Line up, shine up: Early views from the 2023 Mid-America Trucking Show

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Updated Apr 1, 2023
Troy Huddleston's 1991 Freightliner FLC
On display near the RoadWorks truck and trailer at the PKY Truck Beauty Championship is the 1991 Freightliner FLC of the late Troy Huddleston, who passed away last summer.
Photos by Matt Cole

While the 2023 Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky, doesn't officially kick off until Thursday, you might not be able to tell that's the case walking around Lot J behind the West Wing of the Kentucky Expo Center, where the PKY Truck Beauty Championship is taking place through Saturday.

Truck owners were hard at work polishing Wednesday in preparation for judges to make their rounds for the competition, culminating with an awards ceremony Saturday morning. 

There are dozens, if not hundreds of trucks entered into the competition, ranging from at least one brand-new Peterbilt 389X and other later-model rigs to antique beauties of yesteryear. Below, find a small sampling of trucks on display at MATS.

Eagle Eye Logistics' 2023 Peterbilt 389XEagle Eye Logistics, the trucking arm of Eagle Eye Produce, is showing its brand-new 2023 Peterbilt 389X, the special-edition line of Peterbilts introduced last fall. The truck is No. 26 of 1,389 that will be built.

VTI Specialized 1956 Peterbilt 351This piece of trucking history, a 1956 Peterbilt 351, is owned by VTI Specialized and Bob and Carrie Vogel. It features a Cummins 262 with a 5&3 and 3.70 rears.

JL Gate Co.'s 2000 Peterbilt 379Jason and Laura Akers, owners of JL Gate Co. out of Greensburg, Kentucky, are showing this 2000 Peterbilt 379, "Hollywood."

JL Gate Co.'s 1995 Peterbilt 379The Akers are also showing "Kason Gates," this 1995 Peterbilt 379.

Dallmeyer Farms' 1999 International 9300This 1999 International 9300 Eagle is owned by Dallmeyer Farms.

Willie Flores Jr.'s 1995 Peterbilt 379Willie Flores Jr., owner of Black Horse Express and this 1995 Peterbilt 379, found this unit on the show circuit in Great Britain last year, bought it, and it's making its first U.S. show truck appearance this week at MATS.

Kaplan Trucking Co.'s 1985 Peterbilt 359"Cash's Hot Rod" is a 1985 Peterbilt 359 Extended Hood owned by Kaplan Trucking Co., out of Cleveland, Ohio. It features a Double Eagle sleeper and is powered by a 3406B Cat.

King of the Road monster truckThe show also features more than just traditional rigs. "King of the Road" is a 1979 Peterbilt 359 monster truck owned by Sterwerf Trucking out of Hamilton, Ohio. It was built in the mid-'80s in Wyoming, Indiana.

Stay tuned to Overdrive throughout the rest of the week for more Custom Rigs and other content from the 2023 Mid-America Trucking Show.

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