A Melton truck with a patriotic wrap in the sunset

Labor Day Shipping: What You Need to Know Before the Holiday

Labor Day falls on Monday, September 2nd this year. This holiday celebrates our country’s workers and is a popular time for road trips, outdoor activities, and other outings that cause the roads to be busier than normal. This federal holiday also means many transportation offices are closed, which makes planning shipments a little more complex. However, loads still need to make it from point A to point B on time, so drivers and shippers alike need to be ready to adapt to the holiday conditions.

So, it’s important to ask: What precautions can you take to prepare your business for the holiday?

How Labor Day Differs from a Regular Day on the Road

Labor Day weekend often brings a noticeable shift in traffic patterns compared to a typical workweek. Highways and roads are busier with vacationers, which can lead to increased congestion and longer travel times. Additionally, road closures due to events can be common. All these factors combined contribute to the 11% increase in the number of traffic fatalities compared to a regular weekend.

Driving Cautiously on Labor Day

With the added cars on the road, it’s important for truck drivers to stay vigilant more than ever.

Maintain a safe distance between other vehicles and be on the lookout for erratic driving patterns.
Be prepared to stop or take alternative roads to avoid accidents or severe delays.
Give yourself extra time to arrive at your destination. There will be lots of extra traffic on the roads!
You should never drive with distractions like cell phones, but this is especially important on holidays like Labor Day. Keep your eyes and mind focused on the road – phone calls and texts can wait until you’re stopped.

Labor Day’s Impact on Shippers

For shippers, Labor Day can pose several challenges.

Additional road traffic can lead to delays in delivery times and increased rate costs. Companies may also face staffing shortages or altered schedules, if not being outright closed. If you have shipments that need to be moved over the holiday weekend, be prepared to have a harder time enough trucks at regular rates. Of course, it could be easier or more difficult to find carriers depending on your industry and the mode of transport you require.

Over-dimensional shipping is even more of a challenge on Labor Day and other holidays. The permits to travel might be harder to obtain, or OD transportation might be outright banned over the holiday weekend. If you need to ship any over-dimensional loads during this time, It’s critical you’re aware of your state’s regulations to avoid hefty fees or penalties. Most states ban travel from the 30th-31st to the morning of the 3rd, but the exact windows will vary. You can view your state’s travel restrictions here.

It’s important to understand while the stress of the day might be higher than your standard Monday, that it is very short-lived. Rates have historically stabilized within the week following, and many carriers will plan to have emergency coverage should the need arise with your freight. To stay ahead of the curve, we recommend communicating with your shipper to see what plans they have in place to handle the holiday transit and follow their guidelines.

No matter what events pop up on the calendar, you need a transportation company that can adapt and ensure the timely delivery of your freight. Melton Truck Lines is well-versed in holiday shipping and can help you get your shipment where it needs to go. Learn more about the transportation services we can offer for your business here.

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