For anyone in the trucking industry, it’s the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS), not the return of the robin, that signals the beginning of spring. And while the weather in Louisville this year didn’t feel very spring-like, the record crowd walking around the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center was in a celebratory mood as a warming economy has returned profitable and abundant freight, not to mention some of the strongest truck sales in nearly a decade.
While the venue hasn’t changed since MATS first opened its doors back in March of 1972, the 2015 version of the show would have been unimaginable to the 4,000 who attended that first event with its 83 exhibits. This year almost 82,000 people from all 50 states and 74 countries roamed through 1.2 million sq. ft. of exhibit space spread out among four renovated and new halls, as well as outside in adjacent parking lots. The 1,064 exhibits themselves ranged from multimillion-dollar-themed displays from all the major truck manufacturers to simple tabletops with some hopeful inventor’s latest innovation or a great deal on polish.
For complete coverage of the 2015 Mid-America Trucking Show, including Fleet Owner exclusive photos and more, visit our special online show coverage forum at http://fleetowner.com/mid-america-trucking-show-1.
Also as usual, this year’s edition of MATS served as trucking’s showcase for introducing new products and services as it hosted some 35 press conferences and offered other exhibitors a chance to show off their newest and brightest. The work of Fleet Owner’s entire editorial team, the following annual report—“Mid-America: Talk of the Show”—offers both extensive coverage of the new product introductions and reports on the hot topics of discussion among those in the trucking community.
On the product front, most of the news centered around two topics: fuel economy and safety.
With truck makers gearing up to meet the next step in federal greenhouse gas emissions and fuel economy standards in 2017, there were aerodynamic refinements, powertrain changes, and electronic advancements from nearly all of the manufacturers. Downspeeding, in particular, was a topic that came up frequently as new drive axles were unveiled and transmission changes announced. Trailer manufacturers also brought their latest contributions to the drive for ever-better fuel economy, introducing lighter materials and improved aerodynamic devices.
Advanced safety systems with new capabilities grabbed much attention, not only promising an immediate improvement in performance but also pointing the way to the near future of self-driving, or autonomous trucks. And despite the short-term outlook for lower diesel prices, alternative fuel vehicles and distribution systems also occupied a lot of exhibit space and drew large curious crowds.
No matter where you wandered in the halls, conversations centered around the current robust business conditions for trucking and the likelihood that those good times will continue at least into if not through 2016. Not only are freight rates solid and equipment utilization metrics high, but fleets are investing heavily in new trucks that offer significant fuel economy improvements as well as harder to quantify safety advantages. By almost all accounts, Class 8 truck sales in North America will beat the solid 2014 totals by 10% or more, and 2016 could even see higher numbers.
All in all, MATS was a most welcome rite of spring in 2015.
For all of the coverage from MATS, including photo galleries, visit: http://fleetowner.com/mid-america-trucking-show-1.