Skyline Exhibits

Exhibitors pay anywhere from 30 to 60 cents a pound (more or less) to have trade show contractors haul their exhibit materials from the loading dock to their booth space and then back after the show. That price also includes removing empty crates before the show and returning them afterward. This is called "drayage" and it's expensive.

How do you figure drayage costs?

Drayage is charged by the hundredweight (cwt). If your drayage rate is $50/cwt: find out the weight of your crated exhibit, then divide by 100 pounds, and multiply by 50.

2,000 lbs ÷ 100 x 50 = $1,000

Tips to save:

• Drayage rates to the show site are slightly less than drayage to the advance warehouse
• Drayage on common carrier shipments is slightly less than drayage via specialized carrier (van line, company truck)
• You pay less drayage on crated versus pad-wrapped shipments
• Beware of after hour and weekend drayage surcharges (up to 35 percent)
• Beware of the minimum drayage weight rate (often 200 pounds); think twice about extra shipments
• Before leaving any show, match your drayage cost estimates and agreements (get them in writing) against actual bill

What can you do to cut drayage costs

If your current exhibit is a heavyweight, drayage costs might be incentive to retire it early. If you're buying or renting an exhibit, it's wise to keep drayage in mind. Imagine paying $6,000 every time you need a five-ton exhibit hauled into a show hall? The good news is today's custom modular exhibits are much lighter than the custom exhibits of the past.