Trade show logistics, shipping and drayage
How your booth gets to the hall and back: freight, the advance warehouse and drayage (material handling). Compare 94 vetted builders who handle trade show shipping, then send one brief to up to 5.
Free for exhibitors · No obligation to book · Up to 5 matched builders
Booths our builders made for
The published numbers
Shipping and logistics: what it costs and how it is billed
Rates and rules as published by show contractors, venues, surveys and suppliers, with the source and its date beside each. Your show's exhibitor manual has the rates for your dates.
| What the source says | Source | Dated |
|---|---|---|
| The 2025 Annual Survey of Exhibition Rates puts the national average material handling base rate at $2.28 per pound, up 9.5%, and reports drayage base rates up 21.3% since the survey launched in 2022. | Exhibit City News | Jun 2026 |
| Hargrove (NRPA 2026, Philadelphia): "Material Handling is billed by the hundredweight (CWT) per shipment, with a 2 CWT minimum", and weight is rounded up to the next hundred pounds, so a 347 lb shipment is billed as 4 CWT. Freight sent to the advance warehouse or direct to show is "subject to 100% of Material Handling Fees." | Hargrove (NRPA Annual Conference) | 2026 (exhibit hall September 29 to 30, 2026) |
| Special handling rates apply to shipments needing additional or double handling, including pad-wrapped, un-skidded, double-stacked, constricted-space, ground-level and oversized-crate shipments; "Loose, pad wrapped and uncrated materials require more labor time and special handling fees may be assessed." | Hargrove (NRPA Annual Conference) | 2026 (exhibit hall September 29 to 30, 2026) |
| GES (IMEX America 2026): handling is billed by the cwt, rounded up to the nearest hundred; crated and uncrated freight must travel on separate bills of lading with separate weight tickets, "otherwise GES will invoice the entire load at the Uncrated rate"; the advance warehouse holds freight up to 30 days before the show, and a 30% late-to-warehouse surcharge applies. | GES | Show October 13 to 15, 2026 |
| KEC at the Mid-America Trucking Show 2026 charged $41 per CWT one way and $52 per CWT two way; shipments over 100 lbs are billed at CWT rates with a 2 CWT minimum, and freight received before the advance warehouse dates carries an additional $15 per CWT. | KEC (Mid-America Trucking Show exhibitor kit) | Show March 26 to 28, 2026 |
| Major metro convention centers charge $1.50 to $3.00 per pound for drayage, so a 600-pound crate can cost $900 to $1,800; uncrated or loose materials add 25% to 50%, late or off-target marshaling yard delivery adds 30% to 50%, and crated assets should ship to the advance warehouse about three weeks early. | Makai, Inc. | Aug 2026 |
How it works
Shipping and logistics, step by step
- 01
Crate it
Crated freight is cheapest to handle. Loose, pad-wrapped or uncrated items carry special handling charges.
- 02
Ship to the advance warehouse
Freight sent to the contractor's warehouse before the show is delivered to your booth for move-in. Late arrivals carry surcharges (30% at IMEX America 2026).
- 03
Budget drayage by weight
Material handling is billed per hundredweight (cwt), rounded up, with a minimum, often 2 cwt.
- 04
Book the return
Order outbound shipping before the show closes so your freight leaves on time.
Compare builders
Compare builders who offer shipping and logistics
The top 12 of 94 builders, side by side. Tick the ones you like and send them one brief.
| Select | Builder | Google rating | Since | Service | Custom | Rentals | 3D renders | Venues worked | Price level (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exhibit BossLas Vegas | ★ 4.9 (100) | 2017 | End to end | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5 | $$ | |
Exhibit ExperienceOrlando | ★ 4.8 (92) | 2010 | Build and install | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4 | $$$ | |
Exhibit NetworkHouston | ★ 4.9 (76) | 1989 | End to end | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | 4 | $$ | |
Trade Show Displays USLas Vegas | ★ 5.0 (31) | 2004 | Build only | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | 4 | $$ | |
Condit ExhibitsDenver | ★ 4.6 (27) | 1945 | End to end | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | 5 | $$$ | |
Hartwig Exhibit & DisplayChicago | ★ 4.7 (23) | 1926 | End to end | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4 | $$$ | |
Exhibit Happy by SteelheadLas Vegas | ★ 4.8 (23) | 1994 | Build and install | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5 | $$$ | |
Prime ExhibitsLas Vegas | ★ 5.0 (23) | · | End to end | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | 5 | $$ | |
AGS Exposition ServicesOrlando | ★ 4.7 (21) | 1992 | End to end | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | 4 | $$ | |
Snap Panel DisplaysLas Vegas | ★ 5.0 (20) | 2004 | End to end | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | 4 | $$ | |
Freeman ExpoLas Vegas | ★ 3.4 (133) | 1927 | Build and install | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | 4 | $$$$ | |
3D ExhibitsSchaumburg | ★ 4.0 (41) | 1995 | Build and install | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | 5 | $$$ |
Ratings from Google Maps. Services, years and venues as listed by each builder. Price level is our estimate from each builder's own site, from $ (budget) to $$$$ (luxury), not a quote.
Real booths
Booths from builders who offer shipping and logistics
One booth from each builder's portfolio. Brief one builder for the booth and the service together.
Showing 16 of 16 booths
Price level is the builder's, our estimate from its own website.
Exhibit Boss
★ 4.9 (100) · Las Vegas
Offers shipping and logistics
Exhibit Experience
★ 4.8 (92) · Orlando
Offers shipping and logistics
Exhibit Network
★ 4.9 (76) · Houston
Offers shipping and logistics
Expo Convention Contractors
★ 4.5 (34) · Las Vegas
Offers shipping and logistics
Condit Exhibits
★ 4.6 (27) · Denver
Offers shipping and logistics
Prime Exhibits
★ 5.0 (23) · Las Vegas
Offers shipping and logistics
The Exhibit Company
★ 4.9 (15) · Atlanta
Offers shipping and logistics
Foster Display Group
★ 4.7 (15) · New York
Offers shipping and logistics
Cardinal Expo
★ 4.9 (11) · Atlanta
Offers shipping and logistics
Design Factory Las Vegas
★ 5.0 (9) · Las Vegas
Offers shipping and logistics
Creative Displays
★ 4.9 (7) · Los Angeles
Offers shipping and logistics
Catalyst Exhibits
★ 4.2 (35) · Chicago
Offers shipping and logistics
Photos belong to the builders shown.
Questions
Shipping and logistics questions
What is drayage at a trade show?
Material handling: moving your freight from the dock or warehouse to your booth and back. It is billed by weight, per hundredweight (100 lb), usually with a minimum. The 2025 survey put the national average at $2.28 per pound.
How is drayage calculated?
By weight per cwt, rounded up to the next 100 lb: a 347 lb shipment is billed as 4 cwt (Hargrove, 2026). Crated and uncrated freight must travel on separate paperwork, or the whole load can be billed at the uncrated rate (GES, 2026).
Should I ship to the advance warehouse or direct to show?
The advance warehouse takes freight up to about 30 days before the show and delivers it for move-in; direct to show arrives on move-in day. Both are subject to material handling; late warehouse deliveries carry a surcharge.
How many builders offer shipping and logistics?
94 vetted builders on Exhivo list shipping and logistics among their services, rated 4.46 on average across 1,650 Google reviews. Compare them on this page and send one brief to up to 5.
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