Jump to holiday restriction resources by state (alphabetical):
Labor Day (Sept. 1, 2025) celebrates hard-working Americans by awarding them a day off. While we all can appreciate a long weekend, they do create some challenges for those whose businesses rely on freight shipping — particularly those who ship oversize (OS), overweight (OW), or all-around over-dimensional (OD) freight.
The majority of states impose travel restrictions for permitted freight, like OD shipments, on holidays. These restrictions can affect when your freight moves, how efficiently it moves, and what it costs to do so.
This will be Anderson Trucking Company (ATS)'s 70th Labor Day in the transportation industry. Over that time, we've learned that the best way to predict the holiday regulations is not to try to predict it – it's best to go directly to the source.
Each state has its own unique restrictions and regulations regarding holiday travel. As such, we've compiled links to the best sources of information for Labor Day travel restrictions. Click the link for any states you plan to travel through for complete and accurate movement restriction information.
And this Labor Day, remember: your grill, cookout ingredients, and even the patio furniture you got on sale were likely transported in a truck by a driver who may or may not have the day off on Sept. 1 — so pay it forward by thanking a truck driver this September!
Dry vans and most flatbed loads can travel as usual during Labor Day weekend (however, it will likely cost more because drivers earn a premium for working holidays).
Oversize cargo that requires a special permit, like mobile homes, construction supplies, and heavy equipment, have restricted travel times. Many states forbid oversize/overweight loads from traveling on state roads during all or part of the holiday weekend.
Most state offices are closed on Labor Day (September 1, 2025) and each state has individual restrictions for oversize travel. Hauling over-dimensional freight during these times can result in significant fines, so it’s best to understand the restrictions and plan accordingly.
Labor Day is in the middle of the busy harvest season and the time during which retailers prepare for the fourth quarter. It's a busy time on roads nationwide for all types of freight.
The best source of information is the Department of Transportation for the state(s) you will be traveling through. Below is a list of all 50 states and a link to their holiday travel restrictions.
As you can see in the linked content, there's a variety of restrictions for OD travel over the holiday weekend. Before hitting the road with a permitted load, be sure you are prepared for any additional restrictions.
Fines for hauling a permitted load during restricted times will be significant. The bottom line is that if you can avoid hauling a permitted load over Labor Day, that is probably the easiest answer. But if it can't be avoided, be sure to abide by the restrictions for whatever state you are in.
Labor Day isn’t the only holiday that impacts oversize freight travel. Planning ahead now will save money and time in the long run. Download the 2025 Freight Shipping Calendar to learn which days in the latter half of 2025 will be the most cost-effective to ship on.