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Resources > Budgeting
Guidelines
Tips on trimming drayage costs
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.
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