The Work Truck Show 2005 Breaks Records

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – The Work Truck Show® 2005 and 41st Annual National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) Convention blew away previous attendance records as 7,148 of the industry’s premier vocational fleet managers, maintenance personnel, equipment distributors, and others involved in buying, selling or using work trucks and equipment took advantage of the opportunity meet with nearly 460 industry suppliers, participate in more than 30 training sessions and see the latest developments in commercial trucks and transportation equipment from Classes 1 through 8 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis March 2 through 4.

Produced by the NTEA and supported by 18 other prominent organizations, The Work Truck Show is an annual trade show attended by manufacturers, distributors, fleet managers and end-users of all varieties of vocational work trucks and equipment in industries as diverse as construction, landscaping, utility and government services. On a show floor covering 350,000 square feet, attendees checked out the latest full-size work trucks and equipment from leading manufacturers and examined individual components from hundreds of suppliers.

“The event was a major success on all levels,” said Mike Frizzell, NTEA president. “The robust health of our industry was reflected not only in attendance, but also in the more than 80 new products and innovations introduced at the show.”

Attendees were invited to cast their ballots for the second annual Work Truck Show New Product Innovation Award. By popular vote, A.L. Hansen Mfg. Co., Waukegan, Ill., was recognized for its Jet Rack™ ladder racking system. New for 2005, the Work Truck Show Editors’ Choice Award resulted in a tie between Crysteel Mfg., Lake Crystel, Minn., and Rostra Precision Controls, Lauringburg, N.C., for Crysteel’s ProMax Super Dump and Rostra’s Rearsight™/Passive Rear Camera System. For more details, visit “Industry Marketplace” on NTEA.com and click on “The Work Truck Show.”

“We strongly expect that next year’s event in Atlanta, Ga., will be even more successful,” said Robert Green, 2006 convention chairman. “In fact, to accommodate requests for exhibit space, we recently significantly increased floor space for The Work Truck Show 2006.”

Part of the growing demand for floor space comes from new exhibitors. Eighty-one companies were first-time Work Truck Show exhibitors in 2005. “While we maintain a solid base of exhibitors that have gotten excellent results from the show year after year, we are also attracting a growing number of companies that recognize the unique opportunities The Work Truck Show offers to reach a wide range of high-ranking decision-makers in the industry,” said Jim Carney, NTEA executive director.

Other Work Truck Show 2005 highlights included:

• North America’s largest gathering of vocational trucks and transportation equipment from Classes 1 through 8.
• Former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole delivering the keynote address on March 3.
• More than 30 industry-specific training and educational sessions including a day-and-a-half Fleet Management Symposium.
• Exhibits from 12 of the world's leading truck chassis manufacturers. Seven presented informational update sessions on chassis specifications, design and body installation.

The Work Truck Show 2006 and 42nd Annual NTEA Convention will be held Feb. 28 through March 3, 2006 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Ga. Registration for The Work Truck Show 2006 opens in October 2005.

Established in 1964, the NTEA is the leading association supporting the $98.3 billion commercial truck and transportation equipment industry. The association currently represents nearly 1,600 companies that manufacture, distribute, install, sell and repair commercial trucks, truck bodies, truck equipment, trailers and accessories. Buyers of work trucks and the major commercial truck chassis manufacturers also belong to the association. For more information about the NTEA, call 800/441-6832.