A number of truck drivers will come out of retirement for a day to be ambassadors at the Tyre General GT Radial Trucking 2014 event being held at Wigram Airforce museum on October 11.
“As the wheels roll from all over NZ to converge in Christchurch, the old truckers will be getting ready to be our ambassadors for the day,” says NZ Trucking Association executive officer Carol McGready.
“They will be on hand at Trucking 2014 to answer any questions, take gold coin donations, and they will be delighted to share their stories with the visiting public.
“Their transport experiences need to be shared and what better place than a grand show such as this,” says McGeady.
More than 80 trade displays will be showing the latest in technology, supplies, and services in the event hall at Wigram Air Force Museum.
Outside onto the tarmac it’s all about trucks. From the big rigs that roll up and down the country side to the vintage trucks which have been restored lovingly to original conditions and everything in between.
Working displays will include cranes, trailers, and a logging truck which is going to be loading and unloading logs.
The stars of the show will be the truckers driving their rigs to the show and will line them up (in a straight line) along the tarmac.
More than 250 have confirmed so far but organisers hope to exceed that number and make this the biggest show and shine yet.
Organisers are using this event to highlight the qualifications and career opportunities in the industry. The new “road transport career hub” is a dedicated area for the career agencies, as well as companies that provide driver training, and companies who are looking to recruit, including the newly formed initiative WiRT (women in road transport).
Companies can post their situations vacant on the employment towers, and members of the public can post situations wanted at no charge.
Promoting a safe way for cycles and trucks to share the road, the Cycle Safety team will have a practical demonstration where the cyclists can actually get into a truck and see what the truckie’s see and the truckie’s can ride a bike around the truck to see what the cyclists sees.
Organisers say that getting the two parties together to understand each other’s issues will save lives.
Free blood pressure checks from Canterbury Rural Health are a way it can engage with the truckies to encourage them to review their health regularly.
On the Friday before the show, a mini convoy of trucks will pick up children from Ronald McDonald house and Child Cancer and take them for a ride. A collection of various trucks including a tanker, dump truck, line haul truck, vintage truck and more.
Public entry to Trucking 2014 is minimum gold coin donation and all proceeds are going to two charities for the day being Ronald McDonald House and Child Cancer Canterbury. A charity auction will also be held at the dinner that evening which rounds off the event.
