Many trucking journalists and trucking professionals are headed to Louisville, Ky., this week for the Mid-America Trucking Show, which has officially sold out. Editors from Heavy Duty Trucking will be covering the event and we will be reporting on what's happening at the show.

Check back at http://www.truckinginfo.com/list/tag/mats.aspx frequently for the latest news as well as follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Editors will be uploading photos, video and news from the show.

Here is a list of some of what's happening at MATS this week.

Ferro Headlining MATS Fleet Forum

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Chief Anne Ferro will give an update on federal trucking legislation and regulations at the upcoming Fleet Forum, scheduled for this year’s Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky.

She will be joined by Tom Sanderson, CEO of the third-party logistics provider Transplace, and Thomas E. O’Donnell, managing partner of the law firm Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary, as they offer their perspectives on how regulation is changing the trucking business. A moderated panel discussion will follow, allowing the three to share their frank opinions on the current regulatory climate, as well as take questions from the audience.

The event, set for March 26, is the day before the annual trucking show, which runs March 27-29 at the Kentucky Expo Center.

The forum will also feature an economic overview by Kenny Vieth, president and senior analyst of ACT Research. It will be followed by a panel discussion with Heavy Duty Trucking magazine’s Fleet Innovators, as they share their insights on staying on top of and ahead of changes in trucking including: regulations, changing freight patterns, fuel economy, alternative fuels, going digital, finding and keeping drivers, and more.

The MATS Fleet Forum is a conference for fleet executives and heavy duty/commercial vehicle industry representatives. It combines the resources and expertise of trucking's two major publications, Heavy Duty Trucking and Fleet Owner magazines, and the largest trade show, to provide an in-depth look at the future of equipment and trucking.

FMCSA Sets Time for MATS Hearing on New Entrant Testing

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has set the time for a listening session it announced earlier for this year’s Mid-America Trucking Show.

On Friday, March 28 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 to 3:30 p.m., agency officials with gather feedback on how to test the trucking knowledge of would-be carriers, brokers and freight forwarders. All comments will be transcribed and placed in the docket for FMCSA's consideration.

The hearing is the second of three in a series.

The Mid-America hearing will take place at the Kentucky Exposition Center, Room C-103.

Goodyear To Announce 31st Highway Hero At MATS

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. will announce the winner of the 31st Goodyear North America Highway Hero Award on Thursday, March 27, during the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky.

The Goodyear Highway Hero Award honors professional truck drivers who put themselves in harm's way to help others.

Finalists for the 31st Goodyear Highway Hero Award include a driver who rescued a two-year-old boy from a flame-engulfed car, a trucker who rescued a teenage driver who was trapped in a car at the bottom of a ravine, a driver who used his truck's boom crane to flip an upside-down vehicle that was stuck in a pond, and a trucker who rescued another driver who had fallen from a burning rig that was hanging over the side of a highway overpass.

ATRI President Brewster to Participate in Ride-Along to Attend Mid-America Trucking Show

Women In Trucking Association has organized a ride-along for Rebecca Brewster, president and COO of American Transportation Research Institute. Brewster will be transported by commercial trucks, sharing the cab with two highly qualified female drivers. Their destination is the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky. The Ride-Along will take place on March 26.

The Salute to Women Behind the Wheel

On Saturday, March 29, at 11 a.m., the Salute to Women Behind the Wheel celebration will begin in rooms C201-204 at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville. Drivers and their families, as well as members of Women In Trucking Association, will have the opportunity to meet with event sponsors, be entertained by Terry Wooley, and enjoy a special birthday cake to celebrate our Salute’s 5th year.

Bridgestone Commercial SolutionsHosts Phil Vassar And Alex Debogorski MATS

Bridgestone Commercial Solutions announced that singer/songwriter Phil Vassar and Alex Debogorski of Ice Road Truckers fame will appear at the Bridgestone booth at the 2014 Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky. Vassar will give two live performances in the afternoon on March 27, and Debogorski will be on hand to sign autographs and pose for photos the afternoon of March 28.

Utility Trailer Debuting Legacy Museum Trailer at MATS

Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company will debut of its special edition Legacy Museum trailer at this year’s Mid-America Trucking Show. The Legacy Museum trailer is designed with four interactive touchscreen monitors and audio equipment for viewing movies, photos, and browsing through Utility’s historical timeline.

At the front of the trailer, an eight-seat movie theater and sound system will feature: “One Hundred Years of Building Trailers: The Utility Centennial Story,” a documentary film that can be viewed throughout trade show hours. Additional museum elements include a World War II memorabilia shadow box displaying the original classified movie reel of Utility’s designed M23 Ammunition trailer being tested by the U.S. Army.

To experience the Legacy Museum, visit booth #34795 at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky., from March 27 – March 29.

Bendix Announces 2014 MATS Tech Talks

Attendees looking to sharpen their truck preventive maintenance skills in areas ranging from brake maintenance and air treatment to diagnostic techniques will benefit from attending the 2014 Bendix Tech Talk Series at the Mid-America Trucking Show. In its fourth year, the Tech Talk Series features Bendix product and service experts offering how-to demonstrations, interactive question-and-answer sessions, and discussions of the issues and technologies shaping the commercial vehicle industry.

The 15-minute Tech Talks, open to all show attendees, begin at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, March 27, and extend through the final session scheduled for 12:30 p.m., Saturday, March 29. All 15 scheduled Tech Talks will take place at Bendix’s booth, No. 32305, in the South Hall.

The Bendix Tech Talks address a variety of subjects, including top-of-mind topics such as keeping your vehicle safe with RSD friction; how automatic slack adjusters impact CSA compliance and profitability; and air disc brake maintenance and inspection techniques. 

MATS 2014 Concert Line-Up Announced

For the sixth consecutive year, the Mid-America Trucking Show has announced that the team behind Mobil Delvac heavy-duty diesel engine oil will present a free concert on Friday, March 28 for all MATS 2014 attendees.

The evening kicks off with Chris Hennessee, a musician from Nashville, who has recently opened for Jamey Johnson and toured the nation.
Up next, Gretchen Wilson, the ACM, CMA, AMA, Billboard, and Grammy award-winning singer will headline the free Mobil Delvac concert.

The concert will be held on-site in Freedom Hall of the Kentucky Exposition Center immediately following the Friday edition of the Mid-America Trucking Show. Complimentary tickets will be distributed, while supplies last, from the Mobil Delvac Booth #18160 in the North Wing during show hours.