It's a Team's Life
Seeing it all at MATS
One small view of one area out of the three areas
Bob and I have vastly different ideas of what we want to see when we attend a truck show. We each have a game plan before we arrive at MATS and each of us goes our separate ways. Bob likes the equipment and ways to make our truck run better and I prefer the business vendors.
If one or the other finds something of interest we use our phones to call each other and we meet at that booth to discuss the item. We have both found this works best for us when attending this huge event.
In the evenings we enjoy sitting with the other attendees over dinner in Papa Johns Parking lot discussing what all we have seen, who we ran into and what we found of interest others might like. Through this network while we might not see all of the vendors we hear about them.
The network of attendees out in the parking lot is probably
the biggest draw of the truck show.
We
are able to catch up with each other and hear about what has worked or not
worked in the past year.
The information
can range from where a really great place to eat is in the USA, how to change
the oil filters on an OPS1, or an easier way to store an item in the truck, or
what vender has a great sale on an item we all use.
Vince and Bob talking to Miguel from Detroit Diesel
Each evening we share this information and the next day we all go our separate ways to look for an item someone talked about the night before that interested us. Our best memories of MATS are not so much what we have seen at the show but what fun we have had with other drivers.
I suggest when attending MATS wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk and talk. I pick up a bag from a vendor to carry, not to pick up the free goodies on the tables but to put business cards in of people I talk to. My goody bag is as light as feathers at the end of the day, as I do not need any more pens, pads, yard sticks, back scratchers and I sure do not need the free candy.
I also try to dress as light as possible for the conditions as it is usually warm inside the buildings. We have been to MATS when it is very cold and having to carry a coat all day is not much fun. I also go back to the truck a few times a day to let Molly out and also to take a much-needed break. We go on sensory overload for those few days, as we are not accustomed to so many people and so much noise.
I encourage everyone to attend MATS as a business convention. We have never left MATS without gaining valuable knowledge about our business and our lifestyle.
Papa Johns has free parking and lots of it. For directions see this link:
http://www.truckingshow.com/directions-parking
See you at the truck show!
Sign up for the MATS Health Awareness Walk April 2nd Louisville, KY
Trucking Solutions Group and The American Red Cross April 1st Booth #91470
Please give so others may live
Register for the Mid America Truck show here:
Bob & Linda Caffee
Leased to: FedEx Custom Critical 

TeamCaffee

Saint Louis MO
Expediters 6 years been out here on the road 11 years
Expediting isn't just trucking, it's a lifestyle; 

Expediting isn't just a lifestyle, it's an adventure;

Expediting isn't just an adventure, it's a job;

Expediting isn't just a job, it's a business.