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Plenty of fun awaits at truck show

The Expedite Expo trucking show and job fair features a variety of events designed to inform and entertain visitors of all ages.

Live music at the show will include performances by Pure Grain (appearing at 8 p.m. Friday) and Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers (appearing at 11 a.m. Saturday).

The Amazing Portable Circus will also be on hand for continuous shows Friday and Saturday, and members of Jungle Jack Hannah’s troupe will present a program including animals from the Columbus Zoo at 2 p.m. each day in the Panther Booth.

One of the biggest highlights of the show will come at 1 p.m. Saturday when actor John Ratzenberger will be on hand in Booth 172. Ratzenberger played mailman Cliff Clavin on Cheers and more recently has provided the voice of popular characters in Pixar’s animated movies. Ratzenberger has been involved in every Pixar production, including his role as Mack the Truck in the recently released “Cars 2.”

Also Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Edgar Hansen, one of the stars of Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch,” will be on hand in Booth B-3A. Edgar is the youngest of three Hansen brothers who work aboard the Northwestern, one of five fishing boats featured on the popular series.
 
Friday night is Casino Night at the Expo. From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., try your hand at blackjack, roulette, craps and Texas Hold’Em. And it’s all free — FunBucks and casino chips will be provided.

Visitors to the show also have a chance to win cash prizes. Each day will feature four $100 cash drawings, and at 4 p.m. each day there will be a $1,000 drawing. Another lucky winner will take home a $1,200 Espar Heater.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a trucking show without some trucks and there will be plenty of those — from dealers displaying the newest trucks to the Old Time Truck Show, which opens at 9 a.m. each day and includes antique trucks from across the country in a wide variety of years, makes and models.

While all those events are designed to entertain, the show also offers plenty of events that will provide valuable information about the trucking industry. Among those are 11 free driver workshops that will cover topics ranging from maintenance to vehicle financing and will be presented by experts.

A new feature at the show this year is the TruckPro Seminar Series, a hands-on seminar for truck maintenance and safety issues. Presenters will used a truck parked on the show floor to work live with attendees.

The show opens at 9 a.m. each day, but early birds who want to have a little extra fun can take part in the PJ Walk at 8 a.m. each day. Bob Perry, the Trucker Trainer, will lead participants through a brief warmup before they head out on a stroll around the convention center. And there’s no need to dress up. Show up in your pajamas and walking shoes at the north doors in front of the conference center.

The show officially wraps up at 4 p.m. Saturday, but the fun doesn’t stop there. A driver-sponsored barbecue is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. Vendors and attendees are welcome to join the fun. Hot dogs, hamburgers, brats and brisket will be provided. Please bring a side dish, drinks or dessert to share.