Thanksgiving 2026 Oversize Load Rules in Los Angeles
Thanksgiving Day falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026. If you have Los Angeles Thanksgiving 2026 oversize load restrictions on your radar, the short version is this: permitted loads that need a pilot car lose most of their travel time from Wednesday afternoon through Sunday night, and the Los Angeles wide load curfew can cut into what is left.
California does not stop every oversized truck over the holiday. The Caltrans holiday condition applies to vehicles on a state highway under a transportation permit when a pilot car is required. Your issued permit, approved route, local permits, curfews, terminal hours and road conditions always control the move.
Thanksgiving 2026 Travel Windows for Pilot Car Loads
These windows come from the Caltrans Special Conditions for Holiday Travel and apply to permitted loads that require a pilot car.
Wednesday
November 25
No travel 4:00 p.m. to midnight.
Thanksgiving Day
Thursday, November 26
No travel noon to midnight.
Friday to Sunday
November 27 to 29
No travel noon to midnight each day.
Travel from midnight or sunrise until noon may be allowed on those days, but only when your issued permit and the Caltrans 24/7 travel conditions allow it. Loads that do not need a pilot car are not covered by this holiday condition, though their permit terms still apply.
The Los Angeles Wide Load Curfew
Caltrans applies a curfew to permitted loads over 10 feet wide in the Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento and San Francisco metro areas. The Los Angeles curfew map shows no movement between 6 and 9 a.m. and between 3 and 6 p.m. inside the shaded area.
Over Thanksgiving, that matters most on Wednesday, November 25 and Friday, November 27. On Wednesday the afternoon curfew starts at 3:00 p.m., an hour before the holiday cutoff, and on Friday a wide load inside the curfew area may only have the hours between the morning curfew and the noon holiday cutoff. Plan the route so the load clears the shaded area in time.
Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach Planning
Port terminals publish their own holiday schedules, and a highway permit does not mean the terminal, warehouse, crane crew or receiver will be open.
TraPac Los Angeles lists both shifts closed on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2026, and regular business hours on Friday, November 27. Other terminals may run differently. Confirm the exact terminal, appointment, release, chassis, free time, empty return location and delivery hours before dispatch.
Get Permits Approved Early
The Caltrans permit office is closed on state holidays, and California treats both Thanksgiving and the Friday after as state holidays. Plan on no permit office help on November 26 and 27, 2026, and get permits, revisions and route questions settled by Wednesday.
If the load leaves California, every other state on the route sets its own holiday restrictions, permit rules and escort requirements. Our guide to oversize permits and escort requirements by state covers the state by state basics, and our heavy haul and oversize page explains how we plan these moves.
Before Dispatch Checklist
- Confirm the final loaded dimensions, weight, axle setup and trailer type.
- Read every page and rider attached to the issued permit, including the holiday and curfew conditions.
- Confirm state, city and county permits for the full route, including the City of Los Angeles overload permit if your route needs one.
- Book pilot cars, terminal appointments and delivery hours around the restricted windows.
- Check Caltrans temporary restrictions and current highway conditions.
- Pick a lawful place to park the load if it cannot finish before a cutoff.
Thanksgiving Oversize Load FAQ
When are oversize loads restricted in California over Thanksgiving 2026?
For permitted loads that need a pilot car on a state highway, Caltrans holiday conditions prohibit travel from 4:00 p.m. to midnight on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, and from noon to midnight each day from Thursday, November 26 through Sunday, November 29. Travel from midnight or sunrise to noon may be allowed under the 24/7 policy and your permit.
Does the Thanksgiving restriction apply to every oversize truck?
No. The Caltrans holiday condition applies to vehicles traveling on a state highway under a transportation permit when a pilot car is required. Your issued permit, route, local permits and curfews still control the move.
What is the Los Angeles curfew for wide loads?
Caltrans applies a curfew to permitted loads over 10 feet wide in the Los Angeles and vicinity area. The Los Angeles curfew map shows no movement between 6 and 9 a.m. and between 3 and 6 p.m. within the shaded area. Check your permit for the days and route it covers.
Is the Caltrans permit office open the Friday after Thanksgiving?
California treats Thanksgiving and the day after as state holidays, so plan on the permit office being closed Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27, 2026. Get permits and route questions settled before Wednesday.
Are Los Angeles port terminals open on Thanksgiving 2026?
It depends on the terminal. TraPac Los Angeles lists both shifts closed on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2026, and regular business hours on Friday, November 27. Other terminals publish their own schedules, so confirm yours before dispatch.
Keep Reading
Planning an oversize move around the holidays? See moving heavy construction equipment from the Port of Los Angeles, read about how we move tugboats from San Diego ports, or compare deck heights on our trailer types page. Official sources: Caltrans Transportation Permits.
Moving Oversize Freight Through Southern California?
Send the dimensions, weight, photos, pickup and delivery locations and your ready date. We will check permits, pilot cars and timing around the holiday windows through our carrier network.
