Landing at the perfect peak of summertime, the Fourth of July is an exciting day to be an American.
As the U.S.’s main summer holiday, the Fourth of July also happens to be one of the busiest travel days of the year.
Recognizing the heightened concentration of motor vehicle traffic, most states’ Departments of Transportation restrict oversize freight travel for the days leading up to and over the July Fourth celebration.
During a two- to three-day stretch encompassing the Fourth of July holiday, oversize (OS) and overweight (OW) freight is prohibited from traveling in most states.
As a shipper or trucking company, you must plan additional transit time for travel regulations or it may be difficult to meet your customer commitments this July.
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 Fourth of July holiday will affect your business specifically.
4th of July 2024 Oversize Freight Travel Restrictions
Note that all state permitting offices are closed Thursday, July 4, in observance of the federal holiday.
|
State |
OSOW Travel Restrictions |
|
AL |
No OSOW permitted travel is allowed from sunset, Wed., 7/3, until sunrise, Fri., 7/5. |
|
AZ |
No OSOW permitted travel is allowed starting at 12 p.m. on Wed., 7/3 until 30 minutes prior to sunrise on Fri., 7/5. |
|
AR |
No OSOW freight can move on 7/4. Farm equipment dealers may transport farm machinery with a permit. |
|
CA |
Permitted freight traveling on a state holiday that must be accompanied by a pilot car is prohibited to travel from 4 p.m. Wed., 7/3 to 12 a.m. on Thurs., 7/4, from 12 p.m. on Thurs., 7/4 to 12 a.m. on Fri., 7/5. All other freight is allowed to move unrestricted. |
|
CO |
Long-combination vehicles (LVCs) are prohibited from traveling at any time on Thurs., 7/4. Extra-legal vehicles/loads (with the exception of LVCs), can’t travel between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Thurs., 7/4. |
|
CT |
No OSOW travel is allowed on Thurs., 7/4. |
|
DE |
No OSOW freight moves are allowed from 12 p.m. on Wed., 7/3 until 9 a.m. on Fri., 7/5. |
|
FL |
No OSOW freight exceeding 14 feet, 6 inches high, 80 feet long and/or 10 feet wide can move on Thurs., 7/4. |
|
GA |
No OSOW freight is allowed to move on Thurs., 7/4. |
|
ID |
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 Wed., 7/3 until sunrise on Fri., 7/5. Black-Coded and Interstate Routes: Shipments exceeding 12 feet wide, 120 feet long and/or 15 feet high can’t move from 4 p.m. on Wed., 7/3 until sunrise on Fri., 7/5. |
|
IL |
No OSOW shipments are allowed to travel beginning at 12 p.m. on Wed., 7/3 through sunrise on Fri., 7/5. |
|
IN |
No OSOW shipments (with the exemption of those with overweight commodity or bulk milk permits) can travel starting at 12 p.m. on Wed., 7/3 until 30 minutes before sunrise on Fri, 7/5. |
|
IA |
OSOW freight is restricted from traveling starting at 12 p.m. on Wed., 7/3 through Thurs., 7/4. |
|
KS |
There are no OSOW holiday travel restrictions in Kansas over this period. |
|
KY |
There are no OSOW holiday travel restrictions in Kentucky over this period. |
|
LA |
There are no statewide OSOW holiday travel restrictions in Louisiana over this period. |
|
MA |
No permitted shipments can travel starting at 12 p.m. on Wed., 7/3 until 12 p.m. on Fri., 7/5. |
|
MD |
No OSOW loads can move from 12 p.m. on Wed., 7/3 until 9 a.m. on Fri., 7/5. |
|
ME |
No permitted load can travel on Thurs., 7/4. |
|
MI |
Permitted OSOW freight is prohibited from travel starting at 12 p.m. on Wed., 7/3 until sunrise on Fri., 7/5. |
|
MN |
OSOW travel is restricted starting at 2 p.m. on Wed., 7/3 until 2 a.m. on Fri., 7/5. |
|
MS |
No movement is allowed starting at 12 p.m. on Wed., 7/3 through Thurs., 7/4. |
|
MO |
No OSOW freight is allowed to move on Missouri highways on Thurs., 7/4. |
|
MT |
OSOW travel is prohibited on Thurs., 7/4. |
|
NE |
No OSOW freight can travel through Nebraska starting at 12 p.m. on Wed., 7/3 until sunrise on Fri., 7/5. |
|
NV |
No permitted OSOW freight travel is allowed from 30 minutes prior to sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset on Thurs., 7/4. |
|
NH |
No OSOW freight can travel on Thurs., 7/4. |
|
NJ |
No OSOW permits will be issued/valid for travel on Thurs., 7/4. |
|
NM |
No OSOW movement is allowed on Thurs., 7/4. |
|
NY |
No OSOW shipment can travel through New York starting at 12 p.m. on Wed., 7/3 until 30 minutes before sunrise on Fri, 7/5. |
|
NC |
No travel for over-width, over-height or over-length permitted vehicle/vehicle combinations or vehicle combinations with a gross weight exceeding 112,000 pounds will be authorized from 12 p.m. on Wed., 7/3 until 12 p.m. on Fri., 7/5. |
|
ND |
No oversized loads exceeding 16 feet wide can move starting at 12 p.m. on Wed., 7/3 until sunrise on Fri., 7/5. |
|
OH |
No OSOW freight can move starting at 12 p.m. on Wed., 7/3 until sunrise on Fri., 7/5. |
|
OK |
OSOW freight travel is restricted on Thurs., 7/4. |
|
OR |
OSOW freight is not allowed to travel starting at 12 p.m. on Wed., 7/3 until 30 minutes before sunrise on Fri,. 7/5. |
|
PA |
OSOW freight is restricted from moving starting at 12 p.m. on Wed., 7/3 until sunrise on Fri., 7/5. |
|
RI |
No OSOW cargo can travel within Rhode Island starting at sunset on Wed., 7/3 through Thurs., 7/4 . |
|
SC |
No OSOW freight can travel through South Carolina on Thurs., 7/4. |
|
SD |
There are no OSOW Holiday travel restrictions in South Dakota for this period. |
|
TN |
No OSOW freight requiring escorts will be allowed to travel on Wed., 7/3 or on Thurs., 7/4. All other OSOW freight can transit as normal. |
|
TX |
Any OSOW load exceeding 14 feet wide, 16 feet tall and/or 110 feet long cannot travel on Thurs., 7/4. |
|
UT |
No OSOW exceeding 10 feet wide, 14 feet, 6 inches tall and/or 105 feet long can travel starting at 2 p.m. on Wed., 7/3 until sunrise on Fri., 7/5. |
|
VT |
No shipment exceeding 108,000 pounds, 12 feet wide and/or 100 feet long can move on Vermont interstate highways on Thurs., 7/4. |
|
VA |
Permitted loads are required to stop travel at 12 p.m. on Wed., 7/3 and may resume travel on Fri., 7/5. |
|
WA |
OSOW loads aren’t permitted to travel on state highways starting at 12 p.m. on Wed., 7/3 until 12 p.m. on Fri., 7/5. |
|
WV |
No OSOW travel is allowed from sunrise to sunset on Thurs., 7/4. |
|
WI |
OSOW freight with dimensions not exceeding 12 feet wide, 13 feet, six inches high and 150 feet long cannot move between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Wed., 7/3 and Thurs., 7/4 in Columbia, Dane, Milwaukee, Rock and Waukesha Counties. For OSOW freight exceeding 13 feet, 6 inches high, 150 feet long and/or 12 feet wide, no travel is permitted starting at 12 p.m. on Wed., 7/3 until sunrise on Fri., 7/5. |
|
WY |
Any OSOW load requiring escorts is prohibited from traveling on Thurs., 7/4. |
Stay on Top of Things This Year!
It’s important for both shippers and trucking companies to recognize the presence of holiday restrictions and take steps to avoid their impact. With a bit of planning, you can side-step any potential interruptions to your supply chain.
As you venture further into the year, events like the Fourth of July will continue to impact freight markets across the U.S.
To help you get ahead of these fluctuations, be sure to regularly check your ATS FreightMatch app for industry news and updates like this one. Refer back to these resources regularly to help you optimize your supply chain all year long!
