Work Truck Week returns with record-setting attendance

Work Truck Week returned to the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis welcoming a verified 14,885 industry professionals.

The turnout is a new record for North America’s largest work truck event, representing a 17 per cent attendance increase compared to last year.

Held in March, Work Truck Week includes The Work Truck Show, Green Truck Summit and Ride & Drive. The event has been produced annually by NTEA, the association for the Work Truck Industry, since 2000.

The Green Truck Summit, the advanced fuels and vehicle technology conference, sold out for the second year in a row, with about 1,000 attendees. As well, the New Exhibitor Pavilion returned for the first time since 2020.

“The work truck industry has a long history of evolving and innovating to keep the world moving,” said Steve Carey, NTEA president and CEO.

“This was clearly demonstrated at Work Truck Week 2023 where we had some exhibiting companies marking business milestones of a century or more while others were just getting started. Attendees were able to reflect on where we’ve been while looking to the future through exhibits and educational programming featuring the movement toward electrification, as well as the latest developments in vehicle equipment and components emphasizing productivity and safety.”

Electric introductions

As the industry’s transition to electric power accelerates, electric trucks dominated the new vehicles on display at the show, including the launch of eight commercial EVs, as well as associated auxiliary power solutions, bodies and equipment.

Isuzu Commercial Truck of America and Hino Trucks used Work Truck Week 2023 to announce their first all-electric trucks, Isuzu’s N-Series EV and Hino’s M5e and L6e.

As well, Mack Trucks unveiled its first electric vehicle in the medium-duty segment, the Mack MD Electric. Shyft Group revealed the new Blue Arc Class 5 All Electric Crew Cab, while Ideanomics and VIA Motors introduced the VTRUX electric work truck.

Workhorse Group pulled the silk from its new W56 zero-emission step van. JB Poindexter & Co business units announced several new products and developments, including Project ZEVX, an EAVX, Reading Truck and ZEVX electric concept.

The all-electric C250 postal truck, developed by Morgan Olson for Canada Post, was also on display at the show.

The Knapheide Manufacturing Company marked its 175th anniversary at Work Truck Week with a heritage display of vehicles from its past alongside its current truck body lineup.

“Our booth highlighting our heritage vehicles was the talk of the show. Everyone in attendance celebrated our 175th anniversary throughout the week with us,” said Mandar Dighe, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Knapheide. “I’m proud of the entire Knapheide team. Our presence further reinforced our leadership position in the work truck industry.”

Work Truck Week returns to Indiana Convention Center in 2024 from March 5 to 8.