TRK" or "FTK" prefix
COLORS
1921 White/Blue 1925 Black/Gold
1922 Black/Blue 1926 White/Brown
1923 White/Red-Brown 1927 Black/Orange
1924 White/Dark Olive Green
1928-74 Same as passenger
1975-76 Red/White (non-graphic)
1977-on Same as passenger
