Shipping & Freight Services

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
  
   

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.

• When you arrive at the Moscone Center, all EDV's should go to the 3rd Street 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.

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 Winter 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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