Trailer Makers Clarify 2017 Truck Show Plans
North America’s three largest trailer makers clarified their marketing plans for 2017, with the manufacturers announcing separately how they will split their appearances between the venerable Mid-America Trucking in Louisville, Kentucky, and the inaugural North American Commercial Vehicle Show in Atlanta.
Great Dane Trailers, a charter exhibitor at MATS in 1972, is flipping to NACV, the company said Oct. 19.
Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co. told Transport Topics it will appear at both shows, and Wabash National Corp. said it is undecided on Atlanta but will not go to Mid-America.
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The announcements come in the wake of statements by Kenworth Trucks and Peterbilt Motors on Oct. 17 that the Paccar Inc. brands will appear at MATS but have not made decisions about NACV.
The 46th annual version of Mid-America is scheduled for March 23-25, while the NACV Show is slated for Sept. 25-29, but will run only in odd-number years.
“We support the NACV Show’s focus on creating an exhibition that responds to the changing business environment and our customers’ needs. We believe this show will encourage engaging displays of trailer and truck body innovation,” Great Dane President Dean Engelage said.
“We look forward to using the show to demonstrate how Great Dane offers innovative business solutions that ensure safety and efficiency, two of our core fundamentals,” Engelage added in a statement.
“We are currently planning on attending both shows. They will serve different segments of the trucking industry,” said Craig Bennett, Utility’s senior vice president of sales and marketing.
NACV is owned and operated by the U.S. subsidiaries of Canadian and German companies active in the truck show industry.
Among other truck OEMs, Daimler Trucks North America said earlier this year it will move its large, corporatewide exhibit to NACV, but individual brands and/or dealerships might choose to continue at Mid-America.
At Volvo Group, Volvo Trucks North America will shift completely to NACV from MATS, while sister company Mack Trucks is definite for Atlanta but uncertain with respect to Mid-America.
While Navistar International Corp. has signed with NACV, the OEM said individual dealers might opt for Louisville on their own.
