Another edition of the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) is in the record books, and it was four days of news, awards, seminars and a fleet’s worth of trucks that filled the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville.
And, of course, MATS was the place to be if you wanted to see trucks.
Award Winners
During the course of MATS a number of truck drivers were honored for their professionalism on the road, their contributions to their communities and highway heroics.
TA Petro gave the second annual Citizen Driver Awards to five people, recognizing them for their sterling careers and what they do for others. The winners were:
- Richard Ash, an owner/operator from Lakewood, Colo.
- Gary Buchs, an owner/operator for Landstar from Colfax, Ill.
- Robert Fernald, from Westbrook, Me., who drives for Walmart Transportation
- Sandy Long from Marceline, Mo. who drives for Weston Transport
- Michael Sheeds, from Bandera, Tx., who drives for Werner
Goodyear recognized three drivers for their highway heroics. Clinton Blackburn of Moorhead, Ky. was honored by the company for rescuing Spencer County jailer Darrell Herndon, whose car was in the median and he was being strangled from behind by a prisoner.
Also honored by Goodyear were David Frederickson of Windemere, Fla. and Mack Guffey of Gainesboro, Tenn.
Company Announcements
One of the highlights of the annual gathering is the long list of new products and changes to existing ones, and there were plenty at this MATS. Among them:
- Freightliner unveiled its SuperTruck
- Peterbilt showed off updates to its 579 EPIQ
- Volvo debuted a specialized I-Shift automated transmission for severe duty applications and a new Adaptive Loading System based around an automatically-controlled 6×2 liftable forward axle.
- Mack introduced Load Logic and a 6×2 liftable pusher axle option for its Pinnacle highway model.
- Navistar revealed that its OnCommand Connection remote diagnostics system will now be free and standard on all 2007 and newer model International trucks,
- Bendix announced Wingman Fusion, its latest driver assist package that uses an on-board camera, radar connected to the truck’s braking system.
- WABCO rolled out its new OnGuardACTIVE system, which uses a 77 GHz radar to provide higher target visibility at longer ranges.
- Cummins offered a sneak-peek at its 2017 greenhouse gas engine technology.
Big (Hungry) Winner
Possibly one of the luckiest folks to visit MATS was Roger Errett of Mount Pleasant, Penn. Errett left the show with a set of 10 Bridgestone Dayton commercial truck tires valued at USD $3,000. He won them for winning the buffalo-wing eating competition, finishing off three pounds of chicken wings in 10 minutes.
Kylie Rae Harris performs at the Mack booth
Western Star
Ford staged a game show at its booth
The Schneider staff at their booth
Not every vehicle at MATS was a truck
Jason Derksen of Choctaw, Okla. found a unique way to cover the huge show
At least one show bag was XXL
Goodyear's Highway Heroes finalists
Tabitha Garrels adds a finishing touch to a truck's tires and he toes
Phil Miller readies his PKY Beauty Contest entry
Lindsay Lawler belts out "I Drive"
Show visitors take time out to text
This young show-goer got a lift
Mike Ryan chats with a fan
TA Petro's Citizen Driver Award winners
