Shows Spectacular

A plethora of products and services greet an improved economy at three recent truck shows.

      A good indication that the nation's economy is indeed on the upswing was illustrated at three recent truck shows where industry manufacturers filled their booths with an array of new and updated products, and showgoers filled the aisles.
      Organizers of the huge Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky., said 74,454 attended the late-March event - one of the largest increases ever recorded for the show.
      Healthy attendance was also reported at the earlier National Truck Equipment Assn.'s Work Truck Show in Baltimore and the Technology & Maintenance Council's annual meeting and show in Fort Lauderdale.
      Formal product announcements were made at all three shows, with scores of companies bombarding the trade press via e-mail with other announcements, promising more efficient tools for users of vocational and freight-hauling vehicles.
      Hot topics at the three shows included:
      • High orders for new heavy trucks, causing original equipment manufacturers to expand production and hire new workers. Builders are bracing for another "pre-buy" as fleets begin stocking up to beat the Jan. 1, 2007 emissions deadline .
      • New sleepers, as some truck makers expand their offerings and at least one gets back into the over-the-road market.
      • High-performance air disc brakes, which might be needed to meet the shorter stopping distances that federal authorities will probably decree by 2007.
      • Air pollution caused by idling truck diesels. Several auxiliary power units were introduced by builders.
      • Higher steel prices and how they might affect truck, body and trailer prices.
      Among the many new products are those described throughout this and future issues of Heavy Duty Trucking. Read on to review the ones we've highlighted in this special Spring Showtime.

Spring Showtime continued...