With 500,000 sq. ft. of new vocational trucks, equipment and related products; more than 40 industry specific training courses; special sessions on green trucks and 2010 emission-compliant chassis; a green truck ride-and-drive; and countless opportunities to consult with technical personnel and network with peers, The Work Truck Show 2009 and 45th Annual National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) Convention is the ultimate resource for anyone who uses work trucks to do their jobs.
The Work Truck Show 2009, North America’s largest work truck event, is held in conjunction with the 45th Annual NTEA Convention March 4 to 6, 2009, (convention starts March 3) at the McCormick Place West Building in Chicago, Ill.
“Thousands of fleet managers, truck dealers, equipment distributors, upfitters and manufacturers attend The Work Truck Show each year to check out the latest product and technology developments, get expert technical input and engineering advice, and learn how to improve their businesses,” said Andrew Outcalt, NTEA convention chairman and president of Meyer Products LLC and Swenson Spreader LLC (Cleveland, Ohio). “No single event covers the vocational truck and equipment industry more thoroughly than The Work Truck Show.”
Special Events
Mike Rowe, host of the Discovery Channel’s Dirty Jobs and Deadliest Catch, will give the keynote address at the President’s Breakfast and NTEA Annual Meeting on March 5, 2009, from 7:30 a.m to 9:15 a.m. As host of Dirty Jobs, Rowe regularly serves as an apprentice to everyday men and women who perform the jobs no one else wants, like septic tank cleaner, road kill removal specialist and sewer inspector. A ticket is required.
The Green Truck Summit, sponsored by International Truck, provides up-to-date information on hybrid and alternative fuel options for work trucks. The summit provides real-world application of the “green” revolution as it impacts commercial trucks. This special session is held on March 3 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A ticket is required.
One of the major challenges facing OEMs, equipment upfitters and fleets in the coming year is working with chassis that meet 2010 emission regulations. The special session “Upfitting Equipment on 2010 Emission-compliant Truck Chassis” will bring together experts from Daimler Trucks North America, Dodge, Ford Commercial Truck, General Motors Fleet and Commercial Operations, Hino Trucks and International Truck to review changes made to their chassis to meet 2010 emission requirements and answer questions about mounting equipment to these chassis. The session runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on March 3. A ticket is required.
Fleet managers face their own set of challenges regarding 2010 emission-compliant chassis. They can gain a better understanding of how their equipment specifications and fleet operations may be affected by 2010 model year diesel trucks at the Truck Fleet Manager Training Session & Networking Luncheon on March 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This session is open only to fleet managers and includes lunch. A ticket is required.
The special session “From Tactical to Practical: A Playbook for Identifying Profitability and Survivability” will provide insights into the developments, threats and opportunities facing the work truck industry and its distribution channels and tactics companies can use to position themselves to survive or even thrive in these challenging times. The session builds upon the 2007 North American Truck Equipment Industry Outlook and Strategy Report and incorporates the most recent findings from the 2008 follow-up research study outlined in the Profitability, Cost and Technology Playbook. Session attendees receive an executive summary covering both studies, as well as copies of the individual reports. The session is on March 3, and runs from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. A ticket is required.
Exclusively for fleet and shop managers, the Fleet Management Symposium is a full-day program on March 3, focusing on financial and operational practices that can reduce costs while increasing shop labor productivity. The symposium is led by well-known fleet consultant Kelly Walker, president of Kelly Walker Associates (Dallas, Texas). Separate, advance registration is required.
Stan Slap, president of international consulting company Slap, was a hit at the Work Truck Show 2008. He’s making a return appearance at the Work Truck Show 2009 with a program on “The Seven Deadly Sins of Strategic Implementation” during the Business Forum on March 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. He’ll explain the seven ways strategies become unsuccessful, and how to overcome them. The Forum is preceded by breakfast. A ticket is required.
Education and Training
More than 40 educational and technical training sessions are offered at the convention. Sessions cover a wide range of hot topics in the industry, including hybrid technology and alternative fuels, truck specifications, business development, the latest work truck equipment technology, 2010 emission standards and updates from leading chassis manufacturers.
On the Show Floor
During show hours on March 4 and 5, Work Truck Show attendees can test-drive more than a dozen street-legal new hybrid and alternative fuel commercial vehicles as part of the green truck ride-and-drive. Participation is free and sign up is available on site. The latest hybrid and alternative fuel technology will be displayed in the Green Truck Pavilion. Pavilion exhibitors include hybrid and alternative fuel truck manufacturers, component suppliers and system integrators.
Dozens of exhibitors launch new products at The Work Truck Show. Many of these are identified in the show directory and on signage with a “New Product Spotlight” logo.
For more information, call 800/441-6832 or visit www.ntea.com.
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