Work Truck Show 2014 Green Truck Ride-and-Drive to Provide a More Tailored Test Drive Experience

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., Dec. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- To keep pace with the evolving advanced truck technologies and alternative fuels vehicle market, the Green Truck Ride-and-Drive at The Work Truck Show^® 2014 will include a closed-access driving area in addition to the traditional open road test drive course.      

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The Work Truck Show, North America's largest work truck event, runs March 5–7 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN. Educational programing begins March 4. Sponsored by Hino Trucks, the Green Truck Ride-and-Drive is open to all show attendees on Wednesday, March 5, and Thursday, March 6, from 12:00pm to 4:30pm.

"We are now entering a maturation phase for sustainable vehicle technology," says Bob Johnson, NTEA director of fleet relations. "Vehicle builders have moved beyond the experimental stage and are fine-tuning their systems to meet the needs of specific applications. The new Green Truck Ride-and-Drive elements allow Work Truck Show attendees to take a more tailored test drive and gain a better understanding of what each vehicle can do for them."

The Green Truck Ride-and-Drive course covers city streets near the convention center, but participants in 2014 have the opportunity to also take the vehicles into a reserved section of the Indianapolis Zoo parking lot nearby. This large, open area is closed to public traffic, so drivers can devote their attention to the vehicles they're driving. A vehicle can be parked to demonstrate its equipment capabilities or idled to demonstrate a fuel management system. The new section also allows individuals without a commercial driver's license (CDL) to test drive a truck requiring one.

Natural gas, propane, plug-in electric, hybrid-electric and extended-range electric vehicles will be featured at the Green Truck Ride-and-Drive. The current lineup includes cargo vans, shuttle buses, pickups, and medium and heavy-duty trucks from 19 exhibiting companies, giving prospective buyers the opportunity to try out a diverse array of technology setups.

Exhibitors providing vehicles for the Green Truck Ride-and-Drive include:

• Allison Transmission
• AMP Trucks/Workhorse
• Crosspoint Kinetics
• ECHO Automotive
• Freightliner Trucks
• Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp.
• Hino Trucks
• IMPCO Automotive
• International Truck
• Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc.
• Kenworth Truck Co.
• Lightning Hybrids, Inc.
• Nissan
• Odyne Systems, LLC
• Peterbilt Motors Company
• Ram Commercial
• ROUSH CleanTech
• VIA Motors, Inc.
• XL Hybrids

Access to the Green Truck Ride-and-Drive is included with Work Truck Show registration. Vehicles are available on a first-come, first-served basis. No advance registration is required.

Complete Green Truck Ride-and-Drive vehicle descriptions will be available online in January. Visit www.ntea.com/worktruckshow/greenproductsandprograms to learn more about the Green Truck Ride-and-Drive, Green Truck Summit, and Productivity and Fuels Pavilion.

To register for The Work Truck Show 2014, visit www.ntea.com or call 1-800-441-6832.

Produced annually by NTEA, The Work Truck Show brings together thousands of work truck professionals, including fleet managers, equipment buyers, maintenance personnel, manufacturers, distributors and dealers.

Connect with the NTEA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NTEA.TheAssociationForTheWorkTruckIndustry, and join the Work Truck Show conversation on Twitter at @WorkTruckShow and @nteanews with the official hashtag: #wts2014.

About NTEA

Established in 1964, NTEA, the Association for the Work Truck Industry, represents more than 1,600 companies that manufacture, distribute, install, sell and repair commercial trucks, truck bodies, truck equipment, trailers and accessories. Buyers of work trucks and the major commercial truck chassis manufacturers also belong to the Association. NTEA provides in-depth technical information, education, and member programs and services, and produces The Work Truck Show. The Association maintains its administrative headquarters in suburban Detroit and a government relations office in Washington, DC.

SOURCE NTEA