Participating in the CAMX | Composites and Advanced Materials Expo is an exciting opportunity to present your innovative, health-focused products to a highly engaged audience. It’s a rewarding way to apply your expertise and creativity while building meaningful industry connections. However, preparing for the show—especially setting up your booth—requires a significant investment of time, money, and careful planning.
Shipping your materials to CAMX involves more than just basic freight services. Trade show logistics are more complex and can be especially daunting for first-time exhibitors. If you're getting ready to send your booth and materials to CAMX, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to ensure a smooth and successful shipping experience.
When preparing to ship materials to CAMX, it’s important to understand the key players involved in the logistics process. These include the general contractor, the convention center, and trade show shipping companies—each playing a crucial role in ensuring your shipment arrives safely and on time.
Freeman typically serves as the official general contractor for CAMX. Their responsibilities include overseeing the setup and teardown of the event, as well as acting as the official carrier. While Freeman offers shipping services to and from the show, you are not required to use them exclusively. Many exhibitors opt to work with specialized trade show shipping providers like Diversified Transportation Services for more flexible and personalized logistics solutions.
The convention center is the final destination for your shipped materials. This year, CAMX is being held at the San Diego Convention Center, which will serve as the receiving point for both advance warehouse and direct-to-show shipments.
Trade show shipping companies are logistical service providers that specialize in transporting exhibition materials from exhibitors to CAMX. The trade show shipping company will manage inbound and outbound transportation for materials. They will act as your main port of call for getting your materials to the event.
As you gear up for CAMX, it's important to stay organized and on top of a few critical logistics. Make sure your packaging is ready, your shipping labels are up to date, and that you've carefully reviewed the exhibit manual for all necessary shipping instructions.
When preparing your freight for CAMX, pay close attention to the condition of your crates and pallets. These items must be sturdy enough to endure transport and protect your materials from damage throughout the shipping process.
Don’t overlook the small essentials either—it's easy to forget something minor that ends up being a necessity at the event. To help with this, consider compiling a checklist of commonly overlooked items such as:
For a smooth delivery process, your trade show shipping labels should clearly display the following details:
You can create CAMX shipping labels in one of two ways:
Before applying your new labels, make sure all old labels are removed. Apply the new ones on every side of each shipping container for optimal visibility.
You can access the CAMX exhibit manual by searching for the event on Freeman’s website.
This manual contains essential shipping-related details, such as:
As you finalize preparations for CAMX and get your booth materials ready to ship, one key decision is whether to send your freight to the advance warehouse or directly to the show site.
For those unfamiliar with trade show logistics, the advance warehouse is a designated facility provided by the event organizer, typically available 6–8 weeks before the show. Shipping to this location allows your materials to be received early and stored safely until the official move-in begins. Once it’s time for setup, the show organizers will deliver your freight directly to your booth, so it’s ready when you arrive.
As the name suggests, direct-to-show shipping means sending your materials to arrive at the venue just a few days before the event begins. This option is often used when exhibitors are finalizing last-minute booth updates or want to avoid long-term storage. However, it requires precise timing and a bit more risk management in case of shipping delays.
Check out the comparison chart below to weigh the pros and cons of each method and choose the one that best fits your shipping timeline and needs.
As we've walked through the key steps to prepare for CAMX, you may be realizing how many moving parts are involved in trade show shipping. That’s where we come in. At DTS, we focus on trade show logistics—helping exhibitors like you move freight to and from events across the country.
Whether you're shipping to the advance warehouse or direct to the show, we can help you plan your move-in strategy, assist with your move-out paperwork, and provide dedicated, concierge-level support throughout the process.
If you're looking to learn more about the ins and outs of trade show shipping, check out our Guide to Trade Show Shipping.
Ready to get started? Give us a call at (310) 521-1200 or click the button below to request your CAMX shipping quote.
Whether you're a company looking to improve one facet of your supply chain, your entire supply chain, or simply looking for a transportation and logistics consultation, we can help.
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