The 2012 Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky., runs Wednesday through Saturday this week with concerts, seminars and an FMCSA "listening session" on electronic onboard recorders in addition to the extensive exhibit halls.


New this year on March 21, the day before the show, is a special in-depth Fleet Forum for fleet executives and Heavy Duty/Commercial Vehicle industry VIPs, put on jointly by Heavy Duty Trucking and Fleet Owner magazines.

Following are some of the events happening at this year's show at the Kentucky Exposition Center March 22-24.

Show hours 1-6 p.m.

What:Canaan Smith - Live performance and autograph session
When: 12:30-1:30 p.m. and 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Where: At 12:30, Red Eye Radio booth, South Wing Lobby A; At 1:30, Western Star booth

What: Miss Willie Brown - Live performance and autograph session
When: 3-4 p.m. and 4-5 p.m.
Where: At 3 p.m., Red Eye Radio booth, South Wing Lobby A; At 4 p.m., Western Star booth

What: Paul K. Young Truck Beauty Show
When: Trucks will be shown all day Thurs.-Sat.
Where: Lot J behind the West Wing
The 23rd annual PKY Truck Beauty Championship will celebrate North America's heavy-duty, working show trucks. The awards presentation will take place Saturday in B101-B103, South Wing Lobby, from 10 a.m. to noon.

What: OnGuard Ride-n-Drive Experience
When: All day, March 22-23
Where: Booth #99500 in the back of the South Wing
Meritor Wabco demonstrates its OnGuard Collision Safety System by letting attendees ride in an OnGuard-equipped vehicle for free.

What: Bendix Tech Talks
When: 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., March 22-23; 10:30-12:30 March 24
Where: Booth #99500 in the back of the South Wing

Thursday 3/22:
10:30 a.m. Trucking Hot Topic: What's New with Air Disc Brakes?
11:30 a.m. Trucking Hot Topic: The Keys to CSA for Fleets and Drivers
12:30 p.m. How-to Session: Top Questions on Proper Maintenance and Inspection of Air Foundation Brakes
1:30 p.m. Trucking Hot Topic: Clutch Compressors: The Key to Improved Fuel Economy and Vehicle Performance
2:30 p.m. How-to Session: Proper Alignment of Your Vehicle Radar System
3:30 p.m. Trucking Hot Topic: The Keys to CSA for Fleets and Drivers

Friday 3/23:
10:30 a.m. Trucking Hot Topic: How Can Oil-Coalescing Air Dryers Improve and Protect Your Vehicle?
11:30 a.m. Trucking Hot Topic: The Keys to CSA for Fleets and Drivers
12:30 p.m. How-to Session: Proper Alignment of Your Vehicle Radar System
1:30 p.m. How-to Session: Service and Troubleshooting for Vehicle Compressors
2:30 p.m. How-to Session: Why Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems?
3:30 p.m. How-to Session: Top Questions on Proper Maintenance and Inspection of Air Foundation Brakes

Saturday 3/24:
10:30 a.m. How-to Session: Proper Alignment of Your Vehicle Radar System
11:30 a.m. How-to Session: Why Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems?
12:30 p.m. How-to Session: Top Questions on Proper Maintenance and Inspection of Air Foundation Brakes


Seminars:

1 p.m. Medical Qualifications of Drivers - Healthy Drivers are Critical to Highway Safety!, FMCSA
2 p.m. Improving Highway Safety - The New Hours of Service Regulations, FMCSA
3 p.m. CSA Status - Improving on a Solid Foundation, FMCSA
4 p.m. Top Ten Things You Need to Know About a Roadside Inspection, FMCSA
5 p.m. Power of the Plug: Truck Stop Electrification as the Anti Idling Solution, Kate Miller, Cascade Sierra Solutions and Joe Licari, Shorepower Technologies

Show hours 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

What: Back on the Road award presentation
When: 11 a.m. - noon
Where: Arrow Truck Sales Booth
The Back on the Road program awards one deserving trucker with a second chance: a new truck, a job and a variety of other prizes that will help keep him or her on the road.

What:Randy Travis- Meet and greet and autograph session
When: 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Where: Red Eye Radio booth, South Wing Lobby A

What: FMCSA "listening session" on electronic on-board recorders and driver harassment.
When:10 a.m. to Noon and 2-4 p.m.
Where: South Wing Conference Room C101

What: Blackberry Smoke - Meet and greet and autograph session
When: 2-3 p.m. and 3-4 p.m.
Where: At 2 p.m., Red Eye Radio booth, South Wing Lobby A; At 3 p.m., Western Star booth (live performance at this session)

What: MATS 2012 Live Concert
When: Immediately following the Friday edition of MATS
Where: Freedom Hall
The MATS 2012 Concert will feature James Otto, Blackberry Smoke and El Camino. Stop by Mobil Delvac's booth (#18160 in the north wing) for complimentary tickets while they last.

Seminars:

10 a.m. CSA Status-Improving on a Solid Foundation, FMCSA
11 a.m. Drivers Make a Difference, Administrator Anne S. Ferro, FMCSA
Noon Improving Highway Safety-The New Hours of Service Regulations, FMCSA
1 p.m. Medical Qualifications of Drivers-Healthy Drivers are Critical to Highway Safety!, FMCSA
2 p.m. Top Ten Things You Need to Know About a Roadside Inspection, FMCSA
3 p.m. Designing the Truck for Maximum Fuel Mileage, Kevin Rutherford, Trucking Business and Beyond
4 p.m. Designing the Truck for Lowest Maintenance Cost, Kevin Rutherford, Trucking Business and Beyond
5 p.m. Operating the Truck for Maximum Profit, Kevin Rutherford, Trucking Business and Beyond

Show hours 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

What: Women In Trucking Association's 3rd annual, "Salute to the Women Behind the Wheel"
When: Noon
Where: Rooms C201-C205 in the upper level of the south wing
This event recognizes the safety and performance accomplishments of the nation's professional female drivers. There will be music, refreshments, prizes, goodie bags and a photo of all women drivers for the world record books. You can register at the show at the WIT booth in the North Wing Lobby or online at salute2women.com.

What:Rachele Lynae- Live performance & autograph session
When: Times to be announced
Where: Red Eye Radio booth, South Wing Lobby A and Western Star booth

Seminars:

9 a.m. Roadside Inspections, Officer Jamie Medley, KSP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement
10 a.m. Save Fuel, Money and the Environment, U.S. EPA SmartWay Transportation Partnership
11 a.m. FMCSA Regulation Changes for 2012, Jerry Ogle, Marvin Johnson & Associates
Noon Simulator-based Driver Training, Mike Reardon, Virage Simulation
1 p.m. Ride Quality: It's More Than Just Driver Comfort-It Can Affect Your Bottom Line, Jim Parison, Bose Ride Team
2 p.m. Stay Legal, Stay Profitable, John Ewing & Bruce Martin, Truckers Helper

All seminars will take place in the South Wing Conference Center Room B-104. Seminars are free and do not require registration.