The numbers are in - MATS 2015 breaks all-time attendance record

81,768.

That's the number of attendees who made it down to Louisville for this year's Mid-America Trucking Show, the largest in the event's  33-year history. The previous high for attendance was just under 81,000 at the 2012 event.

The attendees came from all 50 states and 74 countries worldwide.

The trucking show released its attendance figures via email Thursday, April 2, and several of the Land Line veterans of MATS' past will tell you that number sounds about right. Exhibit halls, lobbies, parking lots and even the highways were jammed-packed the entire time.

Along with all those people, the 1.2 million square-feet of exhibition space served as a temporary home to 1,064 vendors and exhibitors from 43 states and 14 countries.

If you weren't able to make it this year (or if you were and want to relive some of the highlights) the folks at the official MATS website put together an outstanding video playlist that's worth checking out. See for yourself below.

If you weren't one of the lucky 81,000 this year, there's plenty of time to make plans to be there for next year's show, which will take place March 31-April 2, 2016.

Hey, good lookin'

It's the opening of the truck show season and what a grand opening it was. More than 80 trucks in competition, and a few more on display.  The Paul K Young Memorial Truck Championship was a jam-packed wow from the anticipation to the finish. 

Always at the top of his game, Todd Roccapriore and his remake of Disorderly Conduct, a 1999 blue and black Peterbilt 379, was not just the king of the hill. He owned it with six trophies including People's Choice, Best of Show Limited Mileage Bobtail, Best Lights, Best Paint, Best Engine and Best Interior Limited Mileage Bobtail.  Roccapriore, who has more than 6,000 hours invested in this truck, explained how he consistently comes out on top.  "I put my heart into it. And when I'm done, even though there may be things that I'd do different if I had it to do over, I know I've given it everything I've got. People may be able to put more money into it. I don't think it's all about the money. I know it's all about the heart."

Best of Show Limited Mileage Combo was awarded to Josh Reed/Lanita Specialized of Pioneer, Ohio,. He made a sizzling standout with his black and burgundy 2015 Kenworth W900L and 2015 Mac curtainside flatbed trailer.  No detail left to chance, this truck lit up the parking lot and the eyes of every truck enthusiast.

A new category this year, Limited Mileage Dump Combo brought a few hot hoppers and haulers to the fore. Best of Show was awarded to Brian Davis/Davis Bros., Owensville, Ind., and the knockout Superfreak black and blue 2005 Peterbilt 379 pulling a 2012 Wilson DHW501.  Speakers and sound round out the details as the deckplate rises and the party begins.

Mike Horst of Bethel, Pa., leaped onto center stage with his slick and shiny white and red 2006 Peterbilt 379, earning Best of Show Working Bobtail, the Jake Eilen Pride in Your Ride Award, and three other awards. His white with red accented theme carried from front to back, inside and out with a diamond tufted interior that absolutely stopped traffic.


Best of Show Working Combo and an armload of trophies went to Brad Caton/Eilen & Sons Trucking, Hampton, Minn., with their latest entry, a white black and blue 2014 Peterbilt 389 pulling a 2013 Mac tri-axle dump trailer painted to match.

While these trucks were the Best Of Show winners, every participant offered something special and every truck was someone's favorite.

MATS then and now

My most vivid memory of the Mid-America Trucking Show in 2004 is a gigantic pair of woman's underpants. The bloated, billowing bloomers flew like a banner above a vendor stall in the North Wing Lobby.

No bloomers in 2015. I assume they were banned by management who realized just how tasteless, politically incorrect, and socially insensitive those bloomers were. I was glad I bought a pair in '04 when I had the chance.

Other things were different this year, too. There was more rush hour traffic outside in Louisville. Somebody built a Ferris wheel next door, and they added on to the exhibit halls. In 2004 the displays of flashy, bad-ass trucks and components seemed to go on forever. In 2015 they actually did go on forever.

The chrome was shinier this year. Door panels, saddle tanks and bumpers -- crystalline mirrors you could almost walk through -- projected the passing crowds back at themselves. 

Chrome on a Kenworth.

A lot of numbers at MATS were higher in 2015, like the fuel you were going to save and the return-on-investment you were going to enjoy. Buy this and your driver retention will go up. Other numbers were lower, like your driver turnover and how long it would take to realize that terrific ROI.

There was a lot more automation than there was in 2004. In 2015 they're not replacing drivers so much as driver functions. Computerized drive trains adjust speed for hills, and lift axles pull themselves up automatically to maximize fuel consumption.

Back in 2004, so-called collision avoidance systems warned drivers of an imminent crash. Buzzers buzzed, flashers flashed, dash screens ran horror film trailers, and maybe a little pink hammer descended from overhead to bonk the driver on the head. But that was pretty much it. Actual avoidance was still the driver's job.

The 2015 systems manage almost the entire emergency. Sure, warnings keep the driver in the loop (or at least scare the hell out of him or her). But it's all pro forma. The systems are fully prepared to slow or stop the truck. They'll do everything but steer, and they'll do that as soon as the market will bear the cost.

Back in 2004 they called them collision "avoidance" systems. In 2015 they're collision "mitigation" systems. Diminished expectations? Turning hellish catastrophes into mere disasters? You decide.

Some things at MATS haven’t changed at all –the social composition, for example. The big boys pour cash on their spacious South Wing displays, and neatly clad sales people rule the aisles and carpeted plazas. Bearded drivers in denim coveralls come to check things out, of course, and the sales guys would be happy to sell them a truck. But let's face it, the suits are really on the lookout for fleet buyers, engineers who do the spec'ing, and vice presidents who make the million dollar decisions. Sure, driver, help yourself to a piece of candy and a brochure.

In the West Wing, where the ceilings are lower and smaller displays tumble over one another, the crowded aisles are more democratic. It's great to take the kids through the big halls and ogle the new trucks, but the West Wing is a different kind of adventure. Look over there, a China Pavilion, stall after stall of small manufacturers, very proper people in business attire. And look at the young women at the Hooters display! Oops. Sorry, Mama; look away, Little Buddy.

The Far East in the West Wing.

Something else between 2004 and 2015 was unchanged, at least in essence -- the shortage of drivers willing to work for fleets that ask too much and pay too little. It was front and center in 2004. It was front and center again in 2015. Every media event staged by every major manufacturer included a prominent reference to the "driver shortage."

Kenworth General Manager Preston Feight put a kind of smiley face on it when he told his audience that the current driver turnover rate of 80 percent could be considered "normalized" because it had been much higher. "It's not a crisis at all," he said. "It's OK right now."

It's OK that a 1,000 driver fleet has 800 drivers leave each year either for greener pastures or to get out of the industry? It's OK the fleet has to hire 800 new drivers just to stay in place? Or has our industry's chronic, untreated disease grown so familiar we regard the pain as normal?

In any case, drivers had to feel wanted at MATS in 2015, especially in the West Wing. Celadon, NFI, Prime, Schneider, J.B. Hunt and more were all there recruiting drivers. We want you, Mr. Road Man.

One affable recruiter told me All State Express was signing up owner-operators. When I said I wasn't an owner operator, he said their lease purchase program could make me one. When I said I didn't have a CDL, he said they would help get me one – and then make me an owner operator.

Straight from unlicensed newbie to owner-operator without ever having experienced truckload life on the road?

Sure, he said, actually smiling.

Clearly since 2004 the "shortage" that troubles our industry hasn't changed at all. Sadly, neither have some of the terrible ideas for dealing with it.

Let's go racing!

Big-rig truck racing is back. After 22 long years, Meritor is the title sponsor of the ChampTruck World Series for the 2015 season. 

Spearheaded by ChumpCar International founder and CEO John Condren, the Meritor ChampTruck World Series debuts April 24 at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville, N.J, with professional and amateur teams competing in two-axle, Class-8 trucks at speeds up to 100 mph.

Mike Ryan's ChampTruck Series rig. (Photo by Greg Grisolano)

“Our partnership with ChampTruck is an opportunity to bring this great sports entertainment back home again,” said Krista Sohm, vice president, Marketing & Communications for Meritor.

"ChampTruck is all about ‘Real Racing – Real Tracks – and Real Big Trucks," Condren said in the press release announcing the return of the racing series. "It’s all about bringing back the real excitement of racing by opening events to independent operators and large fleets, and making it fan-friendly and family-affordable with immediate access to the trucks, the drivers and teams. Together with Meritor, we’ll be working to establish a fan base for truck racing at big-time venues and on national TV.”

Any conventional or cab-over truck that’s at least 5 years old can race in the Meritor ChampTruck World Series. Drivers earn and accumulate points for the national championship event in the fall.

In addition to the debut at New Jersey Motorsports Park, the Meritor ChampTruck World Series will take place at the following tracks, many of which host NASCAR events:

• Thunderhill Raceway, Willows, Calif., May 22 through May 24
• Pikes Peak International Raceway, Fountain, Colo., May 29 through May 31
• Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, N.C., July 2 through July 4
• Gateway Motorsports Park, Madison, Ill., July 17 through July 19
• Virginia International Raceway, Alton, Va., Aug. 6 through Aug. 9
• Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, Texas, Aug. 28 through Aug. 29
• Motorsports Park Hastings, Hastings, Neb., Sept. 11 through Sept. 13
• Portland International Raceway, Portland, Ore., Oct. 2 through Oct. 4

Bendix fuses systems to create next gen collision mitigation

Press day at the Mid-America Trucking Show was just minutes old when the first big announcement came down.

Building on a product portfolio that has already brought electronic stability control into the rulemaking arena, Bendix announced the next generation of collision mitigation technology, the Wingman Fusion.

Bendix Director of Marketing and Customer Solutions T.J. Thomas explained how the system fuses cameras, radar and brakes to help fleets and drivers avoid, or at least mitigate, crashes.

T.J. Thomas, center, discusses the Wingman Fusion by Bendix.
Photo by David Tanner, Land Line Magazine

The camera points forward, the radar detects vehicles or stationary objects in the road, and the system provides alerts to the driver. The braking system will engage if the driver does not react in time or if the system deems that the truck is closing too fast on the vehicle or object.

Another feature of the Wingman Fusion involves an alert if a truck is going, say, 5 mph or 10 mph over the posted speed limit. The cameras detect the shape and number on a posted speed-limit sign, and alerts the driver with an audible signal if he or she is traveling above a pre-set level. At 10 mph over, or whatever setting the fleet decides, the audible alert amps up and the system will even cut engine power for a split second as an additional alert to slow down.

Data from the alert is also sent back to the fleet's back office, as Bendix says, for "coaching" purposes.

The company says Wingman Fusion is a "driver assistance system" and is not meant to replace driving skills.

"This is here to help the driver if he has a bad day," Thomas told the assembled media.

We wanted to know how the recognition of posted speed limits would work in construction zones. Thomas says its system differs from a vehicle-to-infrastructure system or GPS-based system because the cameras are actually reading the speed-limit signs. He added that if the system doesn't recognize a sign, or if the sign is twisted or not facing the right way, the system cannot read it and will therefore not trigger an alert. When it comes to split speeds for cars and trucks, Thomas says the system will read the higher limit and will not produce an alert unless the truck is going faster than the higher of the two limits.

Wingman Fusion is available on Class 6, 7 and 8 trucks with any air-braked vehicle that is compatible with Bendix's ESP full-stability system.

Bendix is confident that "collision mitigation" will become a regulatory action in the near future.

Bendix Director of Government Affairs Fred Andersky mentioned during his overview of legislative and regulatory issues that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received a petition to place collision mitigation in the regulatory agenda. The National Transportation Safety Board has also identified technology and maintenance in its annual "most wanted" list of recommendations to regulators.

Bendix has already been at the forefront for electronic stability control, known as ESC. The company's version of ESC has sold 375,000 units.

Andersky said he's optimistic that NHTSA will publish its final rule on ESC sometime in the second quarter of 2015. NHTSA has currently pegged May 2 as its publication date. The regulatory action currently resides at the White House Office of Management and Budget.

For drivers concerned about mandates, Bendix offers up the following quotable nugget: "We don't want drivers asking 'why is this on our trucks?' We want them to say, 'I'm glad that this is on my truck.'"

As a matter of record, OOIDA does not oppose the technology itself nor the choices of fleets or truck owners to use it, but the Association does oppose a mandate of so-called safety technologies on all trucks and for all drivers. The Association supports responsible entry-level driver training for truckers.

And they're off

With three days to go before the start of the Mid-America Trucking Show, most attendees are still packing and checking the weather. But, not "The Spirit of The American Trucker."

Staff Writer Greg Grisolano gets last minute instructions from Editor-in-Chief 

Sandi Soendker before hitting the road for Louisville Monday morning.

Miss Eleanor's pilot Jon Osburn, co-driver Sassi Dogg and LL staffer Greg Grisolano hit the road for Louisville, Ky., bright and early Monday morning in the red, white and blue Western Star.

Greg will be tweeting and blogging from the road and will give us the low down on the early set-up over at Papa John's parking lot.

You can follow Greg on Twitter at ElGrizo or check back in here.

The rest of the Land Line crew will hit the road Tuesday morning. You can watch for updates from Managing Editor Jami Jones on Twitter at shewhoknowstruk, Senior Editor Dave Tanner at LandLineCanuck. (They don't travel like your average bunch.) They meet up with Field Editor Suzanne Stempinski and Editor-At-Large John Bendel in Louisville.

But for now, keep your eyes peeled for Miss Eleanor making it's way from OOIDA HQ in Grain Valley, Mo., to Louisville, Ky. Give Greg a shout out for us if you get a chance.

What's cookin' at Papa John's?

Every year, the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville is bigger and better, but one thing stays the same. With all that walking and talking, you are going to be hungry. When you shuttle over to the parking lot at Papa John’s, you’ll discover that you and your taste buds have hit the jackpot.

Why is everyone so hungry at a truck show? Not to worry.

The trade show takes place March 26-28, and show management arranges for their trucking guests to park in the lot at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. During the off-show hours, the place is jumpin’. This year, move over, Granny Clampett, because almost everybody’s whomping up vittles.

You’ll find Truckers United for Charities and the Just Because (JBC) volunteers grilling up good stuff in exchange for donations, which they then pay forward to numerous charities for children. As usual, they will be cooking dogs, burgers and brats all three days. On Thursday and Friday morning, they’ll be serving sausage, bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches for breakfast.

OOIDA’s Jon Osburn says starting Thursday, Truckers United for Charities and JBC are teaming up again with their traditional “blue plate special” for dinners after the show closes each night. OOIDA Life Spouse Kimberly Schmidt, secretary for both of those groups, says items on the menu include pinto beans and cornbread for Wednesday, chicken fried steak for Thursday, fried catfish and hush puppies for Friday, and brisket and barbecued chicken for Saturday night. (Psssst. OOIDA Members Buzz and Laurie Scutt told Land Line the blue plate specials will make the neighbors come running.)

Dean Owens reports that every day the Jacob Russell Boulanger Memorial Fund group (helpatrucker.org) will have food available to all drivers at no cost. He says the food is free at the “Burnt Beans Commissary” but donations are “gladly accepted.” JRBM is planning two dinners in honor of the group’s founding members, OOIDA Life Members Rusty “Yoda” Wade and Don “Burnt Beans” McKinley. Rusty died in January of 2013, and Don died in June of 2014.

OOIDA Member Rob Fernald reports that he and a small enthusiastic group of truckers (not affiliated with any club or charity) will again be setting up their kitchen and “dining room” at the north end of Lot C. Rob says it’s truckers who like doing it and “giving back,” and that’s why their kitchen is called the Because We Can Café.

Rob, Kacie Wood, Janet and Lawrence McNeil and a handful of other OOIDA members will serve free, healthy and wholesome meals to attendees. 

Saturday starts with biscuits and gravy with Tim Ridley (Nemo Entertainment) to benefit the St. Christopher Fund. After the show closes at the Expo Center on Saturday, there’s more action at Papa John’s, including a cook-off.

In addition to the fare of these road kitchen cooks, the first-ever "Cooking in the Truck Summit"

 is set to begin at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 26, in the Freightliner hospitality trailer at Papa John’s.

Related articles:

First-ever ‘Cooking in the Truck Summit’ planned for next week

MATS 2015: What’s happening’ at Papa John’s parking lot?

Here’s your MATS 2015 Papa John’s off-site truck parking guide

Trucker Talent at MATS happens in the ‘no judgment zone’

Have a cup of coffee with Daimler and Team Run Smart at Papa John’s

TA and Petro will sponsor Papa John’s parking lot for MATS 2015

Unrepentant addict here

It's that time again. When I sit at my desk and stare out the window. Sick to death of winter. Even my layers are wearing layers. And it's so cold I can see the fence posts shivering. The horses are pissed at being stuck in their stalls. I tried to explain why they can't go out. Their responses are unprintable. Spring is coming. I know it. The Farmer's Almanac promised. I don't care that Punxatawny Phil bit the mayor's ear (although that sure was funny to watch).

Give me trucks. Shiny trucks. With new bling. Transformed in ways I hadn't seen or imagined. Gleaming brightly in the warm sunshine. I'd like to stroll the parking lot oohing and aahing and visiting with hundreds of old friends. Can't wait to make some new ones. Let me look under the hood and crawl under the trailer and see freshly painted and chromed parts. Or covers made of painted fiberglas or polished aluminum or some new space age polymer I've yet to admire. I want the details. How did you come up with this idea? Did you do this yourself or have someone craft it for you? And you get what kind of fuel economy with this sparkly ride? Those twin sticks actually grab gears for you? With your seats on the floor, how on earth do you manage to see through the windshield?

Let me straighten out the doubters. What do you mean when you imply these trucks don't work? Of course they do. In fact, if you had seen them just a few weeks ago, or even a few days ago, you wouldn't recognize them today. Then they were covered in snow or mud or dirt or salt or some chemical residue from road spray. And now here they are, dressed in their Spring finery. Better than a new Easter bonnet (remember those?!).

I'm a Show Truck Junkie. Not looking for a cure. Give me a fix.