Other than a company-owned truck there are basically four ways to ship:
Timeframe: Arranged in advance (30 days or more), delivery is not time sensitive.
Examples: Yellow Freight Lines, Central Global Express, Consolidated Freightways, Watkins Motor Lines
Least expensive method of shipping
Can be shipped to advance warehouse or direct to show site
Crated and skidded shipments accepted
Must be arranged well in advance (delivery window: minimum one week)
More in-route handling of freight. Shipment must go through routing system. Increased risk of damage due to additional handling.
Shipped in over the road trailers, no air ride van lines.
Set delivery schedules, minimal flexibility in pick-up date/time.
Unskidded material and machinery not accepted.
Timeframe: Arranged in advance (30 days or more) when delivery dates are time sensitive. Commonly used when consecutive events are booked "back to back" and need to be promptly transported to the next venue.
Examples: United Van Lines, Mayflower Van Lines, North American Van Lines, Werner Exclusives
Easier to manage. Exhibitor freight can be held longer in the exhibitor or EAC warehouse before shipping to show.
Van line equipment includes shock absorbent, air ride van lines. There is less damage to fragile equipment.
Portal to portal delivery.
Crated, skidded or pad-wrapped material accepted.
More expensive.
Must meet target move-in times.
Most often shipments can only be sent directly to show site. Waiting charges may be incurred during delivery.
Additional charges for special handling.
Timeframe: Less than 30 days notice -- shipments consist of crated or skidded equipment only.
Examples: BAX, DHL, Emery Airfreight
Short notice for flexible shipping dates/times.
Easier to meet target move-in deadlines.
Exhibitor has better negotiating leverage for rates since shipments can be packaged for inbound and outbound shipping.
Timeframe: Less than one week. When shipments can be arranged in a very short amount of time. Generally used for product in boxes/cartons, pop-up equipment, or small packages.
Examples: Federal Express, UPS
Last minute items can be shipped easily (i.e. printed materials, new product samples).
Can be hand carried without assistance of labor.
Most expensive (Most material handling rates have a 200 pound minimum).
Individual boxes of a shipment can be separated since they are not consolidated into one pallet. Minimum weight charges will apply to each piece.
Components of small package shipments can be lost if multiple shows are occurring in the same facility.