Are you truck show ready?

Today kicks off the first day of the beloved Mid-America Truck Show! There are ample benefits to attending a truck show whether you’re a driver, aspiring owner operator, single truck owner, fleet owner, or just a fan of big rigs! From the networking, the deals, the freebies, or the polished chrome, there are festivities for everyone and anyone who attends!

Make sure you dress to impress… – YOUR FEET. The Mid-America Truck show is seemingly never ending and will have you covering at least a few miles of stomping ground in a single day. MATS boasts a whopping 1,000,000 square feet, over 800 vendors, and 40 different events over their 3-day schedule.

Have you been holding off for a specific headset to go on sale or a piece of chrome that you want a guaranteed fit on? Most vendors will have some serious deals going on that they’ll call a “truck show special” – sometimes the pricing is the same, and they’re selling their stuff off to unsuspecting customers, but if you’ve done your research, then you’ll know when you’ve struck a deal!

This also includes vendors for more complex trucking equipment that would need to be installed at a shop. You can meet with the vendor at the show and negotiate a price for parts and labor with their approved third-party providers. We've been able to save hundreds of dollars with this one tip on things like truck body accessories and automatic tire chains.

Say you’re having an issues with your tools, parts, chrome, or trucking tech, you can also meet with the supplier in person and most companies are prepared to handle any warranty or claim issues at the show. If they can’t handle it for you there in person, you can expect to leave with either an open claim or direct contact for your issue.

Of course, you can’t forget the freebies and the big rigs! Walking down a single isle at the show will leave you with more free stuff than you can hold with both hands. Most booths will have giveaways that can include tools, cleaning supplies, vendor samples, and branded goodies to give to your friends and family. Trucks will cover the showroom floor, but the annual truck show contest will be at Lot N in front of the West and South Wing.

If you do plan to attend, make sure to stop by and say hi to some of our partners in our small world of expediting!

Fedex Custom Critical  - 67057 (West Wing)

Panther 32405 - (South Wing)

Landstar - 16148 (North Wing)

Show Information:

The Mid-America Trucking Show is from Thursday, March 20th – Saturday, March 23rd and is held at the Kentucky Expo Center (KEC) in Louisville, KY. Parking is available on the KEC lot for rates ranging from $12-$80. They also offer free offsite overnight truck parking across from the KEC, with free shuttles to and from the show during show hours. The paid truck show parking lot is at 937 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY 40209. The free parking lot is across from Gate 1 at 1032 Phillips Lane, KY 40209.

To register for the show, click here.

For a breakdown of the events, click here.

For an interactive map of the show room floor and list of exhibitors, click here.

We're planning to attend the Mid-America Truck Show this weekend, so if you’re out there and would like to meet us, give us a shout!

Feel free to send us any shots of yourself, or anything you think should be highlighted, along with your thoughts on this years show, and we’ll feature you on our next article!

Run Hard - Dream Big,

M.I.T.

What to Expect at a Truck Stop

You’ll be blown away by some of the amenities offered by truck stops. They feature mini movie theaters, museums, salons, barber shops, shoe shine stations, chrome shops, cell phone stores, and even a bowling alley. Trucking locations have attempted to make life easier with these few simple additions to fuel and food.

Does it work? That depends on who you ask.

You’ll find just about everything you need to run smoothly at any general truck stop; from shower supplies to laundry supplies, dog food and toys, truck parts, tech accessories and seasonal clothing. We don’t recommend doing your everyday shopping at these trucking locations because the convenience of it will only hurt your pockets. Prices at truck stops can be as much as triple the price at your local supermarket, but in a pinch it is a great convenience that you will experience at some point.

A favorite amongst drivers are the truck stops diners; mostly 24 hours with buffet specials available everyday of the week, offering private seating just for truckers. The food is belt busting, but it’s hot and just what a trucker needs to feel at home. Most locations will also have at least one fast food restaurant in addition to the diner because food is always in demand when it comes to truckers.

One of the most necessary features of a truck stop is the diesel shop and parts section. You’ll be able to find what you need for general maintenance to keep you running. You can expect to find your basic selection of tools, oils and lubricants, and simple parts like windshield wipers. Majority of the diesel shops are 24 hours and offer full service centers.

In addition to the basic amenities, some locations feature chrome shops, cb shops, salons, and mini “movie theaters.” How often you will utilize these options are dependent on your lifestyle while over the road, but it is still necessary to aid in the comfort and ease of access to drivers who are away from home for extended periods of time.

Cleanliness can be questionable depending on where you stop but most corporate run truck stops have someone outside cleaning the parking lot and fuel areas in addition to the store itself. You will quickly find which locations meet your standards, as you will frequent them more than you realize.

As more locations open across the nation, showers are being updated and made to look more modern in turn pushing prices to average $15 per use. They offer a full private bathroom, with bolt locks for added security (a few of us have been surprised by shower attendants accidentally). Aside from that, most showers are equipped with coat hooks, 3 speed fans, and a hairdryer. Corporate named truck stops provide fresh towels, bar soap, and liquid body wash.

Truck stop showers are private rooms that are cleaned after every use. They generally contain a personal sink, fan, towels, bar of soap, liquid soap dispensers, and a hairdryer.

So do truck stops make living as a truck driver easier? That’s up to you to decide. The food can be mediocre, general products are good to have in a pinch but are overpriced, and most truck stops typically lack healthy activities. So though a majority of their features are outdated, trust that they are working hard to catch up to the new generational shift. You might find that some locations simply provide fuel, showers, and a lit parking lot.

Welcome to your second home.