Shipping & Freight Services

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Scroll down to review all of our shipping & freight services or click on the links below to go to a specific section

• Common Carrier - $
• Air Freight - $$
• Padded Van - $$$
• Exhibitor Driven Vehicle Program
• Freight Services
  
  * Please note: Hand-carry parking is not available at the
     Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
    

Common Carrier - $

Common Carrier is the least expensive method of shipping to a trade show. It is important to understand that Common Carriers work on a volume basis, so smaller shipments are usually combined to make full truck loads. Consequently, shipments can be loaded and unloaded up to three times before reaching their destination. This movement of shipments can increase the chances of materials being damaged, lost or not delivered by a certain date.

If you choose to ship via Common Carrier, here are some useful tips:

• All materials should be labeled clearly, and carefully packed or crated.
• Allow a cushion of a couple of extra days over the delivery date to be sure your
      materials will arrive at the Show.

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Air Freight - $$

Shipping via air freight, while not inexpensive as compared with common carrier service, does offer several conveniences/advantages that can help defray the cost:

• Shipments can be arranged on fairly short notice.
• You can keep possession of your materials longer.
• Deliveries can be targeted to avoid warehouse charges.
• Most carriers will negotiate a better rate based upon round-trip service in and out
      of the Show.

Three important points:

• As with all modes of transportation, it is important to pack your
      equipment properly.
• Your cost for 3-5 day service is considerably less than 2nd-day or
      overnight service.
• Choose a carrier that specializes in the convention/trade show market.

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Padded Van - $$$

Padded vans offer specialized service tailored to your needs. Vans will pick up your shipment at your plant and deliver it directly to the exhibition hall without handling in-between. This keeps damage, loss and shipping problems to a minimum. If you are shipping uncrated displays and/or machines, padded van is the ONLY way to ship. All shipments are blanket-wrapped and ride in air-cushioned trailers. Vans will guarantee delivery of your shipment on time and in good condition.

We do not recommend one shipment method over another; each is reliable and serves its segment of the market well. Call Freeman Transportation at (800) 995-3579 to discuss the best shipping option for you.

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Exhibitor-Driven Vehicle Program

Shipments via the Exhibitor-Driven Vehicles will be received based on the
following schedule:

 
Note: Over-Time Material Handling rates will apply to any weight over 200 pounds after 4:30pm and all day Saturday & Sunday. Double Time rates all day Sunday.
 

• Exhibitor-Driven Vehicles (EDV) are cars, station wagons, vans, pickup trucks all
      less than 24ft in length.  They can be driven directly to the Freight Entrance for
      check-in where further instructions will be given. Be sure to tell them you are
      using your personal vehicle as part of the EDV Program.

• To participate in the EDV program, your total freight weight must not exceed
      500 lbs. There will be a scale to weigh your product as it checks in.

The weight policy is as follows:

• If your total freight weight is less than 200 pounds, union labor will unload your
      product and deliver it to your booth at NO CHARGE.
• If your total freight weight is between 200 and 500 pounds, the first   200 pounds is
      delivered at no charge. The remaining weight, up to 500 pounds, will be billed
      back to the Exhibitor at prevailing drayage rates.
• Please note that the Summer NASFT Fancy Food Show drayage rates and the union
      regulations apply to EDVs.
• If your total freight weight is over 500 pounds, it will be handled as regular
      material handling and you’ll be charged for the entire weight, including
      the first 200 pounds, at prevailing material handling rates.

However you ship, remember…

• If you plan to ship your product to the show but do not plan to ship it back after the
      show (or you are shipping less weight back), please notify Freeman onsite to
      avoid being charged a round-trip material handling rate.

• Put the name of the exhibiting company, booth number and name of the show on
      every piece.

• Instruct truckers to check in at the marshalling yard so that they can get a ticket to
      access the building.

• Notify your carrier that they may need to wait in line when delivering and/or
      picking up your freight. Some carriers will refuse to wait in line.

• Look for a company that has experience delivering to convention centers and/or
      trade shows.

• Convention Centers cannot be held to the “guaranteed” shipping times promised
      by FEDEX or UPS.  For example, using “Next Morning” overnight service
      might not get your item to your booth until later that afternoon. For security
      reasons, all packages must go through a scanning process which can delay
      delivery times.

• It might make more sense to ship small packages to your hotel and taxi it over.

• If your shipment is temperature sensitive, please remember that we cannot
      guarantee that the temperature in the hall will remain at 75 degrees during
      move-in.

• If your shipment has Refrigerator/Freezer labels attached to the shipment, it will be
      stored as labeled.

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Freight Services

Click below for some helpful information from our official show contractor, Freeman.

• What are Freight Services

• Explanation about Special Handling of Freight

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