The Work Truck Show is happening in just a couple of weeks, March 4-6, at the McCormick Place West Building in Chicago, Ill., bringing together new vocational trucks, equipment and related products from more than 440 companies across 500,000 sf of exhibit space.

The
educational component provides more than 40 industry-specific training
courses, including several in-depth special sessions like “Green Truck
Summit” and “Fleet Management Symposium”.



More
than 60 companies—including Dodge, Ford Commercial Truck, International
Truck, Miller Electric Mfg. Co., Nissan North America and Supreme
Corp.—have announced they will be introducing new products at the show.



Among
the show’s highlights is the Green Truck Summit, sponsored by
International Truck, which provides up-to-date information on hybrid
and alternative fuel options for work trucks. The summit promises to be
the “industry’s foremost education forum for real-world application of
the green revolution as it impacts commercial trucks”.



During
show hours on March 4 and 5, show attendees can test drive new hybrid
and alternative fuel commercial vehicles as part of the Green Truck
Ride-and-Drive. Participation is free and sign-up is available onsite
for up to 12 vehicles, including the:



• Unicel Quicksider electric walk-in

• Ford E-350 CNG (compressed natural gas) van

• International 4300 PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) utility (in photo)

• FCCC MT-55 hydraulic hybrid walk-in

• Freightliner H2E electric hybrid

• Chevrolet Silverado dual-mode electric hybrid pickup



Among
the symposia and seminars, there’s the aforementioned “Fleet Management
Symposium” designed exclusively for fleet and shop managers. The
full-day program focuses on financial and operational practices that
can reduce costs while increasing shop labour productivity.



The Work
Truck Show draws thousands of fleet managers, truck dealers, equipment
distributors, upfitters and manufacturers from throughout North America
and beyond to check out the work truck industry’s latest product and
technology developments, get expert advice and learn how to improve
their operations for Classes 1-8 vocational trucks and equipment. (Appeared EB February 2009, Vehicles & Accessories)



CLICK HERE or the top photo to check it out.