The Mid-America Trucking Show will kick-off  on March 31 and run through April 2, at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville, Ky., featuring a variety of educational sessions, the country's largest trucking expo, and a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration listening session.

MATS is the largest annual heavy-duty trucking industry event in the country. It typically draws more than 70,000 attendees and over 1,000 exhibitors showcasing the latest products and services, according to show organizers.

For attendees, there are panels and other opportunities to learn about current topics affecting trucking. The event provides an opportunity for members of the industry to meet and network. MATS is also host to a wide variety of special events and educational seminars for industry members.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will hold a public listening session to gain input on “the potential benefits and feasibility of voluntary compliance” and how the agency might credit both motor carriers and drivers for creating “programs that promote safety beyond the standards established in FMCSA regulations." The April 1 listening session will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m and again from 1:15 p.m. to 3 p.m. (all times EDT).

This year, cargo securement products company Kinedyne will present a comprehensive cargo securement regulations training program at MATS. The program follows FMCSA guidelines and is designed to reduce CSA violations, minimize liability and promote safety. Kinedyne has also designed a separate program dealing exclusively with the Canadian market. The training program is aimed at OEMs, dealers, fleets, owner-operators and distributors.

“Cargo securement awareness has gotten better over the last decade, but there is a lot of misinformation out there,” said Jeff Luick, Kinedyne’s Northeast account executive. “Drivers are motivated to be safe and to secure their loads correctly, but in the absence of proper training, I would estimate that a significant amount of cargo is improperly secured, leaving drivers and their carriers exposed to safety violations, rising insurance costs and litigation.”

The day before the show opens, the Fleet Forum will be produced and hosted by Heavy Duty Trucking and Fleet Owner on March 30. 

As part of that full afternoon program, HDT's 2016 Truck Fleet Innovators will be officially presented with their awards and will participate in a panel discussion. Other sessions will cover the connected truck and making sense of confusing economic numbers.

Every day at the show there will be discussions and seminars featuring fleets and industry associations on several topics related to business, regulations, safety, and health.

There will also be entertainment for showgoers, including a truck beauty contest, a concert, new vehicles from the top manufacturers at the Truck Dealer Showcase and the sights and sounds of the 1.2 million-square-foot exhibition floor.

Heavy Duty Trucking will be there to deliver the latest news, analysis and photos from the show, including any new product announcements from manufacturers and suppliers.

For complete information on the event including announcements and schedules, go to the Mid-America Trucking Show website.