It’s Show Time-The Benefits of Truck Shows

Jun 26, 2024

It’s Show Time-The Benefits of Truck Shows

It’s show time, is there a benefit to attending truck shows? Over the last few months I’ve been talking and writing a lot about the camaraderie of the trucking industry or lack of it. The past passion of driving down the open road and the friendships you develop. People helping people at the side of the road or a laugh in the truck stop at the driver’s counter all made trucking a fun place to be. We would talk on the C.B. Radio for hours about life and trucks. Learning the roads and routes that had the best food or the greatest scenery. There were always key truck stops that you could count on to see friends and a friendly face. Along the 401 to the east it was always the Ten Acre, the 730 Truck Stop, or the big Relay before the Quebec border. To the West we had the T/A, the Flying J, or the Husky Truck Stops. Sawyer Michigan, Indiana, and many more all had famous stops that were always busy. Your own fleet would gather at many of these stops and you knew it would be a safe place to hunker down on a cold Winter’s night. Even though trucks are still parking the camaraderie is long gone for the most part. People don’t talk anymore on the radios and the restaurants don’t encourage conversation. 

I believe that’s why the truck shows have become such a hit. We need the fellowship, we thrive on it. Remember going down a highway and if you passed another truck regardless of the company you always waved at each other. Musicians like Tony Justice have sung about that brotherhood in songs about the road like “Brothers of the Highway” and others. Drivers are starting their own truck shows to bring that friendship back even if it is only for a couple of days per year. Sure it may be about the trucks but to be honest with you, you can see the same trucks at almost every show, but we keep going. We keep going because of the like-minded friendships. Those from outside of the world of driving have a hard time understanding the draw to the truck shows. “They’re only trucks” is often heard but it’s more than that. It’s the friendly face, the attention to detail, the proudness of the road, and the conversations with friends. Many drivers used to experience this on the open road, in truck stops, and at the yards. It has now moved to the truck shows where we know as drivers we will find the people we like to hang out with. We will find good conversation, a passion for trucks, and a friendly face. I hope to see you at the shows this Summer and look forward to our conversation. 

About the Author

Bruce Outridge has been in the trucking industry for over 40 years. With 25 years behind the wheel across North America and now covering the industry through Lead Pedal Media he has many insights as to the state of today's trucking industry and offers tips through his podcast on how to have a good career in trucking. You can learn more about Bruce and his work at www.BruceOutridge.com 

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