Trade shows open doors to new clients, partners, and market exposure—but behind every well-designed booth is a complex logistics puzzle. One often-overlooked element? The transportation and movement of your booth materials within the venue, often referred to as drayage. Though the term sounds dated, the process is very much alive—and crucial—for any exhibitor aiming to deliver a seamless show experience.
Behind the Scenes: What Is Trade Show Drayage?
“Drayage” might sound like a relic from the horse-and-cart era—and that’s because it is. The word originates from “dray,” a cart pulled by draft animals to carry heavy loads short distances. Today, the term lives on in the trade show world, describing the logistics of moving your booth components, marketing materials, and display units from the event’s loading dock to your specific booth space.
Typically, show organizers hire general service contractors to manage this movement. Costs for drayage vary and depend on factors such as material weight, the number of shipments, distance to the booth, and time required to deliver and unload. Even a few extra pounds or mislabelled crates can significantly affect your invoice.
Material Handling: The Bigger Picture
Material handling, often used interchangeably with drayage, takes a broader view. It encompasses every aspect of managing your booth assets once they’ve arrived at the venue—from offloading, storage, and delivery to on-site logistics coordination and retrieval post-show. Smooth material handling is key to setting up on time and staying on budget, especially at busy events with tight windows for move-in and breakdown.
Tips for Taming the Drayage Beast
Simplifying drayage starts well before your freight hits the loading dock. Here are a few practical strategies to streamline the process:
And perhaps the most stress-free option: partner with a trade show booth builder that handles material handling as part of their service package.
A Smarter Path Forward: Let the Experts Handle It
One of the best ways to minimize the headache of trade show logistics is to collaborate with booth design companies that offer full-service support, including trade show booth rentals with logistics baked in. At Display Gurus, for example, we manage everything from delivery and drayage to installation and teardown—so your team can focus on what matters: connecting with customers.
Whether you’re showcasing a new product or making your first trade show appearance, understanding and planning for drayage can dramatically improve your experience—and your ROI.