Shipping Overview

The AHR Expo is a “targeted” show. This means all booth material needs to arrive according to a schedule based on where you choose to ship and your booth location.

Target move-in plan coming summer 2026

Exhibitors are free to use the carrier of their choice but Freeman is responsible for all freight moving in and out of the facility (coordinating move-in & move-out, material handling, etc).

Regardless of the shipping destination, all shipments must be accompanied by a certified weight ticket and bill of lading. Drivers should have these readily available.

Visit Freeman Online (available soon) for complete shipping and material handling information.

Shipping Destination Options

Advanced (Warehouse) Shipments | Arrive by January 14

Starting December 22 through January 14, exhibitors may ship their freight in advance to the Freeman Chicago warehouse to be stored and brought to the convention center without any charge other than material handling.  Material arriving at the warehouse after January 14, will be received with an additional after deadline charge.

The 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.

Freeman will deliver material to the designated booth no later than the time assigned on the target move-in plan (coming summer 2026).

The warehouse accepts deliveries Monday - Friday, 7am - 2:30pm and is closed on weekends and holidays, with the exceptions noted below.

Warehouse shipping address: 

Exhibiting Company Name / Booth Number
2027 AHR Expo
C/O Freeman
2500 West 35th St
Chicago, IL 60632
USA

Download Shipping Labels (coming soon)

Download Shipping Labels for Hanging Signs (coming soon)

Direct (Convention Center) Shipments | Arrive per target schedule

Shipments may go directly to McCormick Place scheduled to arrive on the “target” day and time as assigned on the target move-in plan.  At the scheduled time, freight carriers should check in at the marshaling yard to be put in a queue for unloading. Drivers need to be aware there will be a wait time upon arrival.

DHL, FedEx, and UPS are not recommended for shipping directly to the convention center due to weekend delivery limitations and restrictive delivery procedures.

Target Move-In Plan (available summer 2026)

Marshalling Yard Information (coming soon)

Show site shipping address: 

Exhibiting Company Name / Booth Number
2027 AHR Expo
McCormick Place
C/O Freeman
2301 South Lake Shore Dr
Chicago, IL 60616-1497
USA

Download Shipping Labels (coming soon)

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Unloading a Personally Owned Vehicle (POV)

Exhibitors planning to load or unload from a personal vehicle should refer to the Automobile and Small Utility Vehicle (ASUV) Program on the McCormick Place website. Advanced registration is advised.

The ASUV program hours tbd.

Learn more about McCormick’s ASUV Program

Freeman Assisted. Exhibitors may deliver booth materials to the convention center using a qualifying private vehicle on the “target” day and time as assigned on the target move-in plan. To access the POV ramp for Freeman’s POV cart services, pull into the docks and inform the guard that you are a 'POV' to receive a dock unloading pass.

POV cart service will be available for a fee during move in and move out, during peak periods wait time may exceed 2-3 hours.

Vehicles that qualify for the POV ramp:

Unassisted. Exhibitors not utilizing Freeman’s cart service must unload through the front entrances. Please be aware that vehicles may not be parked or left unattended in driveways or anywhere along the front of the buildings. A minimum of two people is required per vehicle—one must remain with the vehicle at all times while the other(s) transport materials to the booth. Vehicles must be moved immediately after unloading to avoid congestion.

Getting Materials to the Booth

Freeman is the only party permitted to unload trucks and move material to an exhibitor’s booth. This is called material handling and the cost includes transport of materials from the shipping dock of the advance warehouse or event venue to the exhibit space, storage and return of empty containers, and transport of materials from the exhibit space to the outbound transportation vehicle.

General material handling rate = $1.32/lb.

Outbound Shipments

Regardless of their freight transportation provider, all exhibitors shipping freight out from McCormick Place after the show must fill out the Freeman Outbound Shipping Form (material handling agreement) to arrange for their freight to be returned to the docks for outbound pick-up. Paperwork will be delivered to the exhibitor’s booth during the show and should be returned to the Exhibitor Service Center with outbound shipping information in advance. If no outbound information is submitted, Freeman reserves the right to return the freight to the company address on file at the exhibitor's expense.

QUESTIONS? Contact Freeman at exhibitorsupport@freeman.com or 888-508-5054