The Veteran’s View: By Dennis Mitchell It’s that time already, so listen up. Do your team research, plan your strong points, get ready to move out, pick your team and place your bets. It’s time for March Madness! No, I’m not going to write about basketball or sports, but I would like to use this opportunity to poke some fun and introduce you to a few of my favorite “teams” as we get ready for the “big game” in the world of trucking, held every year in Louisville, Kentucky, for over five decades. First on the list of the teams in truckin’ are the Texas Peterbilts (out of Denton, Texas), the Ohio Kenworths (of Chillicothe, Ohio), and our own North Carolina Freightliners (out of Cleveland, North Carolina). I would be remiss not to mention the ever popular cross-border teams from Escobedo, Mexico (Navistar of North America), and the titans of the north, previously from Kelowna, British Columbia (now from Portland, Oregon), the Western Stars. The final team to the party is one of the late bloomers from across the pond – they may be late to the American scene, but they have taken the industry by storm, so please welcome the Volvos from Dublin, Virginia. These teams are all going to go head-to-head in Louisville, Kentucky again this year at the Mid-America Trucking Show on March 26-28, 2026, competing for the “Most Favored Brand” title. There should be plenty of the newest members to their squads on the floor for inspection and review, along with the coaching staff, to answer your questions. In the past few years there have been a few of the older generations of trucks in the mix there, too. They have been displayed with the American Truck Historical Society (ATHS) and parked throughout the convention center in various booths, as well. I’m sure I disappointed a few of you hardcore sports enthusiasts out there by mentioning truck brands instead of college b-ball teams. Sorry, I’m just not into all that. If I could have my wish for a sporting contest (trucker style) it would look more like a technology and design competition, pitted between some of the brightest stars in transportation today. I will refrain from naming a few of them since there are many, and I wouldn’t want to miss someone. However, the opportunity still exists, as many of them will be on hand and available to answer questions from the public, all weekend during the show hours. Bring yourself and a load of friends or associates to the largest show of its kind right here in the center of everything. Don’t be afraid to bring the younger set, as well. I’ve written in years past, if you cannot find what you are looking for at MATS, held at the Kentucky Expo Center, it most likely isn’t that important. The event will have everything from show trucks (inside and outside) to work boots, from sleeper essentials (mattresses) to hand cleaners. Not only do they have the products there and available for purchase, but if you are an informed operator, there are some great savings to be found, too, when purchasing factory direct. Don’t worry if you are pressed for space on the return trip home, because there are plenty of opportunities to get it shipped from the manufacturer. Who knows, if you make the right friends while your attending this convention, they might even offer to deliver it for you. I don’t think I have missed more than a few MATS shows since I bought my first truck in 1989. Over that time, I have watched the transformation of our industry from freight hauling into transportation logistics (a reference to last month’s column). If you go back to the late 1970s or early 1980s, freight was 46 10-4 Magazine / March 2026 MORE MARCH MADNESS
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjA1MjUy