FARMINGTON HILLS, MI —The Work Truck Show 2011, held in conjunction with the 47th Annual National Truck Equipment Assoc. (NTEA) Convention at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN, March 8-10, broke all event records. Verified show attendance was 10,020 — a 24% increase over 2010 and a 10% improvement over the previous record of 9,084 set in 2007. With an unprecedented 560 exhibitors occupying 16% more floor space than in 2010, the Work Truck Show 2011 was also the largest in the event's 12-year history.
Produced annually by the NTEA, The Work Truck Show showcases over 500,000 square feet of Class 1-8 vocational trucks and equipment. The event also features more than 40 educational and technical training programs. Work truck professionals, including fleet managers, equipment buyers, maintenance personnel, manufacturers, distributors and dealers attend.
"We had a great week in Indianapolis," says Jim Carney, NTEA executive director. "The overall feeling was one of renewed optimism in the future of the industry."
A major draw for event attendees was the large number of product introductions made at the Show. More than 85 products debuted. Seven truck makers used the Work Truck Show as a platform for significant product announcements. Hino Trucks chose The Work Truck Show 2011 as the venue to introduce its new cab-over-engine trucks. This was the first time Hino launched a truck outside of Japan. Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America Inc. introduced its Canter line of trucks to North America. Western Star Trucks unveiled its all-new Class 7-8 vocational truck. Other major product launches came from Ford Commercial Truck, International Truck, Isuzu Commercial Truck of America Inc., Ram Trucks, Supreme Corporation, and Utilimaster Corporation.
"Green" was a prevailing theme at the Work Truck Show. Many products that improve work truck fuel utilization were introduced. Show attendees took advantage of the opportunity to test drive a record 21vehicles in the Green Truck Ride-and-Drive on March 8 and 9. The Green Truck Summit also had record participation. Verified attendance at the Green Truck Summit was 683, an increase of 21% over the 2010 Summit. This is the fifth year for the Summit, which is jointly produced by NTEA and CALSTART.
The Work Truck Show returns to the Indiana Convention Center next year, and booth space is already selling quickly! Mark your calendars for March 6-8, 2012, with educational sessions, including the Green Truck Summit, kicking off March 5. Online registration opens at NTEA.com in October.
