Logistics: Traffic, Deliveries, Lifting & Storage

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Logistics

The Organisers & Venue are doing everything they can to ensure that build up and breakdown runs as smoothly as possible for everyone onsite, but all Exhibitors, Contractors, and Suppliers also have a responsibility for this. Below are some ideas that you should be considering:

Advanced Warehousing

Want to avoid the traffic queues and potentially save money? Then why not send your goods/stand building materials to the Official Logistics Provider two weeks before the show, who will then deliver them to your stand in time for when you arrive onsite. See section below for more details.

Delay Delivery of Furniture & Dressing Items

You don’t need your furniture on the first day of build so be considerate of others and plan your deliveries accordingly.  To avoid the risk of furniture and dressing items being turned away during the first few days of build, why not arrange for these items to be stored with the Official Logistics Provider until you are ready for them?

Couriers

No one enjoys getting stuck in exhibition traffic and it is very easy for courier drivers to refuse to deliver your items. Therefore, contact the Official Logistics Provider who would be more than happy to manage this for you instead. Give them a call to see how they can help ensure a smoother onsite experience for you and your team.

Traffic

Please refer to Venue page.

Deliveries

Consider methods to reduce the number of deliveries and where possible and safe, having single workers load or unload vehicles. Consider using the same pairs of people for loads where more than one is needed. Encourage drivers to stay in their vehicles where this does not compromise their safety and existing safe working practice. Enable drivers to access welfare facilities when required, consistent with other guidance. 

PLEASE NOTE that the Venue nor the show Organisers will accept or sign for any deliveries. All courier deliveries will be directed to the Official Logistics Provider.                 

Want to avoid any exhibition traffic and save time?

Then we strongly recommend that you consider booking the Advanced Warehouse option with the Official Logistics Provider. Send your goods around two weeks before the show and they will be stored and delivered directly to your stand when you are ready for it. It will not only save you time but could also save you money. Speak to the Official Logistics Provider now to see how they can help.

Please refer to the information below: 

Material Handling - Freeman

International Shipping Instructions - Phoenix

               

Can I use my own courier?

Yes you can but in our experience we do suggest that you consider using the Official Logistics Provider for the following reasons:

  • Couriers find it difficult to navigate the venue traffic systems and often struggle to find specific stands within halls.
  • Risk of courier drivers getting caught in exhibition traffic and not wanting to wait.
  • They sometimes leave deliveries without signatures.
  • Any deliveries that arrive before tenancy begins will be turned away.
  • We are currently not allowing any couriers into the exhibition hall so all items are required to be left with the Official Logistics Provider.
  • The organisers and venue will not accept or sign for any deliveries on your behalf.

So to avoid the stress of wondering whether your goods will arrive in time, speak to the Official Logistics Provider and see how they can help and manage this on your behalf.

Please refer to the information below:

Material Handling - Freeman

International Shipping Instructions - Phoenix

If you do decide to use your own courier company make sure that they have the correct address below. Direct deliveries must not arrive at the venue before [coming soon] - they will be returned to your local logistics/carriers depot. If there is no one at your stand to receive your delivery, and on the rare chance that the delivery is accepted at the Venue then please be aware that there may be an additional handling fee from the Official Logistics Provider.

 

SHIPPING & MATERIAL HANDLING WAREHOUSE SHIPPING ADDRESS

Exhibiting Company Name / Booth Number

Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo C2E2 2024

C/O Freeman

2500 W 35th St

Chicago, IL 60632

USA

Note: The Warehouse Shipping is not included in the Lend-A-Hand Program and are subject to Material Handling Fees.

Freeman will accept crated, boxed or skidded material beginning March 25, 2024 at the above address. Material arriving after April 17, 2024 will be received at the warehouse with an additional after deadline charge.

Please note that the Freeman Warehouse does not accept uncrated freight (loose, pad-wrapped material and/or unskidded machinery), COD shipments, hazardous materials, freight requiring refrigerated or frozen storage, a single piece of freight weighing more than 5,000 pounds or a single piece of freight beyond the dimensions of 108"H x 93"W. Warehouse materials are accepted at the warehouse Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM - Certified weight tickets must accompany all shipments. If required, provide your carrier with this phone number: (888) 508-5054.

SHOW SITE SHIPPING ADDRESS

Exhibiting Company Name / Booth Number

Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo C2E2 2024 McCormick Place

C/O Freeman 2301 S

Lake Shore Dr

Chicago, IL 60616

 

SHOW SITE SHIPPING INFORMATION

There will be no material handling charges at C2E2 for shipments delivered direct to show site! Bring your car, box truck, trailer or van to McCormick and the move in costs (drayage/material handling) will be covered as part of the Lend A Hand Program. Freeman will receive shipments at the exhibit facility beginning April 24, 2024. Shipments arriving before this date may be refused by the facility.

Any charges incurred for early freight accepted by the facility will be responsibility of the exhibitor. Certified weight tickets must accompany all shipments. Ensure your driver has the following information to expedite unloading and delivery to your booth: Show Name, Exhibitor Name, Booth #. If required, provide your carrier with this phone number: (888) 508-5054.

 

MARSHALLING YARD INFORMATION

This show includes a marshalling yard. If you are shipping to show site, make sure to note for your carrier that all carriers must check into the Marshalling Yard before arriving to the show site address and provide this address to your carrier when shipping to show site.

Please ensure your driver has the following information to expedite unloading and delivery to your booth: Show Name, Exhibitor Name, Booth #. The marshalling yard hours are 8:00am-2:30pm.

 

If it is necessary for you to have a delivery made during the show open period, please ensure that this is made prior to the show opening. Trolleys are not permitted on the show floor once the show is open and therefore any deliveries will have to be hand carried.  

Please do take the time to speak to the Official Logistics Provider who are very experienced in handling exhibition freight and will have cost effective solutions to make your planning experience both pre-show and onsite a lot easier so your time can be spent on more important things.

Lifting (forklifts, cranes, etc.)

Only the Official Logistics Provider may operate lifting equipment inside the hall and around the perimeter of the venue. Under no circumstances are any other lifting contractors permitted to use forklifts inside of the halls or in the loading areas.

To order a forklift or other lifting equipment for unloading or loading for stand materials and exhibits, please contact the Official Logistics Provider to discuss your lifting requirements and to request a quote for their services. We recommend that you make contact at the earliest opportunity with details of large or heavy exhibits as these may need to be positioned in the early part of build-up and may require special handling.

Storage

Build Up

Be considerate of others and keep the aisles around your stand clear at all times. Items left in the aisles run the risk of being removed either by the Official Logistics Provider or the Cleaning Team which will incur charges that will then be passed directly back to either the stand contractor or exhibitor.

To avoid this risk, why not ask the Official Logistics Provider to store any items until you are ready to receive them on your stand? Delaying the delivery of furniture and dressing items will have a positive impact ensuring a smoother onsite experience for everyone, for example;

  • Everyone on site can move more easily around the show floor.
  • The Official Logistics Provider can deliver freight quicker to stands.
  • Venue rigging department can navigate around the show floor easier so less delays.
  • Creates more space for your team to work.
  • Allows venue cleaners to sweep the aisles more regularly which will help to ensure a clean show for your clients on opening morning.

Show Open

No excess stock, literature, or packing cases may be stored around or behind your stand. If you require storage whilst on site at the exhibition (e.g. empty cartons, boxes, literature, etc.), please contact the Official Logistics Provider for a quote. They will collect items from your stand, store them and promptly return them to you during breakdown.

Be sure to collect packing labels from the Official Logistics Provider during build-up. If packing material are found un-labelled onsite, it may be treated as waste and removed.

Whilst every precaution is taken to ensure the safety and security of the storage areas, we cannot accept any responsibility whatsoever for any, loss or damage or any consequential losses which may befall on your property.

Removal of Items During Breakdown

You must not begin removing items from your stand until the exhibition is closed and all visitors have left the hall. 

Trolleys will not be allowed on the exhibition floor until after this time.

Please do not leave any goods unattended on your stand at this time. Breakdown is a busy period and your property is particularly vulnerable to theft and damage at this time. If you have arranged for a courier to collect items from your stand, please ensure that you are there to meet them.

The organisers cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage to your goods.

 

CRATE REMOVAL, STORAGE & RETURN

Empty crates, shipping containers, cardboard boxes, etc. marked with “EMPTY STICKERS” will be removed to storage and returned to your booth at the end of the show by our floor crew at no additional charge, provided you have used material handling services for the delivery of your booth. Do not store merchandise in crates or cartons marked for empty storage or behind booths- this is prohibited due to Fire Regulations in the building. “EMPTY STICKERS” can be acquired from the FREEMAN desk located at the Exhibitor Service Center. Please label your materials as soon as they are ready to be removed. We ask your cooperation in this important matter so that we can clean the aisles and install aisle carpet.