Every year tens of thousands of people flock to the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville, KY for the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS), one of the largest heavy duty trucking shows in the world. This year, the show was held March 30 to April 1, and with that brought mild weather by comparison to previous years. This is the show to see all things trucking, and for most, it is also the start of truck show season.
If you have never been, this event should be on your bucket list to attend. I attended MATS for the first time in 2001 when I didn’t know truck shows were actually a thing across the country. With all the vendors in each wing, the purchase of a t-shirt I bought just because it said, “If it don’t shine it ain’t mine,” and the wow factor of the trucks lined up in the show lot, I was like a kid in a candy shop that first year! Fast forward to attending for the third time in 2016, and I was disappointed to find out America’s Truck Wash & Chrome Shop was no longer in business so I couldn’t purchase a couple more of the previously mentioned t-shirts.
This year, I arrived in Louisville on Saturday evening and came to the grounds Sunday morning to meet up with JC Alt (show director). I was also able to help Debbie Alt, Jackie Friend, and Cheri Kimball in an assembly line plan to get all of the registration packets together. We definitely lucked out with the weather, with Cheri and I outside all day Monday through Wednesday, taking pictures of the competitors as they arrived and got parked. It was beautiful during the day, and we couldn’t have asked for better weather at night, too. Besides enduring a sunburn on my face from Monday (forgot my sunscreen), the nice weather made for an enjoyable event (besides the rain on Friday).
We at 10-4 Magazine, separately or collectively, have attended MATS each year since 2003. Our first year, we shared a booth space with our great friends at Double JJ Enterprises. Each year, we see some amazing trucks, from all over the country, taking part in the outdoor Paul K. Young (PKY) Truck Championship. We have participated as an exhibitor for many years as a way to meet our readers and provide swag for our supporters.
This year we had lots of help at the 10-4 Magazine booth with Dan and Shannon Linss, Eric Hill, Tim Sieben, John Testa (in between his gathering of video content from the show), Frank Strohmyer, and Paul Kittle. Kim and John Jaikes even helped with setup on Wednesday prior to the show starting. I would love to help with the 10-4 booth, but yearly commitments have prevented that from happening, so I cheer them on behind the scenes and catch up over meals during the show.
In our booth this year, we also had a special guest named Trent Van Bronkhorst from Michigan, who brought his totally custom CNC machined model of a 1980 Kenworth K100 cabover hooked to a 1999 Great Dane spread-axle reefer trailer he made, which was featured in our February 2023 issue. Everyone loved seeing this “metal marvel” in person! Trent was awesome, answering questions and talking with people all weekend. Thank you to Trent from the entire 10-4 crew for joining us (and your family, too)!
After the booth was set up and I finished my part of photographing the registered trucks, we gathered for dinner before the judging of the trucks entered in the light classes began. Wednesday is the best night to photograph the trucks with lights since the show officially kicks off the next day for spectators. I was in charge of designing the 2023-2024 calendar and the awards presentation PowerPoint, which meant I needed pictures of all the trucks entered for lights. A big thank you and shout out goes to Dan, Eric, and Frank for their help, as the four of us went through and photographed them all on Wednesday night. Plus, the photos for this report were taken by a group of us including the above three, me, and Tim Sieben.
Thursday came and marked the opening day for MATS 2023. Over in the 10-4 Magazine booth (#11268) in the North Wing, Team 10-4 was super busy handing out free magazines, posters, and centerfolds, along with selling hats and a brand new t-shirt featuring our March 2023 (and March 2003) cover truck owned by Mike Maggini – a yellow 2-axle Peterbilt 379 with green flames. This shirt proved to be very popular! We will have it available at most of the shows we attend this year in case you didn’t get a chance to get one.
We all managed to get together as a team for our annual dinner on Friday evening with 15 of our friends at the Black Olive Italian Restaurant (the old Cardinal Cafe which we all miss). After dinner, we all parted ways and I headed back to the hotel to finish the PowerPoint presentation for the awards ceremony
the next morning. It remained very windy through the night and rain came through, but it was gone by the morning. However, the heavy wind remained, but other than that, the temperature was nice, and the sun was out.
To close out the truck show portion of MATS 2023, the awards ceremony was held Saturday morning. It was fun to see the reactions of those who won and the cheering that went on. This year, a new award was introduced which was the Troy “The Legend” Huddleston Award, and the Huddleston family presented the award to Zach Curry with his blue 2016 Peterbilt 389. The last award was People’s Choice, and it was given to Cody Warner with his beautiful two-tone green 2022 Peterbilt 389 hooked to a 2018 MAC dump trailer.
I usually get asked what my favorite trucks are at the shows, and it is usually hard to pick just one. This year, one truck caught my eyes and turned them misty, along with a lump in my throat – a 1995 Freightliner FLC. The nostalgia and emotions weren’t just felt by me, but by everyone who either saw Troy Huddleston’s truck come into the prep lot or parked on the show lot.
Spectator and competitor favorites were Rolan Nolt’s brown 1995 W900 hooked to a matching 2014 Great Dane Super Seal (this rig earned the NAST Best of Show Combo, Best of Show Limited Mileage Combo, and Limited Mileage Best Engine awards). This truck was as nice on the inside as it was on the outside! Another big winner was Conrad Shada with his purple 389 (this truck earned the NAST Best of Show Bobtail, PKY Best Use of Chrome, Limited Mileage Bobtail Best Paint/Graphics, and Best of Show Limited Mileage Bobtail W/No Miles awards). Conrad really cleaned house. His attention to detail with every intricate piece of his truck and how clean he got it was not overlooked by the judges.
Austin Duffield brought in a sharp black 2023 Peterbilt 389 and Andrew Reed of Lewis Transfer had a good lookin’ setup with his white with red stripes 2007 Peterbilt 379 and matching covered wagon. Another standout truck was AJ Frankie’s viper red and amplify orange 1985 Peterbilt 359 that took first place in Working Trucking Interior Aftermarket Sleeper, Mark Aragon out of Colorado brought in an eye-catching antifreeze green 2003 Peterbilt 379, and Earl Chapman of Texas brought in one fine 359 painted up silver with a dark red frame. I think it is cool to see the different and unique ideas people come up with at this show!
The custom interiors this year were definitely impressive. If you didn’t head inside, then you missed JR Schleuger’s “Bad Little B” Kenworth W900B (sitting tall in the Lifetime Nut Covers booth), because the outside looks awesome, but the interior is amazing! RoadWorks showcased their new 389 “Against The Wind” combo and the Reinsfelder booth displayed a bunch of cool rides. Many trucks took advantage of parking inside, in vendor booths, so there were plenty of trucks to see inside as well as outside.
10-4 Magazine’s John Testa made the rounds interviewing and gathering video content each day during the event, with assistance from Frank Strohmyer and Paul Kittle. Thank you from all of us at Team 10-4 to everyone that stopped by our booth and our media partners for sponsoring this year’s video coverage, including 4 State Trucks, NAST, Evan’s Detailing and Polishing, Lifetime Nut Covers, Dickerson Custom Trucks, Berry Trucking, Minimizer, Pittsburgh Power, Carpenter Custom Truck & Trailer, Hood Skinz, and Renegade Products.
If you have not watched the videos streams yet, look up our Facebook page or YouTube channel and check them out. Also, thank you to everyone that helped us in one way or another at the show including past cover truckers Ron Beer (March 2022) and Tony Huttenstine (October 2019) for transporting pallets to and from the show from California.
It always amazes me how much prep work goes on prior to attending MATS, along with what goes on during the show, but in the blink of an eye, it is Sunday, and everyone is making their way home or out with a load. All said and done, 850 vendors occupied approximately 1,000,000 square feet, there were 58,000 attendees, and over 120 trucks were registered and parked in the PKY lot. I’d say it was a pretty successful show that provided access to all things trucking. Next year’s MATS is scheduled for March 21-23, 2024. As always, to all the drivers out there doing the deal, truck safe.
WORKING BOBTAIL:
1st JT Picha (2022 Kenworth W900);
2nd Zach Curry (2016 Peterbilt 389);
3rd Brian Pete (2019 Peterbilt 389).
WORKING COMBO:
1st Matt Kelley (2017 Peterbilt 389 & 2023 Stargate);
2nd Andrew Reed (2007 Peterbilt 379 & 2012 MAC covered wagon);
3rd Jacob Price (2022 Peterbilt 389 & MAC flatbed).
NEW TRUCK BOBTAIL:
1st Brian Pete (2023 Peterbilt 389);
2nd Dakota Punches (2023 Peterbilt 389);
3rd Austin Duffield (2023 Peterbilt 389).
NEW TRUCK COMBO:
1st Keith Lance (2023 Peterbilt 389 & 2022 Great Dane van).
FIRST SHOW BOBTAIL:
1st Willie Flores Jr. (1995 Peterbilt 379);
2nd Lee Norman (2023 Peterbilt 389).
FIRST SHOW COMBO:
1st Tracey Rieks (2017 Kenworth W900L & 2021 Great Dane);
2nd Eddie Telles (2015 Peterbilt 389 & 2023 Great Dane);
3rd Brian Cobb (2019 Peterbilt 389 & 2021 Wilson Pacesetter).
ANTIQUE ORIGINAL BOBTAIL:
1st Brian Stevens (1991 Peterbilt 379);
2nd Kevin Miller (1985 Mack Superliner).
ANTIQUE CUSTOM BOBTAIL:
1st Andy Goettsch (1979 International 4070B);
2nd Kate Whiting (1973 Kenworth W900A);
3rd Ed Harwell (1988 Freightliner FLT086).
ANTIQUE ORIGINAL COMBO:
1st Greg VanderWal (1994 Kenworth W900L & 2023 Walker tanker).
ANTIQUE CUSTOM COMBO:
1st Jason Sanders (1994 Kenworth W900 & 2014 Great Dane).
COMPANY OWNED BOBTAIL OR COMBO:
1st Michael Maddox (2023 Peterbilt 389);
2nd Brian Harney (2022 Peterbilt 389 rotator);
3rd William Harris (2021 Peterbilt 567 & 2021 Walker tanker).
WORKING ENGINE:
1st Brian Pete (2019 Peterbilt 389);
2nd Jonathan Dyck (1979 Peterbilt 352);
3rd Dakota Punches (2023 Peterbilt 389).
WORKING BOBTAIL PAINT & GRAPHICS:
1st Dakota Punches (2023 Peterbilt 389);
2nd Kate Whiting (1973 Kenworth W900A);
3rd Brian Pete (2019 Pete 389).
WORKING COMBO PAINT & GRAPHICS:
1st Jason Sanders (1994 Kenworth W900 & 2014 Great Dane);
2nd Keith Lance (2023 Peterbilt 389 & 2022 Great Dane);
3rd Jayson & Josh Loyer (2004 Kenworth W900L & 2022 Wilson Generation).
WORKING BOBTAIL LIGHTS:
1st Brian Harney (2022 Peterbilt 389 rotator);
2nd Jake Arment (2022 Peterbilt 389);
3rd Philip Rindelhardt (2000 Kenworth W900L).
WORKING COMBO LIGHTS:
1st Matt Kelley (2017 Peterbilt 389 & 2023 Stargate);
2nd Jacob Price (2022 Peterbilt 389 & 2021 MAC flatbed);
3rd Cody Davis (2022 Kenworth W900L & 2023 Merritt livestock trailer).
LIMITED MILEAGE BOBTAIL WITH MILES:
1st Jamie Williams (2019 Kenworth W900L);
2nd Cody Carpenter (2000 Peterbilt 379);
3rd Matt Schreiner (1987 Peterbilt 362);
4th Adam Johnson (1994 Kenworth W900L);
5th Dustin Lopedota (1990 Peterbilt 379).
LIMITED MILEAGE BOBTAIL WITH NO MILES:
1st Conrad Shada (2020 Peterbilt 389);
2nd Eric Bauer (2022 Peterbilt 389);
3rd Bryanlee Wagner (2019 Peterbilt 389);
4th Elton Wek (2000 Peterbilt 379);
5th Dan Brubaker (2022 Peterbilt 389).
LIMITED MILEAGE COMBO:
1st Rolan Nolt (1995 Kenworth W900L & 2014 Great Dane Super Seal);
2nd Troy Massey (2014 Peterbilt 389 & 2023 Globe lowboy);
3rd Troy Massey (2023 Peterbilt 389 & Barrett livestock trailer);
4th Justin Jaegers (2023 Kenworth W900 & 2023 MAC MC331);
5th Kevin Babler (2022 Peterbilt 389 & 2021 Walker 6200 TTT).
WORKING INTERIOR CAB ONLY:
1st Jake Arment (2022 Peterbilt 389);
2nd John McCormick (2021 Kenworth W900L & 2022 MAC vac pneumatic);
3rd Dakota Punches (2023 Peterbilt 389).
WORKING INTERIOR OEM CAB & SLEEPER:
1st Andrew Winger (2004 Peterbilt 379);
2nd Earl Chapman (1984 Peterbilt 359);
3rd Cody Davis (2022 Kenworth W900L & 2023 Merritt livestock trailer).
WORKING INTERIOR CUSTOM CAB & SLEEPER:
1st AJ Frankie (1985 Peterbilt 359);
2nd Jason Akers (2000 Peterbilt 379).
BEST LIMITED MILEAGE INTERIOR:
Troy Massey (2023 Peterbilt 389 & Barrett livestock trailer).
BEST LIMITED MILEAGE ENGINE:
Rolan Nolt (1995 Kenworth W900L & 2014 Great Dane Super Seal).
BEST LIMITED MILEAGE BOBTAIL PAINT & GRAPHICS:
Conrad Shada (2020 Peterbilt 389).
BEST LIMITED MILEAGE COMBO PAINT & GRAPHICS:
Troy Massey (2014 Peterbilt 389 & 2023 Globe lowboy).
BEST LIMITED MILEAGE BOBTAIL LIGHTS WITH MILES:
Adam Johnson (1994 Kenworth W900L).
BEST LIMITED MILEAGE BOBTAIL LIGHTS NO MILES:
Bryanlee Wagner (2019 Peterbilt 389).
BEST LIMITED MILEAGE COMBO LIGHTS:
Justin Jaegers (2023 Kenworth W900 & 2023 MAC MC331).
PKY BEST USE OF CHROME BOBTAIL:
Conrad Shada (2020 Peterbilt 389).
PKY BEST USE OF CHROME COMBO:
Troy Massey (2014 Peterbilt 389 & 2023 Globe Lowboy).
JAKE EILEN MEMORIAL AWARD:
Jonathan Dyck (1979 Peterbilt 352).
RUNNIN’ LATE AWARD:
Kary Bryce (2023 Peterbilt 389X).
TROY “THE LEGEND” HUDDLESTON AWARD:
Zach Curry (2016 Peterbilt 389).
NAST BEST OF SHOW BOBTAIL:
Conrad Shada (2020 Peterbilt 389).
NAST BEST OF SHOW COMBO:
Rolan Nolt (1995 Kenworth W900L & 2014 Great Dane Super Seal).
PEOPLE’S CHOICE:
Cody Warner (2022 Peterbilt 389 & 2018 MAC dump).
