Once freight arrives at the Von Braun Center or an advance warehouse, drayage is the material handling step that moves it from the dock or storage area onto the show floor and into the actual booth space, typically using forklifts or hand trucks operated by dedicated crews.
Exhibitors new to the Huntsville market sometimes confuse drayage with shipping cost, but they are billed separately: shipping gets freight to the building, drayage gets it from the dock into the booth and, later, back out again.
The distinction matters most at a large show like the AUSA symposium, where the volume of freight moving across the Von Braun Center's dock in a short window makes drayage scheduling as much a factor in a smooth install as the shipping method that got the freight to town.
What to understand about drayage before freight ships
- How drayage weight and cost are calculated separately from freight
- Who provides forklift and material handling labor
- Timing of drayage relative to the install schedule
- What documentation to keep in case of a billing dispute
What drayage actually covers
Drayage includes unloading freight from the truck, moving it to the booth space, storing empty crates during the show, and returning them for repacking at strike. It is a distinct service from long-haul shipping, even when the same general contractor arranges both.
Because drayage happens inside the venue under the general contractor's control, it is typically billed through the GC rather than an outside freight carrier, even if that carrier delivered the shipment to Huntsville.
How material handling is billed
Drayage is usually priced by weight, often in hundred-pound increments, and can include minimums that apply even to small shipments. Rates can also vary depending on whether freight is crated, uncrated, or arrives on a common carrier truck versus a dedicated one.
Reviewing the drayage rate schedule in the exhibitor kit before freight ships helps avoid a surprise on the final invoice, especially for exhibitors used to a different show's pricing structure.
Coordinating forklift labor at the dock
Forklift operators and material handling crews at Huntsville venues are typically house or GC labor, consistent with how electrical and rigging work is handled, even though the broader labor market is open-shop under Alabama's right-to-work rules.
Scheduling drayage during the booth's assigned dock window, rather than expecting immediate service on arrival, keeps freight moving at the same pace as the rest of the floor.
- Forklift crews are typically house or GC labor
- Drayage follows the assigned dock window
- Empty crate storage is part of the drayage service
Avoiding the most common drayage disputes
Most drayage disputes come down to weight discrepancies between what the exhibitor expected to be billed and what the certified weight ticket shows. Keeping a copy of the bill of lading and any weight documentation from the carrier protects against that kind of disagreement.
Confirming the crate count and weight before freight ships, and comparing it against the GC's invoice afterward, is the simplest way to catch a billing error early rather than after the show has closed.
Empty crate storage and the return trip
During the show, empty crates are typically stored off the floor by the drayage crew and returned to the booth once dismantle begins, which is why crates need to be clearly labeled with the exhibitor's name and booth number before they are ever taken away.
An unlabeled or poorly marked crate can be misdirected during the chaos of a large show's dismantle, delaying an exhibitor's outbound freight while the crew tracks down the right container among dozens of similar-looking ones.
Frequently asked questions about drayage and material handling
Is drayage the same as shipping?
No. Shipping moves freight to the venue; drayage moves it from the dock into the booth and back out at strike, and the two are billed separately.
How is drayage weight calculated?
Usually in hundred-pound increments based on a certified weight ticket, often with a billing minimum regardless of actual weight.
Who provides forklift labor for drayage?
Typically house or general contractor crews, consistent with how other material handling work is staffed at Huntsville venues.
Can drayage charges be disputed?
Yes, particularly weight discrepancies, provided the exhibitor kept documentation like the bill of lading to compare against the invoice.
What happens to crates while the booth is open?
The drayage crew typically stores empty crates off the floor and returns them for repacking at strike, provided they were labeled clearly with the exhibitor's name.
