CES is the largest trade show in the United States by exhibitor count — more than 4,000 companies fill the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), the Venetian Expo, and satellite venues across the Strip every January. For freight and logistics, CES is one of the most demanding events on the calendar.
The sheer volume of exhibitors, the compressed move-in window, and the January timing (holiday shipping delays still in play) make CES a show that requires earlier planning than almost any other event. Exhibitors who treat CES like a standard regional show routinely run into avoidable problems.
This guide covers what you need to know to get your freight to CES on time and at the right cost.
CES Venue Overview
CES spans multiple venues across Las Vegas:
- Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) — Central, North, South, and West Halls. The main show floor.
- Venetian Expo — Tech East, for smaller and emerging companies
- Mandalay Bay Convention Center — select CES events
- Encore and Wynn — conference and meeting sessions
⚠️ Watch Out
GES: The CES General Service Contractor
GES (Global Experience Specialists) is the official general service contractor for CES at LVCC. GES manages all material handling, advance warehouse intake, and drayage at the main show floor.
For Venetian Expo exhibitors, check your Exhibitor Services Manual (ESM) — contractor assignments differ.
CES Advance Warehouse: Book Early
The CES advance warehouse opens in late November or early December and closes approximately one week before move-in (typically early January). GES publishes the exact dates in the ESM each year.
⚠️ Watch Out
Recommended booking timeline for CES:
- Book freight pickup: 6–8 weeks before CES (mid-November)
- Target advance warehouse delivery: 2–3 weeks before close date
- Do not wait until late December — holiday carrier delays are real
CES Move-In: What to Expect
CES move-in runs over multiple days in early January, with priority access given to larger booths and island builds. The schedule is published in the ESM.
The reality of CES move-in at LVCC:
- Peak move-in days see hundreds of trucks in the marshaling yard simultaneously
- Dock waits for direct deliveries can reach 8–12 hours
- Freight that arrives outside your assigned move-in window may be turned away
This is why advance warehouse delivery is not just recommended for CES — it is the only practical choice for most exhibitors.
CES Drayage Costs
CES drayage at LVCC is handled by GES at standard LVCC rates: $95 to $185 per CWT, with advance warehouse rates lower than direct-to-show.
💡 Pro Tip
Budget drayage separately from transportation. For large island exhibits at CES, plan for $5,000 to $15,000+ in drayage depending on booth size and weight.
CES-Specific Logistics Challenges
January timing. CES falls right after the holiday shipping slowdown. Carriers resume full operations in early January, and demand spikes immediately for Las Vegas. Book early — capacity fills fast.
Multi-venue logistics. If your company has presence at both LVCC and the Venetian, freight must be shipped to two separate advance warehouses with separate GES and venue addresses. Do not mix shipments.
Booth complexity. CES attracts high-tech, custom-built exhibits with complex AV and technology integration. Oversized pieces, rigging requirements, and special handling needs are common. Confirm special handling requirements before shipping.
Post-show timing. CES ends and thousands of exhibitors all want their freight out simultaneously. Return carriers must be pre-scheduled before move-in, not after the show closes.
CES Return Freight
CES move-out is as congested as move-in. The procedure:
- Dismantle booth and repack crates
- Apply outbound labels (same as inbound format)
- Submit MHA to GES
- GES stages freight in marshaling area
- Pre-scheduled carrier picks up
⚠️ Watch Out
How Calway Handles CES
Calway ships to CES every January from our Ontario, California base — 4 hours from Las Vegas. We manage CES freight cycles for exhibitors at LVCC, Venetian Expo, and satellite venues.
Our CES timeline:
- November: Book pickup and carrier, confirm advance warehouse address from ESM
- December: Pickup and advance warehouse delivery with confirmed receipt
- January (pre-show): Confirm freight received at booth for move-in
- January (post-show): Pre-scheduled outbound pickup coordination
Shipping to CES This Year?
Get your CES freight quote early — capacity fills fast in November and December. Tell us your venue, booth size, and origin location.
Get a Quote or call (909) 605-9893 — available 24/7.
Calway Logistics | Ontario, CA | USDOT #3353508 | FMCSA Licensed & Bonded
About the author: Jose Melchor is Operations Manager at Calway Logistics, based in Ontario, CA. With 15+ years in trade show logistics, he has coordinated freight for exhibitors at LVCC, McCormick Place, Javits Center, Anaheim Convention Center, and every major trade show venue across the U.S. and Canada.