The pandemic has cancelled many events, shows and conferences related to the trucking industry.
With an intention to set a new standard for trucking industry events, the first event out of many more to come this year is Mid-America Truck Show – MATS 2022.
Mid-America Truck Show – MATS 2022
With a history of 50 years since its beginnings, the Mid-America Truck Show MATS is the largest annual heavy-duty trucking industry event in the world.
Each year is being held at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, KY.
The show is very popular among truck driving industry participants and attracts more than 70,000 attendees and 1,000+ exhibitors from throughout the United States and abroad.
It has over 1 million+ sq. of exhibition space.
This show is perfect opportunity for networking and getting the latest news in the industry.
This year the show was held March 24-26.
➤ The opening night started with live music and an interactive history display with the MATS Wall of Fame.
The Wall of Fame was created to honor numerous professionals that have made important contributions to the trucking industry.
One of those honored members was OOIDA President Todd Spencer.
Ellen Voie, President of Women In Trucking Association was one of the inaugural Wall of Fame recipients.
Dave Nemo also stopped by the Wall of Fame at MATS 50th.
➤ MATS attendees experienced an amazing MATS Friday night concert with five exhibit halls with more than one million square feet of exhibits.
The opening night celebrations included a performance by Kentucky native JD Shelburne.
Clay Walker and Tony Justice were the headliners of MATS 50th Concert.
➤ An expanded educations program MATS Pro Talk Seminar Series was included in this year show with many seminars and product demos.
Mark Rumps of Trucking Answers had a great educational seminar about how to use your log for maximum miles.
Another successful MATS Pro Talk Seminar was held by Bob and Linda Caffee on how to become an expediter.
Chad Boblett was talking about “Going The Extra Mile From Driver To Carrier.”
Mike Roeth, NACFE executive director, spoke about electric vehicles, hydrogen fuel cells and autonomous trucking Thursday afternoon and Friday morning at the Trucking Tech Changes & Your Career.
➤ The Veterans in Trucking event honored the country’s heroes.
The event included custom-wrapped tribute trucks, a people’s choice vote, and special displays.
For the Veterans in Trucking People’s Choice Award at MATS 50th, Terry Parkinson won the award.
2022 MATS Wall of Fame Honorees
- Paul K. Young
- Jim Johnston
- Dale “Trucker Bozo” Sommers
- Mirah Lesa “YoYo” Worley
- Paul Abelson
- Bud Farquhar
- Bob Spooner
- Bill Mack
- Ellen Voie
- Todd Spencer
- Ingrid Brown
- Dave Nemo
- Clessie Lyle Cummins
- Erik “Big E” Sieben
- Bryan “BossMan” Martin
- Keith Foster
- Chuck Kemner
- Jimmy Ardis
- John McElligott
- Steve Sturgess
- Susie De Ridder
- “Highway” Hank Good
- Joyce Brenny
- Allen Koenig
- Johnnie Bryan Hunt
- American Truck Historical Society Founding Chapter
- Jerry Howard LL
PKY Truck Beauty Championship 2022
This year, there were many outdoor events, but the biggest of them all was the PKY Truck Beauty Championship 2022.
The PKY Truck Beauty Championship started the show truck season with the largest grouping of heavy-duty, working show trucks.
The show trucks varied from classic cabovers, to antique long hoods to contemporary long hoods.
At the Lot J behind the West Wing of the Kentucky Expo Center, there was even a show of some aerodynamic trucks.
Did you visit the Mid-America Truck Show 2022?
Share some photos with us in the comment section below.
