Celebrating 50 Years Serving Chicago · 1976 – 2026
McCormick Place · Trade Show Courier

Same-Day Courier to McCormick Place.

Print-to-booth runs, advance warehouse staging, last-minute show-floor emergencies, and 24/7 dispatch — from a Chicago courier that has served the city for fifty years.

Quick Answer

Comet Messenger Service has handled same-day trade show deliveries to McCormick Place for 50 years. Print-to-booth, advance warehouse staging, and emergency show-floor runs. Cargo vans, bike messengers, and 24/7 dispatch. Order through the client portal or call (312) 786-2288 — Haley, Comet's AI dispatcher, answers every call instantly, 24 hours a day.

Every hall, every dock, every move-in window.

McCormick Place is North America's largest convention center — four halls (North, South, West, and Lakeside), an off-site marshaling yard, and a designated advance warehouse for pre-show freight. Comet's drivers know the dock numbers, the truck entrance off King Drive, the marshaling yard appointment process, and the security check-in at every entrance.

Typical exhibitor runs: print-to-booth deliveries from Chicago print shops; advance warehouse staging for materials sent one to three weeks before move-in; emergency show-floor delivery of forgotten laptops, prototypes, banner stands, and replacement giveaways; last-minute printed materials for booths during the show; and signed contract pickup from the exhibitor lounge.

What Comet does and doesn't do: Comet delivers up to the McCormick Place dock or advance warehouse. Drayage — the on-site move from the dock to the booth — is performed by the show's general contractor (Freeman, GES, Shepard, or whoever the show has appointed). For ad-hoc runs during show hours, Comet drivers can be escorted onto the floor by exhibitor staff with a hall pass.

All Four Halls

North, South, West, and Lakeside. Drivers know the dock numbers, marshaling yard, and truck entrance off King Drive.

Print-to-Booth

Pickup from any Chicago print shop, direct delivery to your booth. Brochures, banners, bound proposals, replacement giveaways.

Advance Warehouse

Pre-collect from your office, warehouse, or vendor and deliver to the show's advance warehouse on the contractor's schedule.

Emergency Show-Floor

Forgotten laptops, prototype replacements, signed contracts, last-minute handouts. Streak (1-2 hour) or Priority (2-3 hour) tier.

Marshaling Yard

Dispatch coordinates the appointment with the show contractor before the driver leaves so trucks aren't held at the gate.

Pre-Cleared Drivers

Familiar with security check-in, exhibitor service desk, and how to route through the truck entrance without losing time.

Questions exhibitors ask.

Who delivers same-day to McCormick Place for trade show exhibitors?
Comet Messenger Service has handled same-day trade show deliveries to McCormick Place for fifty years. Drivers know the dock numbers, marshaling yard entry off King Drive, security check-in at the truck entrance, and how to coordinate booth delivery with show management and the general contractor (Freeman, GES, Shepard). Whether the call is a forgotten exhibit, replacement printed materials, or a signed contract for the exhibitor lounge, Comet's 24/7 dispatch can have a courier on the dock within the move-in window.
Can I get same-day print-to-booth delivery at McCormick Place?
Yes. Comet picks up from any Chicago print shop and delivers directly to a booth at McCormick Place. Common runs include last-minute brochures, banner reprints, freshly bound proposals, signed contracts for the exhibitor lounge, and replacement giveaway items. Cargo vans handle anything from a single box up to a full pallet; bike messengers carry envelopes for tight windows. Drivers carry the show name, hall, dock, and booth number on every dispatch ticket so they can be routed directly by McCormick Place traffic control without delay.
What is an advance warehouse delivery for McCormick Place?
McCormick Place uses a designated advance warehouse — managed by the show's official contractor, usually Freeman, GES, or Shepard — that accepts exhibitor freight one to three weeks before move-in. Materials sent to the advance warehouse are staged, inventoried, and routed to the booth on move-in day. Comet can pre-collect from your Chicago office, warehouse, or print vendor, label per the show's freight-receiving requirements, and deliver to the advance warehouse on the contractor's pre-show schedule. This avoids the surcharges that show-site receiving typically carries.
How does Comet handle drayage and on-site decorator coordination?
Drayage — the on-site move from the receiving dock to the booth — is managed by the show's general contractor, not by outside couriers. Comet delivers up to the McCormick Place dock or advance warehouse and hands off according to the show's freight schedule. Comet does not perform drayage but coordinates pickup timing with your decorator to fit the move-in window. For ad-hoc runs during the show, Comet drivers can deliver directly to a booth when escorted by exhibitor staff with the show's hall pass.
What halls and dock numbers does Comet deliver to?
Comet delivers to all four halls — North, South, West, and Lakeside — and knows the corresponding dock numbers, the marshaling yard entry off King Drive, and the security check-in at the truck entrance. Drivers carry the show name, hall, dock, and booth number on every dispatch ticket so the driver can be routed directly by McCormick Place traffic control without delay. For shows that require advance scheduling at the marshaling yard, dispatch coordinates the appointment with the show contractor before the driver leaves.
Can I book emergency last-minute delivery during a show?
Yes. Comet's 24/7 dispatch handles emergency runs — forgotten laptops, prototype replacements, signed contracts, replacement banner stands, or last-minute printed handouts. Streak (1-2 hour) is the typical tier for show-floor emergencies; Priority (2-3 hour) suits broader runs from outside downtown. Drivers are pre-cleared on McCormick Place security procedures and know how to route through the truck entrance, marshaling yard, and exhibitor service desk without losing time. Bike messenger is an option for any pickup inside the Loop heading to the convention center.

Trade show coming up? Get Comet on the dispatch list.

Call now or place an order through the client portal — available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Call (312) 786-2288 Open a Portal Account