Sign of the Times

Jan. 29, 2009
PACCAR pulls out of Mid-America Truck Show
This week, in what is surely a sign of the times, Kenworth and Peterbilt, the two American truck brands of PACCAR, Inc., announced that they would not have exhibits at the Mid-America Truck Show (MATS) in Louisville, KY, perhaps the biggest truck show in the country. So what, you say? This is like the NFL bowing out of the Superbowl, or Madonna taking a pass on the Grammies, or Matt Kenseth skipping the Daytona 500. It's just not done. What's really scary is that MATS is still two months away as I write this, and as there's not much hope of the economy turning itself around in the next eight weeks, it's a pretty sure guess that PACCAR's announcement will just be the first of many. MATS is one of the busiest weeks of the year for a trucking editor; there are press conferences and press events running from dawn 'til dusk. That's in a normal year. This year, who knows? It could be a long, slow week in Kentucky...

About the Author

Mark O'Connell | Fleet Maintenance contributor

Sponsored Recommendations

Ask the Experts: Boost Profitability by Capturing Body Repair Materials Billables

Quality body repairs on medium- and heavy-duty trucks depend on the use of specialized adhesives, sealers, and other allied materials. Unfortunately, many shops face challenges...

Fleet Maintenance E-Book

Streamline your fleet's maintenance and improve operations with the Guide for Managing Maintenance. Learn proven strategies to reduce downtime, optimize in-house and third-party...

Celebrating Your Drivers Can Prove to be Rewarding For Your Business

Learn how to jumpstart your driver retention efforts by celebrating your drivers with a thoughtful, uniform-led benefits program by Red Kap®. Uniforms that offer greater comfort...

Guide To Boosting Technician Efficiency

Learn about the bottom line and team building benefits of increasing the efficiency of your technicians in your repair shop.