Hand-Carry Policy

Exhibitors driving their own privately-owned vehicles (POVs) or rental vehicles and not needing the assistance of loading docks, forklifts, or labor may hand-carry their own display and materials to and from the trade show floor from the designated POV loading areas if the materials and process comply with the following guidelines. 

• Materials on a two-wheel dolly.

• Materials on a four-wheel furniture dolly.

• Product such as a go-kart, if it is rolled in one at a time.

• The product itself is on wheels.

• The product is rolled in by ONE person.

Exhibitors utilizing the POV loading/unloading area must be complete and have their vehicle removed within 30 minutes.

Exhibitors must use the exhibiting company's permanent full-time personnel to hand-carry equipment. No part-time labor may be used. Any additional labor required should be arranged through GES. 

Boxes or containers used to bring in hand-carried material are the exhibitor’s responsibility to store during the show. If stored in the booth, unsightly items must not be visible to attendees. GES will store empty containers at no charge provided GES is used to load/unload your items and a material handling fee is paid.

• Anything in a crate. 

• Anything motorized.

• Crates on wheels.

• A large number of boxes or materials stacked on a dolly or non-GES cart that could be a safety hazard.

• Large pieces of equipment or product that require multiple people to move.

• Anything that would potentially block the doors into the hall.

• Anything deemed by the freight supervisor as unsafe.

If you need to use a pallet jack or any type of motorized equipment, you will need to order labor from GES. 

GES will establish space for the loading and unloading of exhibitors’ privately-owned vehicles (POVs) or rental trucks (U-Haul, etc.) to facilitate this process for those exhibitors who do not require contracted drayage service or freight moving labor assistance. Use of these spaces is on a first-come, first-served basis. Please see the Privately Owned Vehicle (POV) Directional Map for locations and review the Privately Owned Vehicle (POV) Instructions.

POV Move-in and Cartload Service are only available during the following schedule:

South Building

Thursday, Nov. 12 @ 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 13 @ 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 14 @ 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 15 @ 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 16 @ 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

West Building

Friday, Nov. 13 @ 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 14 @ 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 15 @ 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 16 @ 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

There will be a limited number of ramp areas available for exhibitors desiring to load or unload themselves and you must finish and be clear of the area in 30 minutes or less. You will receive a time stamp when you arrive at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) and will be monitored to ensure your vehicle has been removed within that time frame. If you are unable to load or unload within this time period, GES freight handling will take over at the exhibitor’s expense. NO EXCEPTIONS.

In order to self-load or unload, your materials must qualify as “Items Permitted for Hand-Carry” as detailed above. 

Privately owned vehicles (POV) approximately 22 feet in length can arrive directly at the POV loading and unloading area at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC). These vehicles will be dispatched from the POV holding lane to the receiving areas based on space availability. No vehicle may be left unattended at any time in the loading and unloading area.

All other vehicles, van lines, and common carriers must check-in at the Marshaling Yard to be assigned a number for unloading and loading based on driver check in time and target time.

Please refer to the Schedule to determine when you are permitted to move-in.

To help with exhibitors carrying in their small exhibit material during move-in, GES offers Cartload Service for a small flat fee to or from your booth. Each cart will handle a load approximately 2 feet wide x 6 feet long x 3 feet high, up to 8 boxes, up to 200 pounds in freight weight. Your vehicle must unload from a POV area in the loading docks and there is one cartload allowed per booth.

For safety purposes, GES personnel must be used for display vehicle placement of large display pieces that must be towed or driven into position. Flat rates or hourly charges will apply for this service, as a substantial savings over drayage rates.

Please review the GES requirements and the Orange County Fire Marshal Regulations for display vehicles to ensure compliance.