Truck Makers Plan Announcements at MATS
This story appears in the March 5 print edition of Transport Topics. Click here to subscribe today.
Most truck makers said they will make important announcements of new products this year at the Mid-America Trucking Show, including Peterbilt Motors Co.’s introduction of a new model.
MATS is scheduled for March 22-24 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky.
Also at the show, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration plans to expand its outreach to truckers with a scheduled series of seminars, including a “listening session” on electronic onboard recorders.
FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro is scheduled to conduct one of the seminars, “Drivers Make a Difference,” scheduled for March 23, according to the advance program.
Truck companies said they would use the MATS major news announcements, although they withheld details.
“I think it’s fair to say we are planning important announcements at MATS, including the launch of a new truck model,” Peterbilt Motors Co. spokesman Todd Acker told TT.
“Yes, we will have major new announcements at MATS,” Navistar Inc. spokesman Steve Schrier told TT. Navistar makes International trucks and MaxxForce engines.
“We’re holding a press conference . . . at MATS and will have a few significant announcements at that time,” said Brandon Borgna, spokesman for Volvo Trucks.
“Mack is having a press conference. . . at MATS, where we’ll be making some noteworthy an-nouncements,” Kimberly Pupillo, spokeswoman for Mack Trucks Inc., told TT.
“We will have many announcements at the show,” David Giroux, spokesman for Daimler Trucks North America, told TT. Daimler builds Freightliner and Western Star trucks, as well as Detroit Diesel engines.
The topics of FMCSA’s March 22 seminars include: “Medical Qualifications of Drivers,” “Im-proving Highway Safety — the New Hours of Service regulations,” “Compliance, Safety, Ac-countability Status — Improving on a Solid Foundation” and “Top 10 Things You Need to Know About a Roadside Inspection.”
The agency will repeat all Thursday seminars on March 23, in addition to Ferro’s seminar.
“FMSCA has scheduled a listening session on [electronic on board recorders] on Friday, March 23 at 10 a.m.,” said Chris Rockwell, assistant show manager.
