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.
|
State |
OSOW Travel Restrictions |
|
Alabama |
No OSOW travel permitted from sunset on Sat., May 25 to sunrise Tues., May 28. View Alabama’s holiday restrictions calendar. |
|
Arizona |
No OSOW travel permitted from sunset on Fri., May 24 to sunrise Tues., May 28. Read Arizona’s OSOW holiday legal guidelines. |
|
Arkansas |
No travel permitted from noon on Fri., May 24 to 30 minutes before sunrise on Tues., May 28 for any vehicle with dimension(s) exceeding 120' long, 10' wide, 14'6" tall, 3' front overhang, 10' rear overhang, and/or 250,000 lbs. |
|
California |
No escorted travel permitted from 4 p.m. to midnight Fri., May 24 and noon to midnight Sat., May 25 through Mon., May 27. Here is California’s full holiday travel information. |
|
Colorado |
No OSOW travel permitted from noon to 9 p.m. Fri., May 24 and from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Mon., May 27. Weekend travel is allowed. |
|
Connecticut |
No OSOW travel permitted from noon on Fri., May 24 to sunrise Tues., May 28. Visit the Connecticut OSOW holiday restrictions document. |
|
Delaware |
No OSOW travel permitted from noon on Sun., May 26 to 9 a.m. Tues., May 28. Visit Delaware’s holiday travel restrictions webpage. |
|
Florida |
No travel on Mon., May 27 for vehicles with dimensions over 80' long, 10' wide and/or 14'6 tall. View all Florida holiday travel restrictions. |
|
Georgia |
No OSOW travel permitted Mon., May 27. Check out Georgia’s holiday restriction/closure dates. |
|
Idaho |
Red Routes: No OSOW travel from 2 p.m. on Fri., May 24 to sunrise on Tues., May 28. Black Routes & Interstates: No travel for vehicles with dimensions over 120' long, 12' wide and/or 15' tall from 4 p.m. on Sun., May 26 to sunrise on Tues., May 28. |
|
Illinois |
No OSOW travel permitted from noon on Sun., May 26 to sunrise on Tues., May 28. Illinois Toll Roads: No OSOW travel permitted on Mon., May 27. |
|
Indiana |
No OS travel permitted from noon on Fri., May 24 to 30 minutes before sunrise on Tues., May 28. OW-only travel allowed. Visit Indiana’s OSOW permitting provisions document. |
|
Iowa |
No OSOW travel permitted from noon on Fri, May 24 to 30 minutes before sunrise on Tues., May 28. Check out Iowa’s general provisions for oversize load permits. |
|
Kansas |
Travel allowed. Visit Kansas’ motor carrier website. |
|
Kentucky |
Travel allowed. View Kentucky’s OSOW resources. |
|
Louisiana |
Travel allowed. View Louisiana’s permitting webpage. |
|
Maine |
No OSOW travel permitted Mon., May 27. Check out the rest of Maine’s oversized freight holiday travel restrictions. |
|
Maryland |
No OSOW travel permitted from noon Fri., May 24 to 9 a.m. on Tues., May 28. Check out all of Maryland’s holiday restrictions. |
|
Massachusetts |
No OSOW travel permitted from noon on Sun., May 26 to noon on Tues., May 28. Visit Massachusetts’ OSOW permits page. |
|
Michigan |
No OSOW travel permitted from noon on Fri., May 24 to sunrise on Tues., May 28. View all of Michigan’s holiday travel restrictions and closings. |
|
Minnesota |
No OSOW travel permitted from 2 p.m. Sun., May 26 to 2 a.m. Tues., May 28 for vehicles measuring over 110' long or 12'6" wide. Visit Minnesota’s holiday travel restrictions webpage. |
|
Mississippi |
No OSOW travel permitted from noon on Sat., May 25 to 30 minutes before sunrise on Tues., May 28. Read through Mississippi’s permitting information. |
|
Missouri |
No OSOW travel permitted from noon on Sun., May 26 to 30 minutes before sunrise on Tues., May 28. Read Missouri’s OSOW regulations document. |
|
Montana |
On Interstate: No travel permitted from sunset on Fri., May 24 to sunrise on Tues., May 28 for vehicles measuring over 18' wide. Off Interstate: Daylight hours only for vehicles measuring 10' to 12'6 wide. No travel permitted from sunset on Fri., May 24 to sunrise on Tues., May 28 for vehicles measuring over 150' long, 10' to 12'" wide, and/or 15'6 tall. |
|
Nebraska |
No OS travel permitted from noon on Fri., May 24 to sunrise Tues., May 28. OW-only travel allowed 24/7. View all of Nebraska’s observed holidays and their restrictions. |
|
Nevada |
No OSOW travel permitted from noon to midnight on Fri., May 24 and Mon., May 27. No nighttime travel on Sat., May 25 or Sun., May 26. View all of Nevada’s holiday travel restrictions. |
|
New Hampshire |
No OSOW travel permitted on Mon., May 27. View all of New Hampshire’s OSOW holiday travel restrictions. |
|
New Jersey |
No OSOW travel permitted Fri., May 24 or Mon., May 27. Visit New Jersey’s permitting webpage. |
|
New Mexico |
No travel permitted from 30 minutes after sunset on Sun., May 26 through 30 minutes before sunrise on Tues., May 28. No travel for OW only on Mon., May 27. Check out New Mexico’s OSOW rules and regulations. |
|
New York |
No OSOW travel permitted from noon on Fri., May 24 to 30 minutes before sunrise on Tues., May 28. New York State Thruway: No OSOW travel permitted from noon on Sun., May 26 to 30 minutes before sunrise on Tues., May 28. |
|
North Carolina |
Travel allowed. Download North Carolina’s holiday 2024 holiday closure schedule. |
|
North Dakota |
No travel permitted from noon on Sat., May 25 to 30 minutes before sunrise on Tues., May 28 for vehicles measuring over 16' wide. Check out North Dakota’s OSOW permit pages. |
|
Ohio |
No OSOW travel permitted from noon on Fri., May 24 to sunrise Tues., May 28. Ohio Turnpike: No OSOW travel permitted from sunrise on Fri., May 24 to sunrise on Tues., May 28. Here is Ohio’s holiday restrictions webpage. |
|
Oklahoma |
No OSOW travel permitted on Mon., May 27. View Oklahoma’s permitting law. |
|
Oregon |
Over 14' wide: No travel permitted from noon on Fri., May 24 to 30 minutes before sunrise on Tues., May 28. Up to 14' wide: No travel permitted on Mon., May 27. Also no travel permitted from noon on Fri., May 24 to 12:01 a.m. on Sat., May 25. Travel allowed from 12:01 a.m. on Sat., May 25 to midnight on Sun., May 26 and from 12:01 a.m. to 30 minutes before sunrise on Tues., May 28 on authorized routes. |
|
Pennsylvania |
No OSOW travel permitted from noon on Fri., May 24 to sunrise on Tues., May 28. Pennsylvania Turnpike: No OSOW travel permitted from 3 p.m. on Thurs., May 23 to 11 p.m. on Mon., May 27. |
|
Rhode Island |
No OSOW travel permitted from noon on Fri., May 24 to sunrise on Tues., May 28. Visit Rhode Island’s OSOW website page. |
|
South Carolina |
No OSOW travel permitted Mon., May 27. View South Carolina’s 2024 holiday travel schedule. |
|
South Dakota |
Travel allowed. Learn more about OSOW permitting in South Dakota. |
|
Tennessee |
No escorted travel permitted from noon on Fri., May 24 to sunrise on Tues., May 28. View Tennessee's 2024 holiday restrictions calendar. |
|
Texas |
No travel permitted for vehicles measuring over 110' long, 14' wide, 16' tall and/or 254,000 lbs. View Texas’ holiday restrictions. |
|
Utah |
No travel permitted from 2 p.m. on Fri., May 24 to sunrise on Sat., May 25 and from 12:01 a.m. Mon., May 27 to sunrise on Tues., May 28 for vehicles measuring over 105' long, 10' wide, or 14'6 tall. Travel is allowed from sunrise on Sat., May 25 to midnight on Sun., May 26. Visit Utah’s motor carrier size and weight rules. |
|
Vermont |
No travel permitted from Sat., May 25 through Mon., May 27 for vehicles measuring over 100' long, 12' wide, and/or 108,000 lbs. View Vermont’s full oversize/overweight permit rules. |
|
Virginia |
No OSOW travel permitted from noon on Fri., May 24 to sunrise on Tues., May 28. Learn more about permitted hauling in Virginia. |
|
Washington |
No OSOW travel permitted from noon on Sun., May 26 to sunrise on Tues., May 28. View Washington’s state commercial vehicle guidelines. |
|
West Virginia |
No OSOW travel permitted from sunset on Fri., May 24 to sunrise on Tues., May 28. Check out West Virginia’s holiday travel restrictions. |
|
Wisconsin |
Columbia, Dane, Milwaukee, Rock, and Waukesha Counties: No travel permitted from 4-8 p.m. on Fri., May 24. No travel permitted from Sat., May 25 through Mon., May 27 for vehicles measuring up to 150' long, 12' wide, and/or 13'6 tall. Statewide: No travel permitted from noon Fri., May 24 to sunrise on Tues., May 28 for vehicles measuring over 150' long, 12' wide and/or 13'6 tall. Wisconsin’s 2024 holiday travel restrictions chart can be found here. |
|
Wyoming |
No escorted travel permitted from 30 minutes after sunset on Fri., May 24 to 30 minutes before sunrise on Tues., May 28. Find more information on Wyoming's OSOW permitting rules and regulations. |
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 and shippers alike. Shippers can plan accordingly by discussing holiday restrictions with carriers in advance and factoring in extra transit time on any affected shipments.
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.
To help you plan for these long weekends and no-movement dates, download our free Freight Shipping Calendar, which calls out the best — and worst — days to ship freight across the entire year. Use it as a tool to help you optimize your supply chain all year long!
