Shipping oversized freight — in dimension, weight or both — is never simple. Not only do you need to take the proper safety precautions at every step, but you’ll need to secure oversized/overweight (OSOW) permits — sometimes at a variety of levels (state, county, township).
With established, experienced transportation providers this process can be smoother; they have systems and relationships in place, allowing them to expedite much of the OSOW permitting process. However, managing these freight moves still takes time and planning.
As we approach Thanksgiving, anticipate this process to get even more challenging. You see, shipping freight around a holiday is difficult and expensive as most transportation companies and truck drivers shut down for an extended period.
Thanksgiving is no different. That said, moving OSOW cargo around a holiday is even more complex as permitting offices close and holiday travel restrictions are enacted.
Each year Thanksgiving is one of the U.S.’ most traveled holidays — a fact that’s not lost on state officials. In turn, these entities firmly bracket the time during which OSOW freight is allowed to transit within their state, creating curfews at either end.
Without understanding what travel restrictions exist and when they’re enacted, shippers can run into issues when their OSOW freight faces unexpected delays. The last thing you want is to congest your supply chain unnecessarily because a permitting office was closed or a curfew impacted your freight’s route.
Here at Anderson Trucking Service (ATS), we work with thousands of companies each year, many of which ship OSOW cargo. We understand the importance of these shipments and why precautions like travel restrictions are sometimes necessary. However, we also recognize that you have a job to do, a deadline to meet and customers counting on you.
In this article, we’ll give you a state-by-state breakdown of the Thanksgiving travel restrictions in place this year. In the lefthand column, we’ve also listed the dates on which each state’s permitting office will be closed.
2022 Thanksgiving Oversize Travel Restrictions
| State | OSOW Travel Restrictions |
|
Alabama Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
No OSOW travel is permitted from sunset on 11/23 (Wednesday) to sunrise on 11/28 (Monday). Visit Alabama’s OSOW permit page. |
|
Arizona Office closed: 11/24 |
No OSOW travel allowed (for loads of specified dimensions) starting at 12 p.m. on 11/23 (Wednesday) until 30 minutes prior to sunrise on 11/25 (Friday). Visit Arizona’s holiday restrictions page. |
|
Arkansas Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
No OSOW travel allowed (for a load of specified dimensions) from sunset on 11/23 (Wednesday) to sunrise on 11/25 (Friday). Visit Arkansas’ OSOW permit page. |
|
California Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
Permitted freight traveling on a state holiday that must be accompanied by a pilot car is prohibited to travel from 4 p.m. 11/23 (Wednesday) to 12 a.m. on 11/24 (Thursday), from 12 p.m. on 11/24 (Thursday) to 12 a.m. on 11/25 (Friday), from 12 p.m. on 11/25 (Friday) to 12 a.m. on 11/26 (Saturday), from 12 p.m. on 11/26 (Saturday) to 12 a.m. on 11/27 (Sunday) and from 12 p.m. on 11/27 (Sunday) to 12 a.m. on 11/28 (Monday). All other freight is allowed to move unrestricted. Here is California’s full holiday travel information. |
|
Colorado Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
No OSOW travel restrictions. Visit Colorado’s permitting website. |
|
Connecticut Office closed: 11/24 |
No OSOW travel is allowed from 12 p.m. on 11/23 (Wednesday) until sunrise on 11/28 (Monday). Visit Connecticut OSOW permitting website. |
|
Delaware Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
No OSOW freight moves are allowed from 12 p.m. on 11/23 (Wednesday) until 9 a.m. on 11/26 (Saturday). Visit Delaware’s holiday travel restrictions webpage. |
|
Florida Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
No OSOW freight exceeding 80 feet long, 14 feet, 6 inches high and/or 10 feet wide can move on 11/24 (Thursday) or 11/25 (Friday). View all Florida holiday travel restrictions. |
|
Georgia Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
No OSOW freight is allowed to move on 11/24 (Thursday). Check out Georgia’s holiday restriction/closure dates. |
|
Idaho Office closed: 11/24 |
OSOW loads may be transported on Idaho highways with the following restrictions: Red-Coded Routes: No loads may travel starting at 2 p.m. on 11/24 (Wednesday) until sunrise on 11/28 (Monday). Black-Coded and Interstate Routes: Shipments exceeding 10 feet wide, 100 feet long and/or 15 feet high can’t move from 4 p.m. on 11/23 (Wednesday) until sunrise on 11/25 (Friday). |
|
Illinois Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
No OSOW shipments are allowed to travel beginning at 12 p.m. on 11/23 (Wednesday) and ending at sunrise on 11/25 (Friday). Visit Illinois’ OSOW permitting page. |
|
Indiana Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
No OSOW shipments (with the exemption of commodities) can travel starting at 12 p.m. on 11/23 (Wednesday) until 30 minutes before sunrise on 11/25 (Friday). Visit Indiana’s OSOW motor carrier service page. |
|
Iowa Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
There are no OSOW holiday travel restrictions in Iowa over this period. Visit Iowa’s motor carrier website. |
|
Kansas Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
There are no OSOW holiday travel restrictions in Kansas over this period. Visit Kansas’ motor carrier website. |
|
Kentucky Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
There are no OSOW holiday travel restrictions in Kentucky over this period. View Kentucky’s OSOW resources. |
|
Louisiana Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
There are no OSOW holiday travel restrictions in Louisiana over this period. View Louisiana’s permitting webpage. |
|
Massachusetts Office closed: 11/24 |
No OSOW shipments can travel on 11/24 (Thursday). Visit Massachusetts’ commercial truck permitting website. |
|
Maryland Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
No OSOW loads can move from 12 p.m. on 11/23 (Wednesday) until 9 a.m. on 11/28 (Monday). Check out all of Maryland’s holiday restrictions. |
|
Maine Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
No OSOW loads can move starting 30 minutes after sunset on 11/23 (Wednesday) and ending at sunrise 11/25 (Friday). Here is a list of Maine’s holiday closures/restrictions. |
|
Michigan Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
No permits will be issued allowing OSOW loads to travel from 12 p.m. on 11/23 (Wednesday) until sunrise on 11/25 (Friday). Check out information for the movement of OSOW loads in Michigan. |
|
Minnesota Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
OSOW travel is restricted starting at 2 p.m. on 11/23 (Wednesday) and ending at 2 a.m. on 11/25 (Friday). View Minnesota’s holiday travel restrictions page. |
|
Mississippi Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
OSOW freight movement is not allowed starting at 12 p.m. on 11/23 (Wednesday) until 30 minutes prior to sunrise on 11/25 (Friday). View more information on OSOW shipping through Mississippi. |
|
Missouri Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
OSOW freight movement is not allowed starting at 12 p.m. on 11/23 (Wednesday) until 30 minutes prior to sunrise on 11/28 (Monday). View Missouri’s OSOW permitting resources. |
|
Montana Office closed: 11/24 |
No OSOW travel from 11/24 (Thursday) until 11/28 (Monday). Visit Montana’s permitting page. |
|
Nebraska Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
OSOW travel is restricted starting at sunset on 11/23 until sunrise on 11/28. Check out Nebraska’s holiday restriction guide. |
|
Nevada Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
No OSOW travel is allowed from 12 p.m. on 11/23 (Wednesday) until 12 a.m. on 11/24 (Thursday) and from 12 p.m. on 11/27 (Sunday) until 12 a.m. on 11/28 (Monday). View all of Nevada’s holiday travel restrictions. |
|
New Hampshire Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
No OSOW load can travel on 11/24 (Thursday) and 11/25 (Friday). View New Hampshire’s 2022 holiday travel restrictions. |
|
New Jersey Office closed: 11/23 & 11/24 & 11/25 |
No OSOW permits will be issued/valid for travel on 11/23 (Wednesday) or 11/24 (Thursday). Visit New Jersey’s permitting webpage. |
|
New Mexico Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
No OSOW travel is permitted beginning at sunset on 11/23 (Wednesday) and ending at sunrise on 11/25 (Friday). Visit New Mexico’s permitting webpage. |
|
New York Office closed: 11/24 |
No OSOW shipment can travel through New York starting at 12 p.m. on 11/23 (Wednesday) until 30 minutes before sunrise on 11/25 (Friday). View New York’s OSOW permitting resources. |
|
North Carolina Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
No over-dimensional and/or overweight freight exceeding 112,000 gross pounds will be permitted to travel beginning at 12 p.m. on 11/23 (Wednesday) until 12 p.m. on 11/25 (Friday). Visit North Carolina’s OSOW permitting page. |
|
North Dakota Office closed: 11/24 |
No oversized loads exceeding 16 feet wide are allowed to move starting at 12 p.m. on 11/23 (Wednesday) until 30 minutes prior to sunrise on 11/25 (Friday). Check out North Dakota’s OSOW permit pages. |
|
Ohio Office closed: 11/24 |
No OSOW freight can travel in Ohio starting at 12 p.m. on 11/23 (Wednesday) until sunrise on 11/25 (Friday). See all of Ohio’s holiday restrictions. |
|
Oklahoma Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
No OSOW travel is permitted on 11/24 (Thursday). Visit Oklahoma’s permitting page. |
|
Oregon Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
No OSOW exceeding 8 feet, 6 inches wide can travel from 12 p.m. on 11/23 (Wednesday) until 30 minutes before sunrise on 11/28 (Monday). There are several exceptions to this rule:
No overwidth freight can travel after 12 p.m. on 11/23 (Wednesday). No overwidth freight can travel on 11/27 (Sunday). View Oregon’s permitting rules and regulation website. |
|
Pennsylvania Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
No OSOW freight can move within Pennsylvania starting at 12 p.m. on 11/23 (Wednesday) until sunrise on 11/28 (Monday). View Pennsylvania’s OSOW hauling website page. |
|
Rhode Island Office closed: 11/24 |
No OSOW travel is allowed starting at 12 p.m. on 11/23 (Wednesday) until sunrise on 11/25 (Friday). Visit Rhode Island’s OSOW website page. |
|
South Carolina Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
No OSOW travel is allowed on 11/24 (Thursday). Learn more about OSOW shipping in South Carolina. |
|
South Dakota Office closed: 11/24 |
There are no OSOW Holiday travel restrictions in South Dakota for this period. Learn more about OSOW shipping in South Dakota |
|
Tennessee Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
No OSOW escorted travel is allowed starting at 12 p.m on 11/23 (Wednesday) until 11/28 (Monday). All other OSOW loads are allowed to transit unaffected. Visit Tennesse’s permitting website. |
|
Texas Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
Any OSOW load exceeding 14 feet wide, 16 feet tall and/or 110 feet long cannot travel on 11/24 (Thursday). View Texas’ holiday restrictions. |
|
Utah Office closed: 11/24 |
No OSOW exceeding 10 feet wide, 14 feet, 6 inches tall and/or 105 feet long can travel starting at 2 p.m. on 11/23 (Wednesday) until sunrise on 11/25 (Friday). Visit Utah’s permitting page. |
|
Vermont Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
No shipment exceeding 108,000 pounds, 12 feet wide and/or 100 feet long can move on Vermont interstate highways on 11/24 (Thursday). View Vermont’s full permit rules. |
|
Virginia Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
No OSOW travel is allowed starting at 12 p.m. on 11/23 (Wednesday) until sunrise on 11/26 (Saturday). Visit Virginia’s hauling permits page. |
|
Washington Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
No OSOW shipment can travel starting at 12 p.m. on 11/23 (Wednesday) until sunrise on 11/26 (Saturday). Learn more about Washington’s OSOW permitting requirements. |
|
West Virginia Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
No OSOW travel will be permitted on 11/24 (Thursday). Visit West Virginia’s permitting page. |
|
Wisconsin Office closed: 11/24 & 11/25 |
For freight exceeding 13 feet, 6 inches tall, 150 feet long and/or 12 feet wide, no travel is permitted starting at 12 p.m. on 11/24 (Wednesday) until sunrise on 11/25 (Friday). OSOW under these dimensions cannot transit on 11/23 (Wednesday) and cannot travel between 4-8 p.m. on 11/24 (Thursday) and 11/25 (Friday). |
|
Wyoming Office closed: 11/24 |
Any OSOW load requiring escorts is prohibited from traveling starting 30 minutes after sunset on 11/23 (Wednesday) until 30 minutes prior to sunrise on 11/25 (Friday). Visit Wyoming’s permit resources webpage. |
Keep Your Freight Moving Efficiently Next Month!
Though they can throw a wrench in your supply chain, especially if you’re unaware of their presence, travel restrictions are only one of the things you need to think about as a logistics manager. Each month brings with it a different mix of challenges to navigate — a fact you know all too well.
That's why, every month, we put together a monthly overview for shippers to utilize every month. And, since December is coming up quickly, now is the time to start planning for what it will mean for your business.
Check out this article on The Trucking Industry in December 2022: What You Should Know and make sure you’re prepared for success over the weeks ahead.
Also, as we come up on Thanksgiving, don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you have. One of our OSOW transportation experts is happy to help you keep your shipments moving in any way you need.
