All across the U.S., folks look forward to the last Monday in May for the holiday that unofficially marks the beginning of summer: Memorial Day.
This year, Memorial Day will fall on Mon., May 27, 2024. As with all federal holidays, most state Departments of Transportation will restrict oversize (OS) and overweight (OW) freight travel over the long Memorial Day Weekend (Friday, May 24-Monday, May 27).
Depending on the state, these restrictions can begin as early as Thursday, May 23 and end as late as Tuesday, May 28.
Whenever there are holiday-related OSOW freight restrictions, shippers and trucking companies must factor in additional transit time to accommodate these changes.
Failure to do so can result in delayed shipments and unhappy customers — hardly a happy holiday weekend for anyone involved!
As a permits manager at ATS, I spend my days helping drivers and customers navigate issues like holiday-related freight restrictions. Our team is here to help you understand what restrictions will apply to your freight so you can plan for them effectively.
Below, you’ll find a chart breaking down each state’s OSOW travel restrictions over this period. We’ve also noted when each state’s permitting office will be closed.
While this chart is yours to use as a guide, be sure to check in with your transportation providers about how, if at all, the long Memorial Day weekend will affect your business specifically.
Memorial Day 2024 Oversize Freight Travel Restrictions
Note that all state permitting offices are closed Monday, May 27, in observance of the federal holiday. The below chart has holiday OSOW travel restrictions for the lower 48 states.
Regular night and weekend freight restrictions apply in addition to the holiday-related restrictions below.
Always review your permit to confirm no additional restrictions are in effect for your shipment.
Why Is OSOW Freight Movement Restricted During Holidays?
The main reason most states will restrict OSOW freight movement is the increase in traffic on and around holidays.
Federal holidays in particular — during which many people have the day off work — are hugely popular travel days. Memorial Day, and other summer holidays like the Fourth of July, are especially prone to traffic as people travel to enjoy the great weather and time off.
Whenever OSOW freight moves, there are additional considerations to ensure the shipment moves successfully and the motoring public stays safe. On holidays, when traffic will be especially dense, OSOW freight is even more potentially dangerous to move.
OSOW freight restrictions on holidays limit the hours in which over-dimensional freight can travel to specific windows, usually in daylight.
This helps to keep both traffic and shipments moving safely on these high-impact days for travelers, shippers, and carriers alike.
Keep Your Freight Moving All Year Long!
It’s important for both shippers and trucking companies to be aware of holiday restrictions throughout the year. With a little proactivity, you can side-step any potential interruptions to your supply chain.
As the year progresses (and quickly approaches the fall and winter holiday seasons — gulp!), federal holidays like Memorial Day will continue to impact freight markets across the U.S.
The good news is that these holidays are easily anticipated — they're on the calendar, after all! Discuss upcoming holiday restrictions with your company early and factor in additional transit time on any affected shipments to keep freight moving smoothly, no matter the time of year.
