AUA Annual Meeting

Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

Friday, May 13 - Sunday, May 15, 2022

The deadline to order for this Show has already expired

Information about Material Handling/Drayage


What is Material Handling?

The unloading of your shipment, transporting it to your booth, storing and returning your empty crates and cartons and reloading your shipment at the close of the show (also called Drayage). This service is not included in the cost of your booth space. Avoid unexpected costs at show site and pre-order this service. Shipping/Logistics costs are separate and are not included in material handling rates.

  • Storage of materials for up to 30 days prior to your show.
  • Delivery of shipments to your booth by your published set-up time.
  • Some convention centers and hotels do not have facilities for receiving or storing freight.
  • Saves valuable set-up time.
  • Remove all old shipping and empty storage labels.
  • Print Advance Shipping labels.
  • Order Material Handling/Drayage.
  • Remember to confirm receipt of your shipment prior to leaving for the show.
  • All shipments must have a Bill of Lading or delivery slip showing the number of pieces, weight and type of merchandise.
  • Certified weight tickets must accompany all shipments.
  • Take the time to ensure that your display and products are packed neatly and securely.
  • Do not ship uncrated materials to warehouse.

Select a carrier with experience in handling exhibition materials. Make sure to give your carrier explicit information as to where and when to check in. Delivery and pick up times are often out of the range of normal delivery hours, make sure your carrier is committed to meeting your target dates and times. While making shipping plans to the show, also plan for the return shipment.

Confirm your delivery date and time with your carrier, and have all pertinent shipping information in the hands of your representative at show site. You may also want to review the return of your goods at the end of the show. GES Logistics domestic shipments can be tracked online by going to: https://ordering.ges.com/logisticstracking.

Handling charges are based on the weight of the freight. Shipments are billed by the hundred weight and rounded up to the nearest hundred. Minimum per shipment may apply, see Material Handling/Drayage for details. Please prepay all shipping charges - GES cannot accept or be responsible for collect shipments. Crated and uncrated shipments must be separated and clearly identified on separate bills of lading with separate weight tickets - otherwise GES will invoice the entire load at the uncrated rate.

  • Crated - Material that is skidded, or is in any type of shipping container that can be unloaded at the dock with no additional handling required.
  • Uncrated - Material that is shipped loose or pad-wrapped, and/or unskidded machinery without proper lifting bars or hooks.
  • Special Handling - Defined as shipments that are loaded by cubic space and/or packed in such a manner as to require special handling, such as ground loading, side door loading, constricted space loading and designated piece loading or stacked shipments. Also included are mixed shipments and shipments without proper delivery receipts.
  • Overtime Surcharges - Shows that move-in or move-out on weekends or after 5:00 PM during the weekday, may be subject to additional overtime surcharges. See Material Handling/Drayage for details.
  • If advance freight is received before or after the published deadline date for shipments to arrive at the warehouse. See Material Handling/Drayage for details.
  • Freight shipments sent to the show after it has opened.
  • Freight shipments that are received at showsite that do not meet their published date and time.
  • Shipment Surcharges - A surcharge will be incurred per shipment for those that are received with incomplete information on shipping labels identifying company name and booth number and/or shipments that are left on the show floor at the end of the show with no labels and no Outbound Material Handling Release Form turned in.

Labor and equipment for uncrating, unskidding, positioning, leveling, dismantling, recrating, and reskidding machinery and/or equipment must be ordered separately. Place your order for this labor using In-Booth Forklift Labor. If your material requires specialized rigging equipment, please notify us promptly so that we can make arrangements. When possible, supply your own rigging equipment with shipments and pre-rig your material.

Properly labeled empty shipping cartons will be picked up, stored and returned after the show. Labels are available at the GES Servicenter® and are for empty storage only. Depending on the size of the show, it can take from two to twelve hours to return empty crates. Do not store any items in crates marked "empty." GES has no liability for damage to crates or items sent to empty storage in crates.

Shipping information, outbound forms and labels will be available at the GES Servicenter®. Exhibitors selecting non-official carriers will need to make their own arrangements for pickup. Make sure that someone from your company will be on-site to oversee the outbound shipment of your display and product.

  • Liability - GES is liable for loss or damage to your goods only if the loss or damage is caused by GES negligence.
  • Sole Relief - If found liable for any loss, GES' sole and exclusive maximum liability for loss or damage to Customer's goods is limited to $.50 (USD) per pound with a maximum liability of $100 (USD) per container, or $1,500.00 (USD) per shipment, whichever is less.

All of your goods should be insured by your own insurance policy. Although we do our best to handle your goods as our own, there are many variables in shipping and handling that can affect your exhibit and products. GES has published GES Terms and Conditions of Contract that are in this exhibitor service manual. Please read them carefully. It is recommended that your goods be insured.

Customer acknowledges that the show site and surrounding areas are active work zones. Customer, its agents, employees and representatives are present at their own risk.

Get an instant quote today: Request a Shipping Quote with GES Logistics.