Event Schedule

Thursday - March 26, 2020

• PKY Truck Beauty Championship
• 10:00am - 6:00 pm: Thursday, March 26 2020
• Presented by: Stars & Stripes
• Lot J behind West Wing

• The annual PKY Truck Beauty Championship kicks off the show truck season with the largest grouping of show trucks in the country, all vying for honors in the country's premier truck beauty show. The event, which has become a star attraction at the Mid-America Trucking Show, celebrates North America's heavy-duty, working show trucks. Look for the trucks in Lot "J" behind the West Wing.

• What U.S. Carriers Need to Know about the Canada ELD Mandate?
• 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Thursday, March 26
• Presented by: Marc Moncion, Vice President - Safety, Compliance & Regulatory Affairs, Fleet Complete
• Seminar Room B104

• U.S. carriers that operate in Canada need to ensure their electronic logging devices (ELDs) are compliant with the Canadian mandate that will be coming into effect in June 2021. This session will highlight the differences between the U.S. ELD Mandate, and what is going to be proclaimed in Canada. We will also highlight some of the key differences between the U.S. and Canada hours of service regulations.

• Trucker Bookkeeping & Taxes - What is critical for 2020
• 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM Thursday, March 26
• Presented by: Barry G. Fowler EA of Taxation Solutions
• East Hall Booth 24155

• Trucker Bookkeeping & Taxes - What is deductible as a business expense and saving money on taxes. What is your financial goal for 2020 and are you achieving your business goals? How Trucker Bookkeeping can be made simple without the burden of doing it yourself.

• What's Different About Your Dad's Truck, Your Truck and Your Kid's or Even Grandkid's Trucks?
• 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Thursday, March 26
• Presented by: Mike Roeth of the North American Council for Freight Efficiency
• East Hall Booth 24155

• Every truck magazine one reads or show he attends is filled with dramatic, even transformational technologies. Everything from electric and hydrogen fuel cell trucks, to automated driving, vast amounts of data and on and on. The North American Council for Freight Efficiency (www.nacfe.org) has been studying efficiency for ten years looking at how technologies win over time. From aerodynamics, to tires, powertrains and others, the group understands what is important to fleets and how manufacturers try and create products that pay back. Recently, NACFE has been researching emerging technologies and is helping the industry prepare for the changes coming fast. Mike Roeth will lead a spirited discussion about what our kids and grandkids trucks might look like. Which will happen first, later, or not at all.

• Wheel End Training - Bearing Adjustment, Diagnosis, and Proper Installation
• 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM Thursday, March 26
• Presented by: Brian Paul Beathard of RevHD
• Seminar Room B104

• Maximum Efficiency
• 12:15 PM - 12:45 PM Thursday, March 26
• Presented by: Henry Albert of Freightliner
• East Hall Booth 24155

• Getting the most out of modern technology

• How Fuel, Oil Cleanliness and Quality Affect Emission System Maintenance
• 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Thursday, March 26
• Presented by: Clean Air Fleet
• Seminar Room B104

• Our presentation will discuss the overall benefits of better fuel and oil cleanliness and quality, and the effects they can have on today’s emission equipped engines. We will use multiple sources including OE Engines Manufacturers, Society of Automotive Engineers, The Fuels Institute and others to cite their research and information on this topic.

• Choosing the Right Partners as a Small Trucking Company
• 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM Thursday, March 26
• Presented by: OTR Capital
• East Hall Booth 24155

• This discussion will focus on how to align yourself with the best partners to set your small trucking company up for success. Presenters will include factoring, brokerage, dispatching and insurance representatives to explain the positive impacts of strategic partnerships.

• Tire Retreading: Myths and Misconceptions
• 1:45 PM - 2:45 PM Thursday, March 26
• Presented by: Tire Retread Information Bureau (TRIB)
• Seminar Room B104

• Are your views on retreading outdated? If our discussions with attendees at past MATS shows are any indication, they likely are! Come to this session to learn how retreading can save you and your fleet thousands of dollars without sacrificing performance. We'll also tackle those outdated and inaccurate myths about the safety, reliability, and performance of modern retreaded tires.

• Let’s Get on the Driver’s Side
• 1:45 PM - 2:15 PM Thursday, March 26
• Presented by: Trucker Tools
• East Hall Booth 24155

• • Today’s professional truck drivers, especially owner operators and small fleets, are bombarded with technology. Whether it’s from a new tech start-up, a broker, a 3PL, a shipper or one of dozens of new digital “visibility” platforms, truckers are being inundated from those who all want to know the same thing, all the time: where’s your truck and where’s my load...

    Read More

  • It’s time to get on board with the professional driver and help them turn back this overwhelming tide of “one-trick pony” apps that have everyone else’s needs in mind – except the driver.

    Why not design and build a smart-phone app with the driver’s needs first and foremost? And include only those features that:

    1. 1) help the driver quickly and effortlessly find and secure the right loads (and reloads) at the right time and right price in real time;
    2. 2) expend less time in administering the day-to-day tasks of running a truck, and operate that truck point-to-point in as optimized a manner as possible;
    3. 3) maximize hours of service and reduce downtime (and lost revenue) when the wheels aren’t rolling;
    4. 4) automate and streamline how drivers respond to the constant demand for ‘where’s the truck’ information (visibility); and electronically sending documents to the broker or shipper; and
    5. 5) get paid promptly and accurately.

    How do we flip the script? Drivers have the power. The key: education, on how to control the tech conversation with brokers and 3PLs and bring a strong, informed voice to decisions about what technologies are critical to the business, and how to meet these needs efficiently. Don’t wait for a technology to be pushed on you. Advocate for an all-in-one, multi-function “lifestyle” app that has the core features you need to run your trucking business and automatically serve up the information your customers want.

    How does the future change for truckers if they don’t own the conversation? Join this interactive presentation to find the answers and position your trucking business for success. Learn how to work with app developers who are focused first on improving the driver experience, making your life on the road easier and more rewarding.

    This educational session will present lessons learned and best practices from several owner-operators and small fleet owners who have spearheaded the development and functionality the industry’s longest-running and most popular driver app: the Trucker Tools Mobile Driver App, which has 16 of the most sought-after tools drivers want, and driver-designed automated Book-it-Now and load-tracking features.

• How to Open a Diesel Repair Shop
• 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM Thursday, March 26
• Presented by: Fullbay
• East Hall Booth 24155

• Many diesel repair shops are opened by technicians that have found passion in the work. Are you a diesel tech ready to learn more about opening a repair shop? We will share with you some tips and tricks about how to open a successful diesel repair shop.

• FMCSA Hot Topics with Acting Administrator Jim Mullen
• 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Thursday, March 26
• Presented by: FMCSA Acting Administrator Jim Mullen
• Seminar Room B104

• The latest actions taken by FMCSA to promote safety and reduce burdens on the CMV industry.

• Commercial Motor Vehicle Inspections
• 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Saturday, March 28
• Presented by: Kentucky State Police (KSP)
• Seminar Room B104

• Going the Extra Mile from Driver to Carrier
• 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM Thursday, March 26
• Presented by: Chad Boblett, Rate Per Mile Masters, MATS Pro Team Member
• East Hall Booth 24155

• This discussion will focus on how to align yourself with the best partners to set your small trucking company up for success. Presenters will include factoring, brokerage, dispatching and insurance representatives to explain the positive impacts of strategic partnerships.

• Operating Income Efficiency Within a Tough Freight Environment
• 4:15 PM - 5:15 PM Thursday, March 26
• Presented by: Justin Brevik, Shawn Murphy, and Adam Trundle of Love's Travel Stops
• Seminar Room B104

• This session will further educate drivers on topics including freight rates, freight volume, what to expect in 2020, and how to optimize revenue in today’s challenging freight environment with resources such as fuel discounts, tire discounts, and freight factoring.

  Lastly, our Q&A portion will cover how to help decrease equipment downtime and maximize drivers' profitability.

• Finding Success as a Digital Owner-Operator
• 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM Thursday, March 26
• Presented by: Brent Hutto of Truckstop.com and Kevin Rutherford of Let’s Truck
• East Hall Booth 24155

• The trucking industry has changed dramatically over the last decade as technology has transformed everything from how we log miles to how we book freight. With so many options and services available it can be hard to cut through the noise. Join Kevin and Brent as they discuss the ins and outs of the digital age, how to use technology to improve your business, and how to know what tools are right for you.

• Helping Carriers + Shippers Work Better Together
• 5:30 PM - 6:00 PM Thursday, March 26
• Presented by: Drew McElroy, CEO & Co-Founder of Transfix
• Seminar Room B104

• The freight industry is an extremely fragmented and volatile space. But in today’s ecosystem, technology has given both shippers and carriers the ability to create more stability in their relationships, and on a deeper level, a sense of trust. This trust is imperative to building a marketplace that not only fosters more positive synergies, but also drives greater efficiencies for all parties involved.

  In this session, Drew McElroy, CEO & Co-Founder of Transfix, will share steps carriers can and should take in order to more effectively build this trust with shippers. Specifically, he will highlight the massive opportunity that comes with leveraging today’s digital freight tools to build greater personalization and efficiencies into the supply chain and, on a broader scale, how these new capabilities can help the industry make a collective shift towards a disrupted version of the traditional business model--one where the end goal extends beyond maximizing gross margins and more into prioritizing ways to create positive, long-term relationships in the marketplace.

Friday - March 27, 2020

• PKY Truck Beauty Championship
• 10:00am - 6:00 pm: Friday, March 27 2020
• Presented by: Stars & Stripes
• Lot J behind West Wing

• The annual PKY Truck Beauty Championship kicks off the show truck season with the largest grouping of show trucks in the country, all vying for honors in the country's premier truck beauty show. The event, which has become a star attraction at the Mid-America Trucking Show, celebrates North America's heavy-duty, working show trucks. Look for the trucks in Lot "J" behind the West Wing.

• FMCSA Hot Topics with Associate Administrator for Enforcement Joe DeLorenzo
• 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Friday, March 27
• Presented by: FMCSA Joe DeLorenzo of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
• Seminar Room B104

• What drivers should expect from the DA Clearinghouse, HOS, ELDs, National Registry, and more...

• The Secret to Increased Driver Productivity and Profits - Addressing Untreated Driver Health Conditions
• 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM Friday, March 27
• Presented by: UrgentCare Travel
• East Hall Booth 24155

• • Did you know that 48% of the drivers on the road today have a pre-existing condition like hypertension, diabetes or obesity that limits their DOT certification to 1 year or less?

    Did you know that drivers suffer from diabetes at a rate of almost 50% higher than the rest of the US population?

    Read More

  • Did you know that more than 80% of professional drivers say they experience pain in their backs, necks and arms due to long hours behind the wheel?

    Did you know that drivers leaving the workforce due to health issues contribute to high driver turnover?

    Did you know that drivers with 3 or more medical conditions have a significantly increased rate of preventable DOT reportable crashes and preventable crashes with injuries?

    Drivers with untreated health conditions have a profound financial impact on the industry:

    • Increased recruitment and retention costs
    • Decreased driver productivity
    • Increased insurance costs

    Not only is there a shortage of new drivers coming into the workforce, but more experienced drivers are leaving the workforce as their medical conditions are left untreated, due to high insurance deductibles, the lack of affordable healthcare options and the lack of convenient medical clinics on the road.

    This seminar explores the high cost of drivers with untreated health conditions and solutions that aim to address this critical industry issue.

• Success as an Independent Woman Owner-Operator
• 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Friday, March 27
• Presented by: Ingrid Brown, MATS Pro Team Member
• East Hall Booth 24155

• TBA
• 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM Friday, March 27
• Seminar Room B104

• Maximum Efficiency
• 12:15 PM - 12:45 PM Friday, March 27
• Presented by: Henry Albert of Freightliner, MATS Pro Team Member
• East Hall Booth 24155

• Why did my truck do that? Getting the most out of modern technology

• Purchasing a Lowboy Trailer For Your Load
• 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Friday, March 27
• Presented by: Kevin Sassaman of E.D. Etnyre & Company
• Seminar Room B104

• An overview of the different configurations of Lowboy trailers moving freight and equipment across the country.

• Operate Your Small Business Like a Big Business on Your Budget.
• 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM Friday, March 27
• Presented by: TruckGuy.org
• East Hall Booth 24155

• Small Business Problems are the same as Big Business Problems. How you handle them makes all the difference. Learn affordable ways and to deal with Stress and handle everyday issues like a Big Business. We make a difference for Lease / Owner Operator, and Companies with up to 100 employees.

• Financial Impact of Owner Operator Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
• 1:45 PM - 2:45 PM Friday, March 27
• Presented by: OTR Capital
• Seminar Room B104

• The discussion will focus on the financial impacts of common owner operator mistakes, while providing tools and guidance to avoid them. Specific topics include factoring, truck financing, risk management, equipment maintenance, tax planning, and more

• Owner-Operator: Using Technology to get Better Broker Freight
• 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Friday, March 27
• Presented by: Brent Hutto of Truckstop.com & Guest broker
• East Hall Booth 24155

• As digital technologies continue to transform the trucking industry, one thing hasn’t changed—the importance of relationships. Working with people you know and trust is critical to growing your business. Join Brent Hutto and XXXX as they discuss how technology has changed the broker/carrier dynamic, what’s on the horizon and what you can do to improve your relationship with the brokers you work with.

• Shift into Success
• 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Friday, March 27
• Presented by: OOIDA
• Seminar Room B104

• Approximately 25% of new trucking businesses fail within their first year. These failure rates are consistent over time and similar across industries, suggesting that year-over-year economic factors do not significantly impact survival rates of small businesses overall. Instead, one of the most common reasons for why small trucking business fail is poor business planning. Whether you are a company driver looking to become an owner-operator, or an owner-operator seeking to be more successful in your business, it is critical that you have your own business plan. In our class, we will explain the importance of a business plan, as well as your cost of operations, and how to create one so that you can shift into success.

• Visibility Technologies - Why they’re not all the same, key strategies for drivers and fleets in choosing the right platform
• 3:15 PM - 3:45 PM Friday, March 27
• Presented by Trucker Tools
• East Hall Booth 24155

• • The challenge of visibility – ensuring timely flow of quality data and accomplishing it reliably and accurately – has been the bane of carriers, drivers and brokers ever since the first truck picked up the first shipment, and the customer asked, “where’s my load?”...

    Read More

  • Yet figuring out which visibility solution is right for the professional truck driver, and how technology approaches differ, remains a challenge. Who owns the data? What’s the most convenient and effective platform for the driver? How do I meet my customer’s (broker or shipper) need for reliable, timely, en-route tracking and delivery data? What does it cost? What are the roadblocks and how are those overcome?

    Not all shipment tracking solutions are the same, and not all are driver friendly. Tech providers use different methods and tools. Some pull data from in-cab Electronic Logging Devices, some from trailer-mounted sensors, some from smart-phone based apps using the phone’s GPS capabilities, some via EDI or API links. Until recently, some were using location signals triangulated from cell-phone towers. And some still use the old-fashioned method – pick up the phone and call the driver.

    At the end of the day, regardless of the technology, the most reliable – and important -- resource for accurate information is the driver. And the biggest mistake brokers and tech platforms make is forcing technology on the driver that’s inconvenient, irrelevant, does only one thing and makes life harder.

    The key for any successful visibility solution is a focus on the professional truck driver and improving the driver’s experience with technology. First and foremost, any visibility app must be built for ease of use. Workflow must be intuitive, mobile friendly, and convenient. And it should provide the driver with features beyond just tracking – part of an “all in one” app that helps the driver be more efficient, solves problems and makes the driver’s life less stress-filled.

    How can small fleets and owner-operators ensure that decisions about which technologies to adopt and support make life easier – and comply with shipper and broker requirements for consistent, reliable visibility compliance? Hear about lessons learned and best practices in this interactive presentation discussing how truckers, collaborating with their freight-brokers and a driver-focused technology platform, solved the visibility challenge, saved driver time, reduced distractions and significantly improved both driver and shipper satisfaction in the process.

• Pulling Ahead of the Competition
• 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM Friday, March 27
• Presented by: Samsara
• East Hall Booth 24155

• Ever wonder what other fleets are doing to be successful? What’s the secret to their competitive edge? We talked to some of our safest and most productive customers to see what they’re doing differently.

  Join this session to hear how trucking leaders have driven bottom-line impact through easy-to-deploy, data-based programs, and how you can use those same strategies for your fleet operation.

  You’ll learn about the new programs that:

  • Improve driver safety and increase productivity
  • Leverage technology to improve customer service, win business, and decrease insurance rates
  • Make the most of your technology investments

• Managing Distractions: Road Safety & Trucking
• 4:15 PM - 5:15 PM Friday, March 27
• Presented by: Traffic Injury Research Foundation, Drop It And Drive Program
• Seminar Room B104

• There are unique considerations for professional truck drivers as distractions behind the wheel and other distracted drivers on the road equally pose considerable risk to drivers of heavy trucks. The larger size and mass of these vehicles makes the handling and control of them vastly different from that of passenger vehicles.

  This interactive seminar can prepare professional drivers to limit and manage distractions in their vehicle as well as respond to other distracted drivers on the road. Participants are provided with practical strategies and tools to minimize distractions behind the wheel and to assist with identifying opportunities to strengthen workplace safety programs. Science and real-life stories are shared to motivate safer behaviors in the workplace and at home.

  Tools and hands-on demonstrations are provided to help drivers self-assess and to maximize learning across administrators, managers, staff, and drivers.

• 7 Steps to a Nutrient Dense Keto Lifestyle
• 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Friday, March 27
• Presented by: Kevin Rutherford, Let’s Truck
• East Hall Booth 24155

• MATS Concert
• 7:00pm - 9:00 pm: Friday, March 27 2020
• Presented by: Mobil Delvac
• 4th Street Live!

• We’re proud to announce the MATS 2020 concert at Fourth Street Live featuring Jayne Denham and Larry Fleet! Thanks to the team behind Mobil Delvac ™ heavy-duty diesel engine oil for supporting the concert for the twelfth straight year.

  Present your MATS badge for free admission to the concert at Fourth Street Live.

• After-Party
• 10:00pm Friday, March 27 2020
• Presented by: TBS Factoring
• 4th Street Live!

• Following the concert, the celebration continues with Tony Justice on stage.

Saturday - March 28, 2020

• PKY Truck Beauty Championship
• 10:00am - 4:00 pm: Saturday - March 28, 2020
• Presented by: Stars & Stripes
• Lot J behind West Wing

• The annual PKY Truck Beauty Championship kicks off the show truck season with the largest grouping of show trucks in the country, all vying for honors in the country's premier truck beauty show. The event, which has become a star attraction at the Mid-America Trucking Show, celebrates North America's heavy-duty, working show trucks. Look for the trucks in Lot "J" behind the West Wing.

• Comparing Weigh Station Bypass Technologies
• 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Saturday, March 28
• PrePass Safety Alliance
• Seminar Room B104

• Technology is always on the move. And when it comes to weigh station bypass services, truckers have a choice of either Radio Frequency Identification (RFID transponders) or Commercial Mobile Radio Services (CMRS mobile apps). Attend this session to learn how the two technologies differ and why a Texas A&M Transportation Institute study found both have a place in electronic weigh station bypassing. You will also learn how to evaluate different weigh station bypass options and providers for your specific operation and routes.

• Running and growing a carrier business
• 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Saturday, March 28
• Presented by: Uber Freight
• East Hall Booth 24155

• A fireside chat between Uber Freight leadership and a carrier partner on tactical best practices to run and grow a carrier business. The conversation will highlight the role of new technology in accelerating this growth for every size business – from owner-operator to larger fleets. The fireside chat will conclude with an open audience Q&A.

• Safety Discussion with FMCSA
• 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Saturday, March 28
• Presented by: Ingrid Brown, MATS Pro Team Member
• East Hall Booth 24155

• Owner-Operator: Using Technology to Grow Your Business
• 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM Saturday, March 28
• Presented by: Jenna Moore of Truckstop.com
• Seminar Room B104

• Whether it’s a new regulation, a shortage of qualified drivers, or increasing customer demands, there are constant pressures challenging your ability to generate as much revenue possible, at the lowest cost possible. Profit is the goal, but oftentimes, your margins can be threatened by shady customers and outdated technology. Load Boards and Instant Freight Booking Systems increase your ability to move freight efficiently, enabling you to provide the most value possible to your customers. In this session, you’ll learn best practices for leveraging technology to build relationships and achieve a competitive advantage. If you’re operating with your own authority now, or you plan to in the future, this session is for you!

  Attend this session to learn how to:

  • Leverage Load Boards to find freight and maximize profit per load;
  • Build relationships with qualified and trusted brokers; and
  • Book freight instantly without ever picking up the phone

• FMCSA Hot Topics with Associate Administrator for Enforcement Joe DeLorenzo:
• 12:30 pM - 1:30 PM Saturday, March 28
• Presented by: FMCSA Associate Administrator for Enforcement Joe DeLorenzo
• Seminar Room B-104

• What drivers should expect from the DA Clearinghouse, HOS, ELDs, National Registry, and more...

• 3 Movements Every Driver Needs to be Doing Daily to Live Pain-Free and Not End Up In A Wheelchair
• 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM Saturday, March 28
• Presented by: Hope Zvara of Mother Trucker Yoga
• East Hall Booth 24155

• Getting older is not what is leaving your body stiff and in pain. It’s how you are moving. Or how you are not moving. Join Hope from Mother Trucker Yoga as she takes you through a unique fitness assessment and helps you design new movements for your daily life out on the road. BONUS: The last 20 minutes of our session will be Yoga For Truckers!

• Who’s Got Time for That? Distractions, Stress, Issues at Home?
• 1:45 PM - 2:45 PM Saturday, March 28
• Presented by: TruckGuy.org
• Seminar Room B104

• Who’s got your back? You can’t be everywhere, nor can you know everything. This overview will Empower Drivers and Business Leaders to use a time tested service, for their benefit, without breaking the budget. Dealing with Debt/Credit/Collections, causes Stress. Buying a Car/Truck/Home, can be confusing. Protecting your career by knowing the DOT - CSA - State specific Laws, can be difficult. In addition, If you are You, in the Truck, who might be you somewhere else? Learn what plan covers, monitors, and restores your Identity if you are a victim of ID Theft. This session will share how to cover yourself and your family with a Shield of Power, so Drivers can stay Alert, Focused, and Safe!

• Is Expediting For You?
• 1:45 PM - 2:45 PM Saturday, March 28
• Presented by: Bob and Linda Caffee, Team Run Smart Professional Drivers, MATS Pro Team Members
• East Hall Booth 24155

• Can you make any money with those little trucks? Overview of Expediting and what to expect.