THE 2007 Work Truck Show drew more than 9,000 attendees, attracted 500 exhibitors, and consumed 194,000 square feet of exhibit space, according to the show's sponsor, the National Truck Equipment Association.
The 2007 show was held in conjunction with the 43rd annual NTEA convention at the Indiana Convention Center & RCA Dome March 7-9.
“This was the best and most dynamic event in NTEA history,” says Jim Carney, NTEA executive director. “Verified attendance was 9,084. That's a 28% increase over 2006, topping all previous years. We set a new standard this year. Our goal is to continue to grow the event at The Work Truck Show 2008 in Atlanta.”
The annual President's Breakfast and NTEA Annual Meeting drew a sell-out crowd of 1,700. Those attending the event heard a motivational keynote address by Peyton Manning, quarterback of the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts and two-time NFL MVP. Manning addressed a sold-out crowd of 1,700 at the March 8 event. They also saw a change in NTEA leadership as president Rob Green completed his one-year term. He is succeeded by Tom Rawson, president of RKI Inc.
Two new distributor trustees began their terms, effective with the annual meeting. They were Blake Murray, vice president and general manager of General Truck Equipment & Trailer Sales in Jacksonville, and Steven Sill, president of Aspen Equipment in Minneapolis. In a sense, it was déjà vu for both new trustees. Murray's father John was an NTEA director and served as the association's president for the 1993-1994 term. Sill previously served on the NTEA Board from 2003-2006.
After setting new standards for attendance and exhibitor participation, NTEA plans are underway to top this year's event. The Work Truck Show 2008 will be held in conjunction with the 44th Annual NTEA Convention Feb. 26-28, 2008, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. More than 80% of floor space already has been sold.
Any business for you in Brazil?
How often does someone travel 6,000 miles to say they need some truck equipment?
One of the surprise sessions of The Work Truck Show was a presentation by Paulo Silveira, president of Fleet One Gestão De Frotas E Veicluos, in which he pointed out the need Brazil has for trucks and equipment.
Brazil is the world's sixth-largest manufacturer of trucks (three slots behind the U S) and the second-largest manufacturer of buses. As consumers of trucks, the nation has a fleet of 1.7 million. The average truck is 16 years old.
“We need good trucks,” Silveira said.
Silveira also told his audience that the nation has addressed many of its economic concerns, including what is now a moderate inflation rate. For specific truck equipment opportunities, he pointed to construction, mining, utilities, and agriculture — particularly the sugar cane market that is supplying Brazil's growing ethanol industry.