MATS
 

Anyone going to MATS? I made my hotel reservations the other day and ordered my tickets. I wanted to go last year but couldn't make it so hopefully it works out this year.

To those who have went before, are the seminars they have worth going to? I was thinking of taking advantage of them. Any other tips or tricks?

Fire away!

I am going to try and go. I'll know when it gets closer.

I had hoped to go last year, but something came up at the last minute. I suppose we can try again this year. I would make a list of the most important things you want to see. It is difficult to get around to everything. I am sure the seminars will be worthwhile.

Good deal, hey seeins that your from NY you can swing by and pick up me and maryland kw, that way we save on fuel money, since we don't have to buy any. You're going that way anyway right?

Try to have some snacks and drinks handy when you pick us up ok?

:lol: :lol:

Thanks G. They do post the seminar topics on the website but there not up yet. I do hope they would be worthwhile, I'd like to soak up as much information as I can before my truck turns a wheel.

I was gonna wait till February before I bumped this thread but it's close enough.

Anybody make up their mind yet?

We might try and go. I'm in the market for some new gadgets :lol:

Now that you bumped it up, I see you guys need a ride. I have a day cab, so unless somebody is sitting on the 5th wheel :shock: , we ain't gona fit. :D

did you register for the big rig giveaway?

Yeah, I'll put my wife back there, that should keep the noise down some. :lol: :lol: She ever sees that statement I'm a dead man. :shock:

I didn't see anything about a giveaway ICS, I'll go look on their website. I haven't got my tickets in the mail yet either but it's early yet.

MATS
 

I've been to MATS a couple times over the years. It's in Mercer's back yard and they treat their O/Os pretty good. Never went to a seminar though.
A program with the layout of the show will be priceless if you can get one prior to going. Pick the stuff you want to see and develop a plan just like a road trip.There's so much to see and just wandering around wastes a LOT of time. Be ready for many,many,many people. Saturday, John Q. Public usually comes adding to the throngs.
Not a big people person, if you couldn't tell.

I just noticed this post after I started a new one. For someone considering entering the industry at some point, anything in particular I should check out? I don't want to really wander around aimlessly. Thanks

Oh..and hotels are getting booked FAST. I wound up booking a room about 20 miles north.

Re: MATS
 

I don't mind John Q. Public being there but what bugs me is him his wife and that big ass wagon he is pulling his kids around in and then they stand In the middle of the isle, not off to one side, right in the middle. Other than that my wife have enjoyed going for the last 6 years.

Well at least she will keep you warm sitting on the fifth wheel cause you know I am riding in the cab :)

Dammit! I forgot to call shotgun. Oh well, I'll be closer to the keg. :lol:

Bout a week and a half away, who's going?

In order to save some money on fuel I'm leaving a day earlier than planned and am making the wife push the p/up the first 75 miles. :lol: :lol:

If I can find a suitable hotel, we're going.

here is that link to the truck giveaway. I guess it was harder to find than i thought through the MATS web site. I just ended up doing a search. so here is the link.
https://www.greatamericantrucker.com/

Would love to make it this year and to meet many of y'all but I'll be back in Florida for a couple of weeks with some V.I.P. :D

I registered for it after your last post ICS. Thank you for the heads up. If I win it though, I'm selling it. Be a nice little cash reserve. 8)

It's funny, in the last week I've had a chance to talk to two local truck owners and it turns out that both are going to MATS.

The one guy was real nice to talk too. I ducked into a shopping center behind him when I realized he had a 85' 359. Mines an 84, and I was having a hell of a time finding an electrical tach to replace my mechanical one. I wanted to see what he had or if he had replaced his with an electrical one and where he got it. Long story short, he told me where to go and sure enough they can hook me up. I'm going to wait till after the truck show just in case I find one cheaper. The price I got for the gauge and the accessories needed to hook it up was about 300. Also, his mechanic just retired and he was looking for a new one, so I gave him my mechanics number. He was a CAT mechanic for 23 years now has his own shop. Always nice when people help others. :D

I think i would do the same thing, after I take it for at least one good round trip. Might as well travel in style for a couple hundred miles in my career. But the chances of that are pretty slim, but "hey you never know"

If anyone is interested in meeting up and grabbing a beer or even a meal in the evening we can exchange numbers. That is of coarse, if you don't mind being seen with a "contractor." I'll walk ten paces behind and no direct eye contact.