ATA, HDMA/MEMA Partner to Explore Development of New Commercial Vehicle Event

Industry Groups Unite With Event Firm Messe Frankfurt on Possible Biennial Show

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Mar 31, 2016, 06:00 ET

ARLINGTON, Va., March 31, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, American Trucking Associations, along with the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association division of the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association, announced they had entered into an agreement with global event management and trade show firm Messe Frankfurt Inc. to develop a new, biennial North American-based truck and transportation event.

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight.Trucking Moves America Forward.

"In recent years, it has become increasingly clear there is demand from consumers and manufacturers for a North American trucking industry exhibition with the prominence and importance befitting this essential industry," said MEMA President and CEO Steve Handschuh. "Today we are pleased to take the first step toward making that show a reality."

"While ATA already provides fleet executives with a number of opportunities to see the latest in truck, trailer and other technology, we believe there is an appetite for a larger-scale event. We look forward to working with HDMA/MEMA, and Messe Frankfurt to explore the possibilities of a new exhibition – one that promises to bring all the major players in our industry together under one roof," said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves.

Preliminary plans call for an event, based in North America, to be held in early fall, biennially in odd-numbered years opposite a similar, already established European-based show held in even-numbered years at roughly the same time.

"The concerns of the industry in Europe and North America – safety, fuel economy, emissions and efficiency – are universal. We look forward to the potential benefit a biennial show of this kind can provide both the trucking industry and the suppliers and manufacturers that support them," said Messe Frankfurt President Dennis Smith.

In addition, Smith, Graves, Handschuh and HDMA COO Tim Kraus issued the following joint statement:

"Today's announcement is only the first step of our journey. We intend to fully explore what creating a show of this kind will mean for the transportation industry, as well as for commercial vehicle OEMs, systems and component suppliers and other supply chain elements, the investment community, and trade, financial and general media.

It is our hope that we will soon be able to announce what the next step in that journey will be and eventually, the announcement of a date for our inaugural event."

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Trucking Moves America Forward

Based in North Carolina,HDMA is the Commercial Vehicle Division of the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), a major industry association with a forward looking strategy and a 111 year legacy of advocacy for the motor vehicle supplier industry.

A member driven organization,HDMA primary mission is to advance the commercial vehicle supplier industry and the business interests of our original equipment and aftermarket suppliers in the on and off-highway commercial vehicle equipment industry. This is accomplished through a range of services to its more than 220 member companies, which represent direct employment of nearly 200,000 in their US facilities. For more information, visit www.hdma.org or www.mema.org.

Messe Frankfurt is one of the world's leading trade fair organisers, generating around €645* million in sales and employing 2,297* people. The Messe Frankfurt Group has a global network of 29 subsidiaries and 57 international Sales Partners, allowing it to serve its customers on location in more than 160 countries. Messe Frankfurt events take place at more than 40 locations around the globe. In 2015, Messe Frankfurt organised a total of 132* trade fairs, of which more than half took place outside Germany.

The North American headquarters in Atlanta is currently producing ten trade shows in the USA, Canada and Mexico across various industries. For more information about Messe Frankfurt, please visit our web site at www.MesseFrankfurt.us.

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SOURCE American Trucking Associations