Do Moving Companies Work on Memorial Day? Get the Facts

Do Moving Companies Operate on Memorial Day?

Most full-service moving companies do accept Memorial Day bookings, but capacity is tighter and pricing often reflects holiday operations and peak-season demand. Dispatch managers plan holiday routes weeks ahead, balancing crew availability, longer travel times, and building access quirks. If your dates are rigid, calling 2–3 weeks in advance is common; for interstate moves, aim even earlier.

Holiday service doesn’t guarantee every provider is open—smaller carriers may close to give crews time off. Regional players with larger fleets often run limited schedules. Expect a brief confirmation window where your mover locks the crew, truck size, and time slot; you’ll usually need a deposit to hold it.

Wrap-up: You can move on Memorial Day, but treat the calendar like inventory—once it’s gone, it’s gone. Early outreach is the safest play.

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How Holiday Pricing and Surcharges Typically Work

Pricing on Memorial Day can incorporate peak-day or holiday premiums to cover overtime wages, limited fleet availability, and slower road speeds. The structure varies by company, but the drivers are similar: personnel costs, windowed elevator access, and congestion.

What to expect at quoting time:

• A modest holiday premium (flat or percentage) on labor hours
• Minimum hours that may be higher than non-holiday weekdays
• Adjusted travel fees if traffic patterns impact windshield time
• Weekend/holiday rates for specialty services (piano, safes, hoists)

Close: Transparent quotes break out labor, travel, materials, and premiums—ask your rep to itemize each so you know exactly what unlocks savings.

Building Rules, Elevators, and HOA Nuances

Buildings and HOAs can be the real bosses on holiday moves. Many require prior notice to reserve loading zones or service elevators; some prohibit moves on federal holidays entirely to reduce noise and traffic. Single-family neighborhoods with active HOAs may restrict curb usage, truck size, or hours.

A quick sequence to stay compliant:

• Confirm move-in/out dates with building/HOA before you sign
• Reserve elevator/loading dock with blocks that match your mover’s ETA
• Secure any needed certificates of insurance (COI) listing the building
• Clarify allowable truck types and parking rules for the day

Close: Buildings that welcome holiday moves often cap time blocks—align your mover’s window with your elevator reservation to avoid costly idle time.

Traffic, Parades, and Road Restrictions on the Holiday
Holiday road dynamics change loading math. While early morning highways can be clear, late-morning parade closures, ceremonies near civic centers, and afternoon lake-bound traffic add drag. Local runs may benefit from a dawn load; long-distance legs often launch pre-sunrise to beat both events and heat.

Tips for routing clarity:

• Ask dispatch which time blocks historically avoid closures in your area
• Stage fragile items and first-night essentials near the door to compress load time
• Consider a two-part plan: the crew loads Memorial Day, you deliver next morning

Close: Good routes are planned; great routes are rehearsed the night before with a quick check of city event calendars and DOT notices.

Availability Strategies: How to Actually Secure a Crew

On a high-volume weekend, booking isn’t just about being first—it’s about being complete. Dispatch prioritizes jobs with confirmed elevator windows, parking plans, and accurate inventories because they’re easier to route.

Smart booking sequence:

• Lock your time window (first start beats heat and traffic)
• Provide a precise item list or video walk-through
• Share building rules, COIs, and elevator reservations
• Note stairs, long carries, and storage legs in advance

Close: Complete files get confirmed first; treat your booking like a permit packet and watch your chances rise.

Expert Insight: What Movers Say About Working Memorial Day

We spoke by phone with Cirdan, COO at PS Moving in Bellevue, WA, a regional carrier serving multiple areas. “Our crews do work Memorial Day, but we staff lighter and favor first-start slots,” Thompson explained. “Customers who confirm elevator reservations and provide a video inventory get priority because we can route them with fewer unknowns.”

Later, during a quick email exchange, Javier Ruiz, owner of Red Rock Relocation, added, “We add a small holiday premium to ensure crews are compensated fairly. If you’re flexible, the Sunday before or the Tuesday after often delivers the same crew without the premium.”

Close: Industry leaders agree—Memorial Day moves happen, but preparedness and flexibility are the real price breakers.

Packing on a Holiday: Speed Without the Stress

Packing can bottleneck a tight schedule, especially when you’re trying to finish between family plans and shorter elevator windows. Focus on momentum, not perfection.

Fast-lane tactics:

• Pre-stage rooms in labeled zones: Load First, Fragile, Donate, Last-On
• Use uniform box sizes to stack tight in elevators and trucks
• Quarantine liquids/batteries; many carriers won’t load them
• Pack a “48-hour box” with bedding, chargers, meds, and towels

Close: A tidy staging area is the best gift you can give a holiday crew; it turns every elevator cycle into real progress.

Weather, Heat, and Crew Safety

Late-May heat, humidity, and sudden storms can slow pace and require extra breaks. Professional crews monitor hydration, truck temps, and ramp stability; you can help by planning shaded staging and cold water.

Key considerations:

• Heat adds minutes to every carry—pad your time expectations
• Electronics and candles are heat-sensitive; load them last
• Rain plan: plastic mattress bags, bin liners inside boxes, extra moving blankets

Close: Safety-first crews finish stronger—and that’s the difference between a good move and a great one on a hot holiday.

Insurance, Liability, and Your Paper Trail

Holiday or not, your coverage doesn’t change—but verification matters more when offices are closed. Get valuation choices in writing (released value vs. full value), confirm deductible terms, and ask whether after-hours claims reporting is available.

Essentials to verify:

• Valuation type on your estimate and bill of lading
• Exclusions (pressurized tanks, fuel equipment, certain antiques)
• Who signs for elevator or loading damage (you vs. the carrier)

Close: Clear paperwork turns “what if” into “we’re covered,” and that’s priceless when admin teams return Tuesday.

Should You DIY on Memorial Day Instead?

Truck rentals can be cheaper than a full crew, but holiday inventory and variable parking can erase savings. DIY also transfers risk—stairs, long carries, and heat tax your timeline.

Weighing the trade-offs (quick view):

• Pros: Lower labor cost, full control of timing, flexible packing pace
• Cons: Scarce rental inventory, parking tickets, physical strain, no labor guarantee

Close: If your building requires COIs and elevator reservations, professional movers often glide through red tape you’d otherwise tackle alone.

Storage and Staggered Moves: A Practical Middle Ground

If your lease starts Tuesday but you must vacate Monday, consider a same-day load into short-term storage with delivery mid-week. Many carriers offer warehouse vaults or can coordinate a third-party facility.

How staggered moves help:

• Separates load and delivery windows for better elevator timing
• Reduces holiday premiums by shifting the second half to a weekday
• Buys time if keys or cleaners are delayed

Close: Staggering transforms a single high-pressure day into two manageable ones, often trimming cost and cortisol.

Questions to Ask Your Mover Before You Book

A strong pre-book chat de-risks the holiday curveballs. Use this checklist during your estimate call.

Ask directly:

• Do you operate on Memorial Day, and are there holiday premiums?
• What start windows are available, and how early can we begin?
• Can you issue a COI with my building’s exact language?
• What’s your plan if city events block our street?
• How do you handle weather delays and overtime?

Close: Good answers sound specific—vague promises on a holiday are your cue to shop around.

Final Checks and Day-Of Flow

The best holiday moves feel choreographed. Pack smart, stage zones, and sync your elevator reservation to the truck’s ETA. Confirm that tools, shrink wrap, and floor protection are on board; verify payment method, tips policy, and crew headcount before wheels roll.

Day-of quick hits:

• Clear hallways and door swings; pop off door stops if allowed
• Photograph unit condition and elevator padding for your records
• Keep hydration and snacks accessible for everyone

Close: Small rituals—photos, checklists, water—remove friction you only notice when they’re missing.

The Memorial Day Bottom Line

Memorial Day moves are absolutely possible, with most reputable companies running limited schedules backed by holiday-aware pricing and staffing. The top wins are early booking, elevator and parking coordination, and realistic timelines that account for ceremonies, parades, and heat. Industry leaders we spoke with emphasized fairness to crews and the outsized value of a complete inventory and building paperwork.

If your timing is flexible, consider the surrounding days to avoid premiums and expand your options; if it’s not, focus on the ‘controllables’: inventory accuracy, building permissions, and a first-start window. With those pieces in place, the long weekend can be a surprisingly efficient time to turn a page—are you ready to make the most of it?