How to Determine Drayage

Drayage is one of the most commonly misunderstood costs at a trade show. This page explains what drayage is, why it exists, and how to calculate your shipment weight accurately.

What Is Drayage?

Drayage is the service of moving your freight from the loading dock (or advance warehouse) to your booth — and back out again at the end of the show. It covers:

  • Unloading your shipment from the carrier
  • Transporting it to your booth location on the show floor
  • Storing your empty crates and packaging during the show
  • Returning your empties at the end of the show
  • Loading your outbound shipment onto your carrier

Why Do Shows Have Drayage?

Convention centers and show facilities have strict rules about who can operate on the show floor. Union labor, forklift safety, dock scheduling, and coordinated move-in/move-out logistics all require a dedicated material handling contractor. Drayage is the cost of that coordinated service — it is not shipping, and it is separate from your freight carrier's charges.

How to Calculate Your Shipment Weight

Drayage is billed per hundredweight (CWT), meaning per 100 lbs, with a minimum charge that typically covers the first 200 lbs. To estimate your shipment:

  1. Weigh each crate, pallet, or case before shipping. A freight scale at your warehouse is the most accurate method.
  2. Include packaging. Pallets, crates, skids, and protective materials all count toward billable weight.
  3. Round up to the nearest 100 lbs per piece. Most drayage contractors round each piece individually, not the total shipment.
  4. Add it all together to get your estimated billable weight.

Over-Estimating Is Better Than Under-Estimating

When in doubt, guess high. If your actual shipment weighs less than you estimated when you ordered drayage, you will be credited the difference once your freight is weighed at the dock. Under-estimating, however, will result in additional charges at the show — often at higher on-site rates.

The same principle applies to piece count. If you listed 4 pallets and only 3 arrive, you'll be credited. If you listed 3 and 5 arrive, you'll be charged for the extras on-site.

Still Not Sure?

Contact us before your order ships. We're happy to help you estimate drayage based on your booth package, exhibit structure, and product inventory.