The 2015 Work Truck Show filled the Indiana Convention Center.
The 2015 Work Truck Show filled the Indiana Convention Center.
The 2015 Work Truck Show filled the Indiana Convention Center.
The 2015 Work Truck Show filled the Indiana Convention Center.
The 2015 Work Truck Show filled the Indiana Convention Center.

NTEA 2015 event draws 11,005 industry professionals from all over the world, breaking attendance record of 10,408 from 2012

May 5, 2015
Convening once more in the car-racing mecca of Indianapolis, NTEA’s flagship event eclipses 2012’s previous attendance record

ANOTHER Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, another record.

This year’s event featured 11,005 industry professionals from all 50 states, eight Canadian provinces, and 23 countries, breaking the Show’s previous attendance record of 10,408 set in 2012.

The Work Truck Show 2015 was held March 4–6, with educational sessions and the concurrent Green Truck Summit kicking off March 3, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. It is America’s largest work truck show and is produced annually by the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA).

New product introductions were a major draw this year. Mercedes-Benz Vans revealed its new Metris mid-size van to the world at the Show on March 4.

Other announcements creating buzz in Indianapolis were the unveiling of the Ford F-750 Tonka dump truck, Hino Trucks’ move into the Class 4 market with its 155 model, Chevrolet’s introduction of a 2015 Colorado box delete option, Ram Commercial’s expansion of its Ram 2500 CNG offerings, Utilimaster’s reveal of its new VELOCITY walk-in van and STAHL’s debut of the industry’s first polymer composite service body, the Razorback.

Altogether, there were new products in practically every aisle.

Over the last five years, NTEA has increased the size of the Show floor by 40 percent in response to growing demand.

Exhibit space for The Work Truck Show 2016 is already sold out. The Work Truck Show returns to the Indiana Convention Center March 2–4, 2016, with educational sessions and the concurrent Green Truck Summit kicking off March 1. Registration opens in October.

The Work Truck Show brings together more than 11,000 truck fleet managers, manufacturers, distributors, dealers, equipment buyers, and maintenance personnel annually, and features the newest vocational trucks, vans, components and equipment. 

Also at this year’s Show, Jeffrey Messer, president of Messer Truck Equipment of Westbrook, Maine, was installed today as 51st president of NTEA. Messer accepted this responsibility from immediate past president Mark Woody, president of Palfinger North America at the President’s Breakfast & NTEA Annual Meeting.

“It has been a rewarding experience to serve on the NTEA Board these last five years,” Messer said. “I’m looking forward to taking on new challenges and initiatives as Association president.”

Messer joined Messer Truck Equipment in 2003, becoming the fourth generation in his family’s business, which was founded in 1899 by his great-grandfather Walter A Messer.

A graduate of the US Naval Academy, he served in the US Navy for five years as a surface warfare officer and nuclear power engineer before entering the family business. He has worked in various areas of the company, including service, parts and sales, in an effort to learn the business from the ground up. Following the sudden death of his father, John Messer, Jeff took over as president in 2008.

The 2015–2016 NTEA Board was announced:

Executive Committee members:

  • First Vice President Matthew Wilson, president of Switch-N-Go, AmeriDeck & Bucks Divisions of Deist Industries Inc (Hadley, PA).
  • Second Vice President Adam Keane, general manager of Allied Body Works Inc (Seattle, WA).
  • Third Vice President/Treasurer Todd Davis, vice president of Phenix Enterprises Inc (Pomona, CA).
  • Secretary Steve Carey, executive director of NTEA.
  • Serving alongside Executive Committee members are Distributor Trustees:
  • Bill Kohler, president of Kranz Automotive Body Co (St Louis, MO).
  • Gary Lindesmith, sales & operations for Lindco Equipment Sales Inc. (Merrillville, IN).
  • David Miller, president/CEO of American Midwest Fleet Solutions (Lone Jack, MO).
  • Dave Whitby, vice president & chief operating officer of Versalift Southwest LLC (Waco, TX).
  • Terry Wieseler, general manager of Truck Equipment Inc (Des Moines, IA).

Manufacturer Trustees:

  • Wm. Craig Bonham, vice president – business development for Reading Truck Body, LLC (Reading, PA).
  • Ross L. Haith Jr, president of Leggett & Platt Commercial Vehicle Products (Atlanta, GA).
  • Peter Miller, president of Pro-Tech Industries (La Vergne, TN). ♦
About the Author

Rick Weber | Associate Editor

Rick Weber has been an associate editor for Trailer/Body Builders since February 2000. A national award-winning sportswriter, he covered the Miami Dolphins for the Fort Myers News-Press following service with publications in California and Australia. He is a graduate of Penn State University.