New Zealand’s largest truck industry show is set to get even bigger with a record number of registrations rolling in.
The TMC Trailers Trucking Industry Show is taking place at Canterbury Agricultural Park, Christchurch, from March 20-21.
Show manager Rebecca Dinmore says more space has been made available for exhibitors and trucks due to the strong demand. Visitor numbers are also expected to exceed the 2018 show.
The NZ Trucking Association’s small team organise and run the show on the day which has evolved to be much more than a truck and trade show.
“The secret to the show’s success is the affordable cost for exhibitors and the public to attend.
“Kids 18 and under are free to enter and all the activities are free, so it makes it a fun, affordable day out for the whole family,” Dinmore says.
The 2020 show will see the introduction of five national industry competitions which are attracting a lot of interest.
The TR Group New Zealand Truck Driving Championships are on during the show. Truck drivers from all over New Zealand will travel to Christchurch to compete in one of three categories: Truck and Trailer, Tractor-Semi or the Eroad Class 2. An overall winner will be selected to be the NZ Truck Driver of the Year 2020. Prize packs of $5,000 are up for grabs for each of the driving competition categories and special recognition awards include the TR Group Young Driver of the Year and the VTNZ Women Driver of the Year.
The first ever crane competition sponsored by Liebherr is taking place with Titan, Smiths and Calder Stewart facing off to find New Zealand’s best operator. The competition will be based on a health and safety training course. The Mimico Excavator Championships will be showcasing real life excavation, digging trenches and doing a level house pad. The winner will receive $1,000 cash and an all-inclusive, week-long trip to Japan including Kobelco Factory tours as part of an amazing prize pack. Kids will be able to have a go in a small excavator.
Hyundai Forklift Championships is going to be based on overseas competitions that are interesting to watch and compete in. The Tyre-Technician Championships will be teams of two changing tyres on a stationary tractor unit and must show a high level of health and safety while doing the task.
Exhibitors have taken huge spaces to display their trucks, equipment and services with exciting new product launches on display. The Heartland Bank Lawn will be a place to relax near the food court. Heartland Bank have generously sponsored the Cash Grab activity. Spin the giant wheel and if you land on a Cash Grab segment you will have seven seconds in the inflatable money machine to grab as much cash as you can.
The stars of the show are the UDC Show & Shine Trucks features on the Saturday. Upwards of 300 trucks are expected to travel from all around New Zealand, as a record number have already registered. Discounted shipping across Cook Strait has been sponsored by Interislander.
Careers Transport 2020 is a huge focus to attract young people but it’s also an opportunity for people that are considering a pathway or job change to take advantage of this day and come along to talk to companies about careers.
Scania New Zealand is making sure that every student in out-lying Canterbury areas can get to the Careers Day by running Scania buses as far north as Kaikoura and south as Timaru.
Have your Say! Is a new idea that the team from NZ Trucking Association are setting up. An area is being set up where boards will display topical subjects around transport. Visitors will be able to rate what is important and what is less important. Have a Chat! sessions will be attended by Road Transport Forum chief executive Nick Leggett.
The idea is to gauge the mood and feelings of the industry at the show and to confirm that the highly important issues are being discussed or changes implemented. So, make sure you drop by and have your say.
The event will round off at the Teletrac Navman Industry Show Dinner and Awards Ceremony that is being held in the Riding for the Disabled Arena.
*The event is $10 entry and children 18 and under are free. All proceeds are donated to charity. Email Rebecca.dinmore@nztruckingassn.co.nz or go to truckingindustryshow.co.nz for more information.
