Skip to content
About us

About NorthStar Express

A trade show and event shipping company based in Falls Church, Virginia, moving exhibits, displays and event materials to the show and home again for more than 35 years.

Event shipping is all we do. Every customer works with one shipping coach who plans & books the pick up, delivery, and the move out from the event.

Request a Quote Talk to a Shipping Coach
35+years shipping to trade shows and events
10,000+customers served
9,000+events shipped to
1shipping coach on your account, start to finish
Who we are

Event shipping, made personal

NorthStar Express trade show shipping icon

NorthStar Express started with a simple idea: event shipping is different from regular freight, and the people managing it deserve a partner who understands that. Shows have tight delivery windows, advance warehouse deadlines and move-out rules that general carriers don't plan for. We do.

Instead of a call center, you get a shipping coach who learns your event schedule, requirements and your unique needs. New to event shipping? We'll walk you through every decision. A seasoned pro? Tell us what you need and we'll get it done. 

Learn more about our trade show shipping, international event shipping and NorthStar 360 calendar service.

  • One coach owns your shipment end to end
  • Weekends, after-hours and holidays by arrangement
  • Show-to-show routing and storage between events
  • Honest quotes, with no surprises at move-out

Who we work with

From first-time exhibitors to teams with a full show calendar.

Corporate exhibitors

Displays and materials out to the show and home again, without becoming your problem. Learn more

Associations

Annual meetings and seminars, domestic or international, with shipping checked off your list. Learn more

Meeting planners

Corporate and independent planners who need materials at every meeting on the calendar. Corporate · Independent

Marketing agencies

You design the experience; we get your client's freight there and back. Learn more

Government contractors

Close to the nation's capital, we ship for many government agencies and contractors to events nationwide. Learn more

International exhibitors

Shows in Canada, France, England and Ireland, with customs brokerage included. Learn more

Where we ship

Based in Falls Church, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C., we ship to convention centers, hotels and event venues nationwide, including:

Orlando, FL

Orange County Convention Center

San Francisco, CA

Moscone Center

San Diego, CA

San Diego Convention Center

Chicago, IL

McCormick Place

Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas Convention Center

Nationwide

Shipping somewhere else?

Tell us the venue and show dates and your coach will plan around its rules.

Giving backCoast2Coast4ALS

Riding coast to coast for the ALS community

Rex Houlihan, CEO of NorthStar Express, created Coast2Coast4ALS, a cross-country bicycle ride that raises awareness and funding for the ALS community. To date, the ride has raised more than $540,000.

See our Giving Program  ›

About NorthStar: common questions

Quick answers about who we are and how we work.

Where is NorthStar Express based?

NorthStar Express is based at 6400 Arlington Blvd. in Falls Church, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C. We ship to trade shows and events across the U.S. and to Canada, France, England and Ireland.

How long has NorthStar Express been shipping to trade shows?

More than 35 years. In that time we've served more than 10,000 customers and shipped to more than 9,000 events.

What is a shipping coach?

Your shipping coach is the one person who owns your shipment from the first call to the return trip. They plan the route, book pickup, prepare the paperwork and answer the phone and email, so you're never passed between departments.

Who does NorthStar Express work with?

Corporate exhibitors, associations, corporate and independent meeting planners, marketing agencies and government contractors, from first-time exhibitors to teams with a full show calendar.

How do I get a quote?

Request a quote online, email shippingcoach@northstarexpress.com or call 703-532-0520. Tell us what's shipping, where it's going and when it needs to be there and back.

Who leads NorthStar Express?

Rex Houlihan is the CEO of NorthStar Express. He also created Coast2Coast4ALS, a cross-country bicycle ride that has raised more than $540,000 for the ALS community.

Let's talk about your next show

Email shippingcoach@northstarexpress.com or call 703-532-0520. 6400 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA 22042.

Request a Quote