Chicago Trade Show Freight

McCormick Place is one of the most union-intensive venues in the country. It operates under 3 primary union jurisdictions — Teamsters (freight), IBEW (electrical), and IATSE (rigging) — across 2.6 million square feet in four buildings (West, North, South, Lakeside Center). Exhibitors who walk onto the floor without understanding this structure get burned on labor costs every time.

Calway coordinates directly with all three unions as part of the freight plan. You do not manage separate calls for carpenters, electricians, and riggers. We book them, schedule them, and ensure the classifications do not overlap — because cross-classification work triggers grievances and shuts down your install.

What we bring to Chicago

Union expertise. The Teamsters own the moment your freight hits the McCormick loading dock. IBEW controls every hardwired electrical connection. IATSE handles rigging and overhead. We know the thresholds, the overtime rules (before 8 AM and after 4:30 PM weekdays, double-time weekends), and the EAC filing process.

EAC access. McCormick allows Exhibitor Appointed Contractors (EACs) for I&D. Calway operates as your EAC, which means you get a dedicated crew instead of show-contractor pool labor. EAC filing must be completed by the advance deadline in your ESM — typically 30 days before the show.

Route planning for winter. Chicago winters are not theoretical. I-80 through Nebraska and Iowa shuts down during blizzard conditions. We build weather buffers into every route estimate and track closures in real time.

Origin	Mode	Transit Time	Risk Factors
LA / SoCal (I-15, I-70, I-55, ~2,000 mi)	LTL / FTL	3–4 days	Winter I-70 Colorado closures. Summer heat in Mojave.
Bay Area (I-80, I-76, I-55)	LTL	4–5 days	Winter I-80 Donner Pass chain requirements.
Las Vegas (I-15, I-70, I-55)	LTL / FTL	2–3 days	Most efficient western route. Winter closures on I-70.
New York / East Coast (I-80, I-90)	LTL / FTL	2–3 days	I-80 PA/NJ congestion. NYC metro traffic delays.
Dallas / Houston (I-35, I-55)	LTL	2–3 days	I-35 construction around DFW. Tornado season delays.
Atlanta / Southeast (I-65, I-57)	LTL	2–3 days	No major weather concerns. Standard transit.
Seattle / PNW (I-90, I-94)	LTL	4–5 days	Winter I-90 passes in WA/MT. Chains required.
Asia (via Chicago O'Hare or LAX)	Air / LTL	2–3 days air via ORD, 5–7 days ocean-to-LA + LTL	ORD customs clearance typically 2–3 business days. Ocean routing through LA + LTL works for budget-conscious shipments.

Route tips

McCormick advance warehouse opens approximately 30 days before the show. Book at least 2 weeks before the deadline for winter shipments. Weather in January/February can add 24–48 hours to any lane entering Chicago.

The marshaling yard at McCormick requires advance credentials. Every truck must check in at the yard before accessing the loading docks. Trucks arriving outside their assigned window wait — sometimes for hours in a Chicago winter. That wait costs you in driver fees and pushes your install past 4:30 PM into overtime.

Venues we serve

Venue	GSC	What Matters
McCormick Place	Freeman / GES (varies by show)	2.6M sq ft across 4 buildings. Three union jurisdictions. Drayage billed per CWT with minimums. Advance warehouse opens ~30 days before show.

Union structure at McCormick Place

There are three unions, and their jurisdictions do not overlap:

Teamsters — All freight and material handling from dock to booth. The moment your shipment reaches the loading dock, it is in Teamster territory. You do not touch that freight in transit. Drayage is billed separately from your transportation cost.

IBEW — Every hardwired electrical connection on the floor. You cannot run your own electrical or install lighting circuits. Once IBEW connects your booth's panel, operating your own equipment (laptops, monitors, demo units) is yours.

IATSE — Anything that leaves the floor and goes overhead: hanging signs, lighting truss, suspended displays. Structural booth assembly (carpentry) also falls under union jurisdiction at McCormick.

What exhibitors can do themselves: Hand-carry items without wheels in one trip. Set up products and literature once the structure is in place. Operate own A/V and computers after IBEW connection. Recent rule liberalization allows tool use and ladders regardless of booth size — confirm the specifics with your GSC rep.

Drayage costs at McCormick

McCormick drayage rates are consistently among the highest in the country. Billed per CWT with minimum charge regardless of weight. A 20x30 booth with 2,000 lbs of freight typically runs a drayage line item well into four figures. Specific CWT rates change annually and vary by show — request the advance order form immediately after show confirmation.

Two delivery paths:

• Advance warehouse — Opens 30 days out, closes 3–5 business days before show. Lower CWT rate, more predictable.
• Direct-to-show — Requires assigned move-in window at marshaling yard. Higher CWT rate, weather-dependent.

Biggest shows at McCormick Place

Show	Month	Freight Planning Note
PACK EXPO	November (even years) / March (odd years)	One of the largest packaging shows in North America. Heavy machinery freight — plan for oversized crates.
IMTS	September (even years)	International Manufacturing Technology Show. 1.3M+ sq ft. Freight volume is extreme. Book early.
FABTECH	September (odd years)	North America's largest metal forming, fabricating, and welding show. Heavy industrial machinery. Similar scale and freight demands to IMTS.
National Restaurant Association Show	May	45,000+ attendees. Food service equipment freight. Advance warehouse fills quickly.
RSA Conference	April/May	Cybersecurity. Mostly smaller freight, but tight move-in schedule.