Mid-America Trucking Show opens Thursday at Kentucky Expo Center -

It’s late March and that means one thing to the American trucking community: MATS is back.

The Mid-America Trucking Show opens Thursday at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville. As always, the show packs plenty to do and see into the 1 million square feet of exhibit space.

What exactly is there to do at the 53rd annual MATS aside from visiting the 870 exhibitor booths? Here are some of the highlights that have an estimated 56,000 attendees coming to the show, which runs through Saturday:

Enjoy the Opening Reception

After the opening day of MATS ends, there’s still plenty of fun to be had at the Opening Reception. This is meant to be a chance for exhibitors and attendees to mix and mingle and enjoy some special activities. Included in the Opening Reception are:

Silent Auction to benefit the St. Christopher Trucker relief Fund
Wall of Fame induction ceremonies
Bourbon tasting
Craft beer tasting
Free food and beverages
Live music by Bourbon Revival.

The Opening Reception begins at 6 p.m. in the South Wing Lobby A and South Wing Room B101.

See custom trucks in PKY truck show

One of the fan favorites of MATS is the PKY Truck Championship, which, by the way, is named in honor of Paul K. Young, the founder of MATS.

Some of the hottest custom, working and classic trucks will be on display in Lot N in front of the West Wing and South Wing of the Expo Center. Highlights of the PKY Championship are:

PKY Light Show Thursday from dark to 9:30 p.m.
PKY Parade in the Parking Lot adjacent to Circle of Champions beginning at 7:15 p.m. Saturday
PKY Awards Ceremony, which is held Saturday at 10 a.m. in South Wing Conference Room B102

Attend any of 38 presentations

MATS is meant to be enjoyable, with plenty of fun things to do and friendly people to meet. But, the show is also one of the best places to learn.

This year’s show has 38 educational presentations by an array of industry experts. They will be held in two locations: PRO TALKS Stage in the East Hall and PRO TALKS Theater, South Wing Room B104.

Among the show’s presentations are:

Turning the Tide on Freight Fraud with Extended Threat Intelligence presented by SOCRadar
The Roadmap to a Successful Retirement presented by Truckers Wealth
Panel on FMCSA’s Registration System Modernization and ID Verification presented by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Driver Wellness: How to Help Our Truckers Live Longer and Better presented by Chris Kuna Drive
The Difference Between Citations and Violations presented by TVC Pro Driver

All of the presentations are free. See the complete schedule here.

See who wins the Big Rig Build-Off

One of the distinctive events at MATS is the Big Rig Build-Off, which pits some of the nation’s top custom truck builders against one another. The prize: $25,000.

This year’s builders include

Luke Rethwisch from Tomah, Wisconsin
Randy Manning from Winchester, Virginia
Billy Warner Jr. and Cody Warner, from Circleville, West Virginia
Brian and Thomas Davis from Owensville, Indiana
Jordan Henderson from East Prairie, Missouri

The Davis brothers won last year’s Build-Off with their 2024 Peterbilt 389.

Hear some great music at free concert

On Friday, come for the show but stay for the music.

After the show closes for the day, attendees can head to Freedom Hall for the free concert headlined this year by singer-songwriter-trucker Tony Justice. He’ll be joined by country rapper Colt Ford.

Admission is free with tickets available at the Bennett Family oc Companies booth #38801.

The concert begins at 7 p.m.

Meet MATS Wall of Fame inductees

Started in 2022, the MATS Wall of Fame recognizes the contributions to the trucking industry by a variety of folks from founders of major trucking companies, to drivers who have made their marks on the industry.

Last year’s inductees included: