More space has been made available, as The TMC Trailers Trucking Industry Show has received record entries and registrations from exhibitors and trucks for the UDC Show & Shine event. The show has evolved to be much more than just a truck and trade show and visitor numbers are are expected to exceed the 2018 show.

The small team at the NZ Trucking Association organise and run the show on the day. “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,” says show manager Rebecca Dinmore. 

The 2020 show will see the introduction of five national industry competitions that are attracting a lot of interest. The TR Group New Zealand Truck Driving Championship will run 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 chosen as the NZ Truck Driver of the Year 2020. Prize packs of $5000 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 Woman 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 Championship will be showcasing real life excavation, digging trenches and doing a level house pad. The winner will receive $1000 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. 

The Hyundai Forklift Championship is going to be based on overseas competitions that are interesting to watch and compete in. The Tyre-Technician Championship 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.

All kids‘ activities are free, and these include the MEGA Bouncy Truck obstacle course, Trucking Mini Golf, the Giant Sandpit filled with treasure, Remote Control Toy Trucks, and the Valvoline Road Safety Track where you can ride a scooter or a cool pedal go-kart.

It‘s a celebration of the professional truck drivers and a showcase of the industry. Exhibitors have booked large areas to display their trucks, equipment and services. Look out for exciting new product launches!

The Heartland Bank Lawn will be a nice place to relax near the food court. Heartland Bank has 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 on the Saturday.

Upwards of 300 trucks are expected to travel from all around New Zealand, as a record number have already registered. Interislander has sponsored discounted shipping across Cook Strait. The number of registrations of Classic Trucks has meant more space has been allocated to accommodate them. The public will be able to vote for the Mega Pacific People‘s Choice truck on the day.

Careers Transport 2020 is a huge focus on the Friday. The industry is trying to attract young people but it‘s also a huge opportunity for people 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 outlying Canterbury areas can get to the careers day by running Scania buses as far north as Kaikoura and as far south as Timaru. 

‘Have your Say!‘ is a new idea from the team at the NZ Trucking Association. 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 Nick Leggett, CEO of the Road Transport Forum. 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. Make sure to 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. This dinner will sell out so it‘s advisable to order your tickets now.

There is something for everyone; it‘s a show not to miss. Saturday 21 March is $10 entry for adults and kids 18 and under are free. Tickets can be booked online to avoid the queues, or bought at the gate. Parking is free.

For more information www.truckingindustryshow.co.nz

Rebecca Dinmore – Rebecca.dinmore@nztruckingassn.co.nz