Glossary
Drayage
Drayage is the freight-handling charge applied by official show services vendors at convention venues. When your trade-show graphics or booth ship to the show, drayage covers receiving the freight, moving it from the loading dock to your booth, then returning empty crates and shipping the booth out. Charged by hundredweight (CWT, per 100 lbs) and varies by show — typically $80–$150 per CWT.
Why it matters for your project
Drayage is the surprise expense that catches first-time exhibitors. A single 200-lb crate at $120/CWT costs $240 round-trip in drayage, on top of the original freight cost. This is a major reason fabric SEG (which ships as luggage and often skips drayage) saves money over multi-show use vs. rigid booth panels.
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