Anaheim Trade Show Freight

Anaheim is our home market. Our La Puente headquarters is 20 miles from the Anaheim Convention Center. That means same-day delivery, same-day dispatch for urgent shipments, and a driver who knows the ACC loading docks from years of doing this lane.

No other city on this list has a shorter distance between Calway's warehouse and the convention center. What takes us a day to Las Vegas takes us an hour to Anaheim.

What home-field proximity buys you

Same-day freight. A crate lands at our La Puente warehouse in the morning. It is on a truck to the ACC advance warehouse by lunch. For urgent show-week shipments, we can dispatch from warehouse to the ACC dock in under 2 hours.

No subcontracting. Every Anaheim delivery uses Calway trucks and Calway drivers. No broker handoffs, no third-party dispatch. The same people who pack your freight in La Puente deliver it to the ACC.

California union knowledge. California is a union-friendly labor market. The Anaheim Convention Center operates under union guidelines — Teamsters for freight, Carpenters for assembly, Electricians for power. We know the thresholds, the overtime rules, and the EAC filing process for ACC shows.

Origin	Mode	Transit Time	Risk Factors
Our La Puente warehouse (20 mi, I-5)	FTL / LTL	< 1 hour	No risk. We deliver same-day.
LA / SoCal	LTL / FTL	< 1 day	Standard. LA traffic on I-5 South is the only variable. We plan morning departures to avoid afternoon congestion.
Bay Area (I-5, Grapevine)	LTL	1–2 days	Grapevine pass winter closures. Summer heat. Otherwise reliable lane.
Las Vegas (I-15, I-215, I-10, I-5)	LTL / FTL	1 day	I-15 Barstow traffic during CES/SEMA week. Manageable.
Chicago (I-80, I-76, I-70, I-15)	LTL	3–5 days	Winter I-80 shutdown in Utah/Colorado. Longest lane.
New York / East Coast (I-40, I-15)	LTL	5–7 days	Cross-country transit. Book 3+ weeks before deadline.
Dallas / Houston (I-10, I-20)	LTL	2–3 days	Summer storms in West Texas. No winter concerns.
Seattle / Portland (I-5)	LTL	1–2 days	I-5 Oregon ice in winter. Grapevine pass southbound.
Asia (via LAX / Long Beach)	Ocean / Air + LTL	7–14 days ocean, 2–3 days air	Same LAX/POLB path as Las Vegas. Customs clears, through La Puente warehouse, LTL to ACC.
Europe (via LAX consolidation)	Ocean / Air + LTL	7–10 days	LAX receives, warehouse consolidates, LTL to ACC.

Route tips

Anaheim is the shortest and most predictable lane in our network. For local SoCal exhibitors, we can provide same-day pickup and delivery to the ACC advance warehouse. For international shipments, the LAX-to-La Puente-to-ACC pipeline is the most efficient path in Southern California.

Advance warehouse at ACC typically opens 30 days before the show. Given our proximity, we can also accommodate late deliveries within reason — but advance warehouse rates are always cheaper than direct-to-show.

Venues we serve

Venue	GSC	What Matters
Anaheim Convention Center	Freeman / GES (varies by show)	1.8M sq ft across four halls (A, B, C, D/E). Union labor guidelines. ACC does not receive freight directly — all freight goes through the show's GSC advance warehouse.

Union requirements

California is a union-friendly labor market. The ACC operates under union guidelines for I&D. Exhibitors are expected to follow union rules when exhibiting at the ACC.

Hand-carry allowance: One single trip hand-carry without dollies or carts is permitted. That is the extent of self-service at ACC — any freight requiring a pallet jack, dolly, or forklift is handled by union personnel.

Classifications: Teamsters for freight movement from dock to booth. Carpenters for booth assembly. Electricians for power connections. The specific union requirements vary by show — confirm in your ESM after show confirmation.

ACC building layout

The ACC has four main exhibit halls (A, B, C, D/E), each with separate loading docks. The Grand Plaza connects the halls. Know your hall assignment before shipping — freight delivered to the wrong hall triggers building-to-building transfer fees.

Parking and vehicle staging for large trucks is managed through the GSC's marshaling yard. Trucks must have advance credentials.

Major shows at Anaheim Convention Center

Show	Month	Freight Planning Note
NAMM	January	The largest music products show. Freight volume is extreme — equipment, instruments, and A/V gear. Book 6+ weeks ahead.
Natural Products Expo West	March	The largest organic/natural products show in North America. 3,000+ exhibitors. Advance warehouse fills early.
Anime Expo	July	100,000+ attendees. Merchandise-heavy freight. High volume of small-package exhibits.
IAE (International Auto Aftermarket Expo)	varies	Parts and equipment. Medium freight volume per booth.