MATS

Get down to business at MATS

If you’re anywhere near Louisville, KY the third week in March, do yourself a favor and visit the 38th Annual Mid-America Trucking Show. If you’ve been to MATS before, you know what we’re talking about. If you’ve never been to MATS, get ready for an amazing experience.
     The 2009 Mid-America Trucking Show will encompass one million square feet of exhibit space and about a thousand exhibiting companies, making it the largest trucking show in North America. Equipment and services of every conceivable description, representing the most innovative technology and advanced developments in the industry, will be on display during MATS 2009. It’s all set for March 19-21 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville.
     MATS historically attracts about 75,000 attendees a year, including 30,000 professional drivers. Many drivers make the annual pilgrimage to Louisville a family outing. While there’s something for everyone at MATS, including lots of entertainment and prize giveaways, the show has always centered around business. Thus, truck drivers, owner-operators, small fleet operators and anyone interested in a career change and/or learning how to make real money in the trucking industry can’t afford to miss MATS.
     Speaking of getting down to business – and given the current state of the economy – the Driver Recruitment Center, located in the West Wing of the Exposition Center, figures to be bristling with activity as thousands of drivers hook up with many of the nation’s top trucking companies in what amounts to the world’s biggest job fair for truck drivers and trucking companies. Whether you are a driver looking for a new employment opportunity or a trucking company in search of quality drivers to bolster your fleet, the MATS Driver Recruitment Center is the one essential, must-make event of the year.
     “The results of a recent on-site survey indicated that job enhancement was the single most important reason the driver attended MATS,” says MATS CEO Tim G. Young. “These drivers are serious about connecting with the best companies to match their needs and they realize this is an excellent opportunity to obtain the most current information they may need to make educated decisions.”
     Ramp Publishing, publishers of Over the Road and Pro Trucker magazines and the long-time sponsor of the Driver Recruitment Center, invites everyone to visit the Ramp booth (#65024) in the West Wing at the front of the Recruitment Center. As publisher Andy Shefsky notes in his “Up Front” column this month, we look forward to meeting you and sharing some of the many health-oriented programs we have developed for drivers and their families.
     Of course, MATS 2009 has much more to offer drivers in addition to the opportunity to land a new job. As the No. 1 forum for the trucking industry, MATS presents informative, constructive and trucking-oriented seminars aimed at giving attendees a competitive edge. The seminars provide invaluable information for companies, fleets and individuals. All seminars take place in South Wing Conference Center Room B-101, they are all free-of-charge and they do not require advanced registration.
     Other MATS highlights include:

The Paul K. Young Memorial Truck Beauty Championship

Named in honor of MATS founder Paul K. Young and now in its 20th year, the 2009 Stars & Stripes event is sure to be another crowd pleaser. With more than 100 show trucks competing annually, the Truck Beauty Championship showcases some of the most awe-inspiring trucks in the nation competing in more than 20 classes to determine who will win Best of Show.

Mid-America’s Internet & Technology Center

Once again, Mid-America’s Internet & Technology Center will showcase the most innovative technologies available to the trucking industry in one centralized location, including advanced Internet systems; Internet load posting; online driver recruiting, truck and trailer sales, road condition, mapping systems and other re- sources; global positioning and freight tracking software; network systems and hardware; personal computers and laptops; in-cab and handheld CE devices; advanced office systems, specifically designed for fleets and owner-operators; truck and engine maintenance systems; and technology seminars.