DTS works directly with your exhibitors to arrange LTL, partial truckload, and full truckload shipments to advance warehouses and direct to show sites. We provide shipping instructions, pre-built labels, BOL generation, and quote support through a dedicated portal configured for each event. We coordinate around your move-in schedule and target delivery dates, and we pre-arrange return freight pickups before the show closes so your move-out has a plan in place before the floor opens.

Advance warehouse shipping means an exhibitor's freight is delivered to an off-site facility up to 30 days before the show opens. The show decorator then stages and transports the freight to the booth during move-in. Direct-to-show shipping means freight is delivered directly to the venue during a specific move-in window. Advance warehouse is generally more flexible for the exhibitor but involves additional storage and material handling fees. Direct-to-show can be less expensive but requires precise timing and carries more risk if the carrier misses the window.

If a carrier does not show up during the move-out window, the general contractor typically has the right to move the freight to storage or reroute it using the house carrier — often at a significant premium. This is called forced freight. When exhibitors pre-schedule their return freight through the DTS portal before the show closes, there is a confirmed carrier plan in place. That significantly reduces the risk of a forced freight situation and protects both the exhibitor and the show producer from the fallout.

We work with small to mid-size trade shows and events, including regional industry expos, hotel-based multi-exhibitor conferences, corporate events with exhibiting sponsors, and smaller conventions that do not use a national general contractor like Freeman or GES. If you are producing shows where exhibitors are managing their own freight and you do not have a dedicated transportation resource in place, this program is built for your operation.

The first step is a conversation where we learn about the shows you produce, how many exhibitors you typically manage, and what your current freight coordination process looks like. From there we configure the portal for your first event, set up your shipping instructions and templates, and introduce ourselves to your team. There is no cost to become a partner — we earn our fee on the freight we arrange for your exhibitors.