The Mid-America Trucking Show kicks off in less than a week, and there will be plenty for attendees to see and participate in.
For owner-operators and company drivers looking to gain an upper hand in business and work, and learn more about various aspects of trucking, the MATS Pro Talks Education Series is back with dozens of sessions throughout the three-day event, March 27-29. A full schedule can be viewed here on the MATS website.
Fans of custom trucks will of course have plenty to see with the PKY Truck Beauty Championship. Trucks competing for glory in numerous categories will be parked out in front of the Kentucky Expo Center in Lot N. All badged MATS attendees can walk around the show truck lot and get views of some of the premier show trucks from across North America.
As part of the PKY Truck Championship, the MATS Big Rig Build-Off is also returning this year, featuring five custom truck builders.
Truckers who drive their rigs to the show can park in the MATS Truck Parking Community, located at 1032 Phillips Lane directly across from the Kentucky Expo Center main gate. There will be a free shuttle to and from the Expo Center during show hours. At the hospitality tent in the parking lot, Mudflap is offering free coffee and espresso drinks from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Before the Friday night concert featuring Colt Ford and Tony Justice, Fistful of Tacos will be offering tacos and nachos on the lot from 5:30-7 p.m., free to the first 400 guests.
[Related: Get ready: Join us at MATS to honor Trucker of the Year Alan Kitzhaber]
Beyond events hosted by MATS organizers, a number of exhibitors will also be hosting events for truckers to take part in, including giveaways and more.
Shell Rotella. At Booth No. 34180 in the Central Hall, Shell Rotella has planned an immersive experience featuring interactive activities, special guests and giveaways celebrating the trucking community.
The company will offer an interactive touchscreen table that showcases its products and hosts giveaways throughout the show.
A Shell Rotella SuperRigs Calendar truck will also be on display in the booth.
Kevin Benson’s 2023 Peterbilt 389, one of the standout trucks in the 2025 SuperRigs calendar, will be front and center.Shell Rotella
Shell is also bringing a number of trucking social media personalities to its booth during the event, including the Boston Trucker, Clarissa Rankin, and Tarik Al-Amin II, who will share live updates and interact with fans throughout the show.
Additionally, on Thursday from 1-5 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., attendees can step into the Shell Rotella Recording Studio to thank a trucker or share their own story. For every “Thank-a-Trucker” video captured, Shell Rotella and Love’s Travel Stops will each donate $20 to the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund, with a goal of raising up to $5,000.
[Related: Tony Justice: Top billing at MATS, honoring a mother's legacy, prospects for new record]
St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund. During the MATS Opening Reception on Thursday from 6-7:30 p.m., a silent auction and 50/50 raffle will benefit SCF. The reception is open to all badged attendees to connect over drinks, food, live entertainment and activities.
The silent auction will feature a variety of unique items, with all proceeds benefiting St. Christopher.
At the St. Christopher booth, No. 40648, a $1 donation will give attendees a chance to “Spin the Wheel” to win prizes from the Roadpro Family of Brands, Sapp Bros., Konexial, Progressive Commercial and OOIDA.
Heatso. The Heatso U.S. distributor of the Fresco 9000 MaXX electric auxiliary air-conditioning unit is offering a 10% discount on the units for a limited time. Interested truck owners can stop by their booth, No. 11168, to get a look at the system.
Hear more about the system from 2024 Overdrive Small Fleet Champ finalist Jamie Hagen, who was among the first U.S. operators to install the system, in this Overdrive Radio edition:
[Related: Open to all MATS attendees, reception with free food, drinks, live music kicks things off]
Mother Trucker Yoga. Mother Trucker Yoga, led by founder & CEO Hope Zvara, is revolutionizing trucker health at MATS 2025 with Road-Ready Yoga. Zvara aims to enhance trucker welfare with simple exercises and strategies using her exclusive 15-Minute Wellness Method and book, Trucking Yoga Simple Fitness for the Long Haul. New programs for CDL schools and fleets will also debut, designed to integrate wellness into the trucking culture. Visit Zvara’s booth, No. 37562, for engaging demos, wellness products, and the launch of new programs.
Hear Zvara's story in part in the following Overdrive Radio edition, when Long Haul Paul Marhoefer caught up with her at MATS in 2023:
Right Weigh. The purveyor and developer of onboard load scale technology will showcase its Bluetooth-enabled 202 In-Dash Digital and 201 Spring/Air Hybrid Suspension onboard load scales, which the company said deliver accurate axle group weight readings for improved load management and compliance. Right Weigh will be in Booth No. 13156.
RealTruck RoadWorks. In Booth No. 16120, the custom supplier will showcase its new HALO GLOW LEDs for watermelon lights featuring its new patented FM180 bullet plugs, HALO GLOW LEDs for license plates, rolled end bumpers, ICON RXT recessed license plate adapters, and a wide range of Peterbilt 589 accessories, including the patented Silent Shifter, cab and sleeper panels, visors, bumpers and more.
Find more from our MATS preview coverage and past years' happenings, too, via this link.
[Related: Five custom truck builders to compete for $25K in MATS Build-Off]
