Great Day at MATS!

Lawrence · Mar 31, 2011

Well, the opening day at Mid-America Trucking Show was pretty amazing! Everyone brought their best products and services to show. Plus, it was great to meet all kinds of people from the EO community too!

If you made it - what was the single most impressive thing you saw?

nightcreacher · Apr 1, 2011

Lawrence,I was ther for about 2 hrs on Wed,stopped on my way to dseliver in Mi,the next morning.Do to HOS laws,didnt have much more time than that.I walked around for the 2 hrs,and then realized just how many exhibits there really were.What i enjoyed the most was,seeing Bob and Linda;s new truck,its awesome.I;m on a 10 hr break right now,debating which way I want to go to My delivery in Mississippi.If I run back thru Louisville,I may not be able to get my 34 hr reset when I arrive in Mississippi,If i go thru Ill.Monday Ill most likely complain that I should have went thru Louisville.Can you call that a catch 22,mileages are about the same distance.Right now I'm in Gary In.and about 10 hours from delivery.I come off breaqk at 0300,which would put me at delivery in Olive Branch about 1500 Sat,giving me 34 hrs at 1 am Monday.If I come thru Louisville,Id be there about 0800,Sat morning,and still 8 hrs from delivery,I'd have to leave by 1300,but I'm afraid I'd get into a long conversation,and end up leaving Sunday,and blowing my 34 hr reset.Life is so much easier running team.
I'm going back to bed and figure this out in my sleep.I would only have 4 hrs to visit,I know me,thats not enough time
Nite all,WOW,WATCHING FIRE WORKS OUT OF MY FRONT WINDOW,really cool stuff

ATeam · Apr 2, 2011

Well, Lawrence, it's been over 48 hours and you got only one reply. Maybe you should check the Pappa John's lot to see if they left the show early and broke into the hooch.

jansiemoo · Apr 2, 2011

Too busy to talk, too much to do. That's why.

Head (?) of NTSB is doing a striptease and putting on her Women in Trucking t-shirt as I type

LDB · Apr 2, 2011

The show was much better attended by vendors. It seemed to be 2008 and earlier levels where you'd have to really look to find an empty booth. It suggests a turn around is beginning. Hopefully that will become reality. The best part of the show was meeting and getting to spend time visiting with EO folks previously known only online. The buttermilk pie comes in just behind that.

TeamCaffee · Apr 4, 2011

Hooch? I do not think so to much to do to many people to see to.

MATS was busy from before the sun came up to long after the sun went down. I agree with Leo there were a lot of vendors this year and I was not able to see many of them. I had a list of must see vendors and it was hard work to get by their booths.

The American Red Cross blood drive had more donors than they could handle and they were thrilled not only with the turn out but with so many first time donors. The Expediters really supported the blood drive and at one time the bus was filled only expediters some resting after giving blood, the beds full of donors, and two waiting to give blood. It was great.

The MATS Health Awareness Walk was not attended as well as we would have liked but once again the expediters where there in force. We are a small segment of trucking but we a small segment that is a force to be recognized.

Having our new truck in the show was a new experience for us. We really discovered that we prefer the parking lot to the hotel. It was very nice to have showers and a restroom but.... we missed out on seeing a lot of people. By the time we arrived to Papa Johns on Friday the rain had started and it was cold. Saturday though we were able to attend the BBQ and always we were amazed at the amount and variety of food. We had a great evening visiting and talking. On Sunday 25 of us once again descended on Cracker Barrel and had a farewell breakfast.

Now the count down starts for the Expedite Expo!

cheri1122 · Apr 4, 2011

I missed the blood donation, because The Trucker News [rag] had it listed as April 2

and I skipped the walk because at MATS, walking is nonstop already, lol.
It was good to see all the products and vendors and friends, and TeamCaffee's new truck is pretty sweet!
But Wilmington is still the best, IMO.

danthewolf00 · Apr 4, 2011

i'm going to say one thing the road angel crew was a group of out standing people to get up before anyone else and fix breakfest for donations

Dabus1952 · Apr 4, 2011

I agree the show was so huge you were tiried out walking. Some of the high points were The displays in the south wing And Group of volunteers at the Think Pink Display rasing money for breast cancer awareness.There pork chop sand, was great all for a donation.
Seeing Bob and Linda's new truck and visting with my buddy Kevin M .at Fed Ex.Also talking to the lady about the generator on the truck .I guess one of the high lites for me was seeing my grandson really enjoy himself .I am big on family therefore it is a special time for us to bond.Also came away with a couple new freinds.So Life is good. Hope to make Expo again in July by far my favorite show.