American Trucking Associations (ATA), along with the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA) division of the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), announce they have entered into an agreement with global event management and trade show firm Messe Frankfurt Inc. to develop a new, biennial North American-based truck and transportation event.
“In recent years, it has become increasingly clear there is demand from consumers and manufacturers for a North American trucking industry exhibition with the promience and importance befitting this essential industry,” says MEMA President and CEO Steve Handschuh. “Today we are pleased to take the first step toward making that show a reality.”
“While ATA already provides fleet executives with a number of opportunities to see the latest in truck, trailer and other technology, we believe there is an appetite for a larger-scale event. We look forward to working with HDMA/MEMA, and Messe Frankfurt to explore the possibilities of a new exhibition – one that promises to bring all the major players in our industry together under one roof,” says ATA President and CEO Bill Graves.
Preliminary plans call for an event, based in North America, to be held in early fall, biennially in odd-numbered years opposite a similar, already established European-based show held in even-numbered years at roughly the same time.
“The concerns of the industry in Europe and North America – safety, fuel economy, emissions and efficiency – are universal. We look forward to the potential benefit a biennial show of this kind can provide both the trucking industry and the suppliers and manufacturers that support them,” says Messe Frankfurt President Dennis Smith.
In addition, Smith, Graves, Handschuh and HDMA COO Tim Kraus issued the following joint statement:
“Today’s announcement is only the first step of our journey. We intend to fully explore what creating a show of this kind will mean for the transportation industry, as well as for commercial vehicle OEMs, systems and component suppliers and other supply chain elements, the investment community, and trade, financial and general media.
“It is our hope that we will soon be able to announce what the next step in that journey will be and eventually, the announcement of a date for our inaugural event.”
