Exhibitway ACQUIRES Protrade Logistics
FULL STORY
An official statement from the Exhibitway Logistics team
Some companies find their focus over time. We’ve always had it from day one.
Most logistics companies will tell you they can handle tradeshow freight. Some of them can. But there's a difference between a carrier that handles tradeshows and a company built entirely around them: the team, the technology, the processes, the partners, all of it organized around one industry and one standard.
Exhibitway Logistics was built to be that company. When we acquired Protrade Logistics, the team was already five years into building exactly this kind of operation. The acquisition made it possible to go further: a stronger platform, a sharper name, and a structure organized entirely around one commitment. Same people. Bigger foundation. Built for this.
Here's the full story.
Exhibitway Logistics has acquired Protrade Logistics. The management team that ran Protrade is running Exhibitway. The same people who handled your freight, answered your calls, and stood on your show floor are here, doing the same work, with more behind them.
If you were a Protrade client, the relationships, service history, and team you trusted continue with Exhibitway. Your day-to-day experience remains familiar, with the same commitment to execution and communication.
The professionals behind Exhibitway spent 15 years in the logistics industry including five years at Protrade with one focus: build the logistics company that exhibitors actually need.
It was always more than a freight carrier that handled tradeshows on the side. A company built from the ground up for this industry — one that understands move-in schedules and advance warehouse deadlines, that communicates before you have to ask, and that treats your exhibit like it belongs to someone who matters.
That focus drove every decision at Protrade. It drove our industry involvement with the EDPA, ESCA, IFES, and all over the Exhibit Industry. It drove the development of ExhibitShare™, a shared truckload service built around how tradeshows actually work. That work helped the Protrade team earn a spot on the Inc. 5000 list, ranked No. 7 among the fastest-growing companies in the Midwest in 2025.
None of that happened by accident. It happened because the team picked one industry, took it seriously, and showed up every time.
The acquisition created an opportunity to build what was always the goal: a company whose name, structure, and platform match the work.
"Protrade" never said what the team did. Exhibitway does. It's the exhibit way — the specific, deliberate, industry-native approach to moving freight that this team has practiced since day one. The name is a declaration, not a rebrand. It reflects a deeper commitment, a sharper focus, and a platform built to go further than what was possible before.
This wasn't a pivot. It was a step up.
The name. Exhibitway Logistics is live — new website, new brand. If you're used to searching for Protrade, search for Exhibitway from here on.
The platform. We've invested in new technology and capabilities that make us more precise, more visible, and more responsive at this specific work.
The focus. Everything Exhibitway does is built around exhibit freight: the moves, the deadlines, the venues, and the pace that define this industry.
Your account team. The people who know your show calendar, your booth specs, and how you like to communicate are still here.
Our service standards. Proactive updates at every critical milestone. Real-time shipment visibility. On-site show reps at major tradeshows across the country. Dedicated contacts who pick up the phone.
Our commitment. A decade of showing up for this industry. That carries forward under the Exhibitway name, with more behind it.
If you're a current client: Thank you for being here. The relationships, communication, and service experience you’ve come to expect continue with Exhibitway. Your account team will be in touch, and you're welcome to reach out directly with any questions
If you're new to Exhibitway: welcome. You're working with a team that has spent years building specifically for what you need. We know exhibit freight the way your team knows your booth. Let's get to work.
If you're a partner, carrier, or collaborator: the relationships we've built matter to us, and we're committed to continuing them under the Exhibitway name. Reach out to your contact and let's connect.
The acquisition of Protrade's business gives Exhibitway a stronger foundation to accelerate from. Better technology, a broader carrier network, and a team now fully organized around a single mission.
The tradeshow industry moves fast. Shows don't wait. Deadlines are real and unforgiving. The people responsible for getting an exhibit to the floor don't have margin for error. Exhibitway was built for exactly that pressure. And we're going to keep building it.
We're proud of what was built at Protrade. We're proud of the clients who trusted us, the shows we worked, and the reputation the team earned doing it.
