Kenworth Won’t Exhibit at MATS 2016

[kscarbel2]

Fleet Owner / October 17, 2015

Kenworth Truck Co. is the latest truck manufacturer to say it will not exhibit at the Mid-America Trucking Show next year in Louisville, though the company didn’t announce this as others have.

KW’s general manager, Preston Feight, mentioned the decision while responding to reporters’ questions about products and services he covered during a news conference here on Sunday afternoon. It was among meetings scheduled during the just-opened annual ATA MC&E conference.

“It was a Kenworth decision” to skip MATS and not one made by Paccar Inc., parent of KW and Peterbilt, Feight said. The money saved will be spent during the year on other marketing efforts and outreach events aimed at truck operators, drivers and the press.

Sister company Peterbilt has not said whether it will be at MATS.

The move toward skipping the show – the largest trucking confab in North America – began with Daimler’s announcement several months ago, when it said it will alternate attendance at MATS with the IAA show in Hannover, Germany, which will be held in the autumn of 2016. Volvo, Mack and Navistar International soon followed suit.

[Green Dash]

I didn't realize it was that costly to participate in the shows

[57 bcr]

I would consider it like "shooting yourself in the foot",not to show up at

a major event in your industry. Gives the impression that they are not serious enough about the industry which provides their bread and butter! Al

[kscarbel2]

Louisville never became a professional show. The people holding it had a chance, but were amateurs.

The IAA show in Hannover is the global benchmark for truck industry shows.

[Quickfarms]

Shows can be quite expensive. The fees the promoter charge for the booths can be quite substantial. Then there is the cost of the exhibit that can range from minimal, simple display with vehicles pulled from inventory, to exotic, custom vehicles and an extensive display. Then there is the cost to staff the booth.

[kscarbel2]

Shows are indeed expensive, which is why Hannover is held every two years.

Hannover is a professional show with the global truckmakers, and suppliers, presenting their latest cutting edge products.

Toby Young and his Exhibit Management Associates don't know how to put on the professional (Hannover-like) trade that Daimler and Volvo are accustomed to. And the small Louisville exhibition center can't even compare with the stunning and massive Messe Hannover facility..

The Louisville show has always been an amateur event geared towards owner-operators, not the fleets where the money and volumes are.

[Jarhead Enterprises]

I spoke with our RVP for Volvo about this show about a month ago - he claimed the booth space alone was nearly $1,000,000.00! Add in the cost of personnel to man the booth, customer entertaining etc and you can add another $200,000. Then double it with the Mack booth. I have been to the show once - waste of time. I have supplier friends referred to it as Hillbilly Halloween. As WE say "the juice has to be worth the squeeze".

[DCR]

I've been involved in many shows within the funeral industry when I worked for a casket company and they are very costly. Most convention centers are highly unionized and that is reflected in the cost. The semi driver opened the trailer doors and backed into the dock. From that point convention center employees unloaded the trailer and moved everything to the proper display area. We couldn't even plug in lights; had to have their electricians plug in the lights. If we wanted to move a light had to call convention center people to do this.

Yes, conventions are very costly and many industries are cutting back.