MATS 2017: Everything you need to know about the show

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Updated Mar 17, 2017

The world’s largest annual heavy-duty trucking event is getting ready to return for another year this month. The 2017 Mid-America Trucking Show opens March 23-25 at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville, Kentucky. But where do you park? What are the show hours? What’s this year’s seminar schedule?

Fear not. We’ve gathered all the information you need to have a successful MATS experience all in one place here in this overview.

Visitors to MATS will wander 1 million square feet of exhibit spaceVisitors to MATS will wander 1 million square feet of exhibit space

SHOW DATES: Thursday, March 23 through Saturday, March 25

SHOW LOCATION: Kentucky Expo Center, 937 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY 40209

SHOW HOURS: Thursday VIP – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday – 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Friday – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

TRUCK PARKING AND TRUCKER ACCOMMODATIONS: Free truck parking is available at the Papa Johns Cardinal Stadium. The address for the stadium is 4146 Park Boulevard, Louisville, KY 40209. Trucks must enter at Gate D. A free shuttle service will be available to take truckers to and from the Kentucky Expo Center. The truck parking lot will have hot showers, truck service/repair and Porta John restrooms provided by TA Petro.

Those parking at Papa Johns Cardinal Stadium can reserve a shower at the TA Petro shower tent or in the TA Petro booth #19156.

Shower trailer hours of operations:

  • Thursday, March 23 from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
  • Friday, March 24 from 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
  • Saturday, March 25 from 8 a.m. – Noon
  • Last showers will be scheduled 30 minutes before closing time.

MATS APP: You can plan out your trip and look at the schedules on the official MATS app. Download the app here. It is compatible with Apple and Android devices.

REGISTRATION: If you did not register before the deadline, you can register to attend the show on-site for $10. There will be six on-site registration areas at the North Wing Lobby, South Wing Lobby A, South Wing Lobby C, rear entrance of the North Wing, West Wing Lobby and Pavilion.

SHOW TRUCKS: Trucks competing in the PKY Truck Beauty Championship are located in the J Lot, which is behind the West Wing and Pavilion.

ADDITIONAL PARKING OPTIONS: If you to park on site, parking for passenger vehicles is $8 and $30 for tractor/trailers.

ENTERTAINMENT: The Red Eye Radio booth hosts Tony Justice, Lee Greenwood, Shane Owens and Jayne Denham. Thompson Square headlines the MATS concert.

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SEMINAR SCHEDULE: 

Note: Seminars take place in B-104 in the South Wing Lobby.

Thursday, March 23

10-11 a.m.: Picking and Choosing the Most Profitable Loads, by Truckstop.com

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.: How to Get More MPG’s Out of Your Truck, by Dan Arcy of Shell Lubricants and Mike Roeth of North American Council on Fuel Efficiency

12:30-1:30 p.m.: How Onboard Monitoring Systems Can Improve Driver Performance & Do Crash Avoidance Systems Help Reduce Truck Accidents, by Bob Bringgold of Northland Insurance and Kevin Grove and Andrew Krum of Virginia Tech Transportation Institute

1:45-2:45 p.m.: Session Topic & Speaker Pending, by American Trucking Association (ATA)

3-4 p.m.: Minimum Training Requirements for Entry-Level Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators (Entry Level Driver Training – ELDT), by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)

4:15-5:15 p.m.: CMV Accidents – What You Need to Know, by Wayne Andrews of Marvin Johnson & Associates

Friday, March 24

10-11 a.m.: Building Profitable Freight Relationships, by Truckstop.com 

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.: Introduction to the Electronic Logging Device Rule and Implementation Plan (ELD), by FMCSA

12:30-1:30 p.m.: OSHA, EPA Safety Requirements and Best Practices for Your Service Facility, by Craig Downey of KPA LLC

1:45-2:45 p.m.: IRS, Per Diem and Tax Expenses, by Donna Sullivan of Per Diem Plus LLC

3-4 p.m.: Driver Training and Certification Program, by Truckers Against Trafficking

4:15-5:15 p.m.: Let’s Truck, Sirius XM

Saturday, March 25

 10-11 a.m.: How to Determine Your Cost Per Mile, by Truckstop.com

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m: How Data is Driving the Transportation Evolution, by Cargo Chief

12:30-1:30 p.m.: Driver Training and Certification Program, by Truckers Against Trafficking

1:45-2:45 p.m.: Introduction to the Electronic Logging Device Rule and Implementation Plan (ELD), by FMCSA

3-4 p.m.: Commercial Motor Vehicle Inspections, by Kentucky State Police