For those traveling to Work Truck Week this year, there will be lots to see and learn. The following are some highlights of the upcoming tradeshow, which takes place March 7-10 in Indianapolis, Ind.:
- The 2023 exhibit hall features commercial vehicles, equipment and products from 500 industry companies — including chassis, bodies, aerial devices, snow and ice control equipment, advanced fuels and vehicle technologies, accessories and components — with many exhibitors revealing or launching new offerings.
- Jennifer Rumsey, president and chief executive officer of Cummins Inc., was announced as 2023 Green Truck Summit keynote speaker. This annual conference offers intensive sessions led by industry experts, government representatives, fleets, and commercial vehicle and equipment manufacturers — covering clean energy trends and operational insights for vocational fleets.
- NTEA added update sessions from five electric vehicle manufacturers to the WTW23 educational conference on Thursday, March 9. During the sessions, manufacturer representatives from Cenntro Automotive Corporation, Lion Electric, Lordstown Motors, VIA Motors Inc. and Xos Inc. will cover important technical information about their vehicle chassis, design and powertrains. These EV sessions join the dozen OEM updates previously announced.
- NTEA welcomes Robert Herjavec, entrepreneur, author and Shark Tank star, as Annual Meeting keynote speaker. He will take the stage as part of a moderated question-and-answer conversation that’s sure to cover business trends, entrepreneurship, and maybe even some behind-the-scenes anecdotes from Shark Tank.
- Ride & Drive offers opportunities to test drive or ride in commercial vehicles with the latest advanced fuels and technologies, sustainability offerings and propulsion options.
- Opening Reception returns to JW Marriott Indianapolis at a new time (March 7 from 6–8:30 p.m.), welcoming the commercial vehicle community to Work Truck Week.
- The Generation Next Leadership Workshop features insights from Coach Sidney Moncrief, Hall of Famer, author, entrepreneur and motivational speaker. He will share ways to manage employee emotional intelligence with teamwork intelligence to bring about sustainable transformation in the workplace climate.
- The Work Truck Show exhibit hall has new extended hours for 2023 — open 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. on March 8–9, and 9 a.m.–noon on March 10.
- New Exhibitor Pavilion, a dedicated space showcasing first-time exhibitors, returns for the first time since 2020 with new hours (March 8–9, 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m., Rooms 137–139).
- NTEA staff experts will be available during exhibit hall hours at Booth 3500. The WTW23 mug will debut at the booth, too!
- The NTEA Partners Booth showcases Lincoln Electric, PartnerShip/FedEx Advantage, TruckScience, Work Truck Total Protect and WorkTruckCert. Attendees can visit during exhibit hall hours to meet representatives ready to share and demonstrate a wide range of services and solutions.
Commercial EV Makers Provide Updates
NTEA has added update sessions from five electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers to the Work Truck Week 2023 educational conference. These EV sessions join the dozen OEM updates previously announced. During the sessions, manufacturer representatives will cover important technical information about their vehicle chassis, design and powertrains. The association also has released more information about the Special Session: Leadership Journeys – Highlighting Diverse Experiences.
Work Truck Week, North America’s largest work truck event, is held at Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis March 7-10. It encompasses Green Truck Summit, The Work Truck Show, Ride & Drive and more. Green Truck Summit takes place at JW Marriott Indianapolis, adjacent to Indiana Convention Center, on March 7. Work Truck Week educational sessions run March 7–9 and Work Truck Show exhibits are open March 8–10. Ride & Drive, which allows attendees to experience commercial vehicles featuring the latest advanced fuels and technologies, is March 8-9. Register at worktruckweek.com.
For more than 20 years, work truck chassis manufacturers have shared their latest chassis specifications and designs, reviewed body and equipment installation options and provided insight into future commercial vehicle plans during Work Truck Week OEM update sessions. This information is valuable to upfitters and body builders looking to optimize their body and equipment designs and installation plans. As new EV chassis manufacturers have come online, fleet and commercial customers are looking for upfitters who can provide solutions using the new platforms.
“Our update sessions offer truck and body equipment manufacturers, installers and upfitters the opportunity to get the facts they need to support their end-user customers and manage their businesses,” explains Kevin Koester, NTEA managing director. “There are a lot of questions and concerns about how to upfit electric vehicles, and as North America’s premier commercial vehicle event, Work Truck Week is an ideal venue to facilitate these conversations.”
The EV update sessions will be held on Thursday, March 9. Participating manufacturers are Cenntro Automotive Corporation, Lion Electric, Lordstown Motors, VIA Motors Inc. and Xos Inc.
Other OEM update sessions begin Tuesday, March 7, and run through Thursday, March 9. Participating companies include Chevrolet Commercial Vehicles, Daimler Truck North America, Ford Pro, Freightliner Custom Chassis, Hino Trucks, International Truck, Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Kenworth Truck Company, Mack Trucks, Mercedes-Benz USA, Peterbilt Motors Company and Ram Commercial.
In addition to the OEM updates, the Work Truck Week 2023 educational program includes a variety of targeted sessions where industry experts and thought leaders share strategies to help improve efficiency, implement best practices and grow operations. Concurrent sessions address market data and industry trends, vehicle engineering and compliance, government relations, advanced fuels and vehicle technology, workforce development and more. Registered Conference Package attendees can access on-demand materials from many of the concurrent sessions after the event concludes through their WTW23 Planner.
A new special session is scheduled for Thursday, March 9. During Leadership Journeys – Highlighting Diverse Experiences, leaders from various segments of the commercial vehicle community will share their unique experiences and pathways to success during an interactive panel discussion moderated by NTEA Board Chair Tina Albright, VP of HR/safety at TBEI Inc. Confirmed participants include Amy Dobrikova, vice president of fleet solutions at Blink Charging Co., and Exavious (Za) Farley, founder/CEO at Black Fleet Network.
Also on Thursday, Creating a Roadmap to Increase Truck Dealer Commercial Vehicle Sales is designed to provide a blueprint for success to help truck dealers grow their business. It’s led by Ken Taylor, president at Ken Taylor & Associates. Indiana LTAP returns with a fleet educational program on The Importance of Selecting the Right Equipment for Your Municipal Fleet. Purdue Road School offers two sessions, Indiana Statutes and Rules for Professional Engineering Licensure and Professionalism and Ethics in the Practice of Engineering.
Fleet Management 101 led by Marc Canton and Tony Yankovich of fleet management consulting firm Mercury Associates Inc., returns Wednesday, March 8. Also Wednesday is the Generation Next Leadership Workshop & Networking Reception EQ + TQ = Positive Workplace Climate. In this session, Coach Sidney Moncrief, Hall of Famer and motivational speaker at Moncrief One Team, discusses how managing a staff’s emotional intelligence (EQ) with their teamwork intelligence (TQ) brings about sustainable transformation in workplace climate.
