Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025:
MATS Opening Reception returns with free food, drinks, more
The Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) is bringing back its Opening Reception for the 2025 show.
Scheduled for Thursday, March 27, at 6 p.m. in the South Wing Lobby A and South Wing Room B101 of the Kentucky Exposition Center, this event will set the stage for three days of inspiration, collaboration, and entertainment for the trucking industry, show organizers said.
Made possible by the sponsorship of Triumph and Wex, the Opening Reception will feature an evening of networking, celebration, tradition, and fun. Attendees can look forward to free drinks and food, live entertainment, a silent auction for charity, and more. The event is free to all badged attendees.
The Opening Reception offers a dynamic lineup of activities designed to engage participants and foster networking opportunities:
- Silent auction: St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund will be hosting a silent auction at the event, featuring many unique items, with all proceeds going towards charity.
- Bourbon tasting: Experience the rich flavors of Kentucky’s finest bourbons through an immersive tasting experience. Free activity tickets are required and can be obtained from event sponsors Triumph (Booth #37301) and Wex (Booth #18068) during show hours on Thursday.
- Wall of Fame induction: The newest inductees into the MATS Wall of Fame will be honored as individuals who have made significant contributions to the trucking industry. Nominations for the Class of 2025 can be submitted online here.
- Complimentary food and beer: Complimentary beer will be provided by the event’s sponsors with free drink tickets available from Triumph and Wex during Thursday’s show hours. Free food will also be available in South Wing Room B101 during reception hours.
- Craft beer tasting: Explore Louisville’s vibrant craft beer scene with tastings from local breweries, guided by the Louisville Ale Trail. Participating breweries include Monnik, Hometown, Against The Grain, and Hi-Wire. Free activity tickets are required and can also be obtained from event sponsors Triumph and Wex during show hours on Thursday.
- Live music: Celebrate the spirit of trucking with a live, on-stage performance by Bourbon Revival during the Opening Reception.
[Related: Five custom truck builders to compete for $25K at MATS]
$1.6 million in cocaine found in soft-drink load
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers at the Roma International Bridge cargo facility in Texas seized $1.6 million in cocaine concealed within a tractor-trailer.
Packages containing 120.15 pounds of cocaine were seized by CBP officers at the Roma Port of Entry.U.S. Customs and Border Protection
CBP OFO turned the truck, narcotics and driver over to Roma Police Department, who arrested the driver and initiated a criminal investigation.
Volvo Autonomous Solutions, Waabi partnering for autonomous truck development
Volvo Autonomous Solutions has entered into a strategic partnership with generative AI developer Waabi for the joint development and deployment of autonomous trucks.
“At Waabi, we believe that vertically integrating next-generation AI technology directly into an OEM’s vehicle production is the path forward to bring safe, robust autonomous vehicles to the road, at scale,” said Raquel Urtasun, Founder and CEO of Waabi. “Volvo’s leadership in safety, commitment to excellence in engineering, and investment in forward looking innovation makes them an ideal partner to realize the future of self-driving trucks everywhere.”
Through the partnership, Volvo and Waabi are vertically integrating Waabi's virtual driver system, the Waabi Driver, into the Volvo VNL Autonomous, Volvo’s autonomous truck with redundant systems for enabling safe autonomous operations. The Volvo VNL Autonomous will be produced at Volvo’s flagship New River Valley assembly plant, the company said, and is based on Volvo’s autonomous technology platform, supporting diverse operational needs, use cases, and Volvo Group truck brands.
Waabi and Volvo said they are committed to autonomous transportation solutions that prioritize safety, efficiency and sustainability to tackle the challenges facing today’s transportation industry. Waabi’s next-generation AV2.0 approach enables autonomous trucks that can safely generalize to different scenarios on the road. The companies are ultimately hopeful for broad commercial deployment.
“Waabi is at the forefront of developing self-driving technologies leveraging the full power of AI,” said Shahrukh Kazmi, Chief Product Officer at Volvo Autonomous Solutions. “We are excited to integrate Waabi's cutting-edge technology into our autonomous truck platform and work together to jointly develop a safe, efficient, and scalable autonomous transport solution."
[Related: Will autonomous trucks displace drivers? Congress holds hearings on impacts]
Canadian driver honored for helping stranded motorist in snowstorm
The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has named truck driver Mohsen Baniyaghoub, from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, a Highway Angel for stopping to help a woman when her battery was dead in the middle of a massive snowstorm in Pennsylvania. Baniyaghoub drives for Kriska Holdings Ltd. out of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
Mohsen Baniyaghoub
“It was crazy snowing,” he said. “There was another truck driver there who said he couldn’t open the hood,” referring to the hood of the woman’s car.
Baniyaghoub got it open and discovered her battery was dead and had a buildup of battery corrosion on the terminals. He went back to his truck and fired up his kettle to bring water to a boil, then went back to the car, kettle in hand, and cleaned the battery terminals of the corrosion buildup.
Another car provided the jump for her battery, and Baniyaghoub instructed the driver how to save her battery power until it started to charge up.
“I can’t forget the woman’s phrase after we started her car,” Baniyaghoub said. “She was crying and told me, ‘Bless you, bless you.’”
