For the 47th year in a row, the trucking industry converged on the Mid-America Trucking Show last week, packing the Kentucky Expo Center for three days despite record-breaking winter weather.
As always, MATS was a mix of information, entertainment and trucks both old and new. It was also an opportunity for truckers and fans of trucks to rub shoulders with industry experts while hearing some of the best country music being played.
During the course of MATS:
- Goodyear honored their latest Highway Hero
- TomTom rolled our their new Trucker GPS and Plantronics introduced a new Bluetooth headset
- Drivers shoveled snow to get trucks read for the PKY Truck Beauty Contest
- a 1956 Autocar and a 1979 Kenworth COE were among the vintage trucks on display
- Peterbilt gave away a special truck to a true super fan
- Trucker Buddy International honored drivers and teachers
- FMCSA Administrator Ray Martinez made one of his first public appearances since being confirmed
- Love’s unveiled its updated app for truckers
- Kellie Pickler performed at Friday night’s free concert
- Women In Trucking held a self-defense class for women drivers
Part of the one million square feet of exhibit space waiting to be filled at MATS
MATS 2018 opened as record amounts of snow fell on Louisville
Some 75,000 people were expected to attend MATS for a hands-on look at equipment
Tim Brandow cleans off a PKY Truck Beauty Contest entry
Hyper-fuel efficient Starship at MATS
FMCSA Administrator Ray Martinez at MATS
Walmart driver Carl Nixon, H.O. Wolding's Julie Matulle and J.B. Hunt's Jodi Edwards at the Women In Trucking gathering at MATS. Matulle wears a t-shirt promoting a fund-raising effort for Ingrid "Half Pint" Brown who is battling cancer. https://www.youcaring.com/ingridbrown-1076550
Record snowfall blanketed entries in the PHY Truck Beauty Contest at MATS
Gary Medalis, marketing director, Goodyear (left) with Highway Hero Frank Vieira
The first day of Spring brought record snows to MATS
Taking a break from shoveling at MATS (from left) Jay Holsomback, Jason West, David Talley and Daniel Jolly.
Lisa Martin created this snowman at MATS' PKY Truck Beauty Contest entrants
RoadPro's Reid Schoneberg explains the new RoadKing Bluetooth headsets that were unveiled at MATS
Breast cancer awareness dump truck up in the air at MATS
Folks arrived for the 47th annual MATS
Among the trucks ta MATS were numerous vintage models from the local chapter of the American Truck Historical Society
Transport America's Delores Petko and Erwin Brothers' Mary Gilroy
Cliff Price with his service dog Meeko, a Korean Jindo he rescued six years ago.
Sabre truck on display at MATS
Posing with a big rig at MATS
Talkin' tires at MATS
Crowds filled the Mack booth
Richard Petty NASCAR racer at MATS
MATS was an opportunity to get equipment details from the experts
Crowded show floor at MATS on Saturday
Arthur Culbertson and his 1974 Ford WT9000
Boy Scouts earned merit badges at MATS
