It’s that time of year again! Every year towards the end of March, the Mid-American Trucking Show (MATS) is held in Louisville, Kentucky.
What is MATS?
MATS is the largest heavy-duty trucking trade show in the world where members of the trucking industry gather to show off the latest technology, equipment, products, and services. The event will feature numerous informative panels from industry experts and market leaders as well as live performances from Elvie Shane and Tony Justice.
History of MATS
In 1972, the Mid-American Trucking Show was founded to make heavy-duty trucking shows accessible to the eastern half of the United States. The show was geared towards owner-operators and fleets and aimed to be more accessible than trucking shows previously held in California and Massachusetts. The first MATS in 1972 had around 4,000 attendees and 83 exhibitors. Since then the event has grown to be the largest heavy-duty trucking show in the world with over 58,000 attendees and over 850 exhibitors.
When is the Mid-America Trucking Show 2023?
This year MATS is being held from March 30th to April 1st at the following location:
Kentucky Expo Center
937 Phillips Lane
Louisville, KY 40209
The show’s hours are as follows:
Thursday, March 30th (VIP): 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Thursday, March 30th: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday, March 31st: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, April 1st: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Know Before You Go
Registration
Before you head to MATS you should register in advance. There are three registration options available: attendee registration, exhibitor registration, and media registration. Attendee registration is geared toward trucking professionals looking to improve their business and see what’s new in the industry through interactive exhibits, educational panels, and networking. Exhibitor registration is geared toward company personnel looking to present their company’s products and services through interactive exhibits or booths. Media registration is designed for the media and influencers looking to partner with MATS.
Featured Events
MATS is loaded with all kinds of events for its attendees to experience while at the show. There will be many informative industry experts holding educational panels to help attendees stay up-to-date on industry topics.
Attendees have the option to attend the VIP Executive Breakfast for an additional $100 on top of their registration fee. The event will feature networking opportunities and informative talks from executives from industry-leading companies.
The MATS Ride & Drive event allows attendees to test drive industry vehicles with the latest technology. Participation in this event is free but attendees must sign up at each truck’s respective booth for an opportunity to drive it. The drivable trucks featured in this event include a Kenworth W900 Limited Edition, a Western Star 57X, a Western Star 49X, and a Kenworth T680 Signature Edition.
MATS attendees also have the option to attend the PKY Truck Championship, showing off the industry’s best custom trucks, and the MAC Trailer Winter Nationals Championship Pulling Event on Saturday evening.
For more information on the event visit https://truckingshow.com/.