Australia’s $12 billion a year truck industry is preparing to showcase the new generation of truck technologies, including the latest emission, safety and engine developments with the peak industry body, the Truck Industry Council endorsing the first ever International Truck, Trailer and Equipment Expo in Melbourne this May.

The International Trailer, Truck and Equipment Expo will highlight the Truck Industry’s philosophy of safer, greener and essential at what will be the first national industry endorsed truck expo.

More than 270 exhibitors will show new product including new models currently being introduced to the local market in answer to new Australian Design Rule initiatives, which have seen dramatic reductions in emissions and noise on all new trucks now being sold in Australia.

New safety breakthroughs such as radar controlled cruise control, lane guidance systems and driver alert systems are amongst some of the future technologies that will be on show.

Truck Industry Council (TIC) CEO, Tony McMullan, says the Melbourne Show is an important step forward for the Australian truck industry both for local manufacturers and for importers with a raft of new technologies currently changing the face of the road transport.

“Trucks are a vital and essential part of life, ensuring the goods we need in a modern society are delivered on time, safely and with a reduced impact on the environment and the Melbourne Show will highlight this,” said Mr McMullan.

“The road freight task is set to grow dramatically in Australia over the next 15 years and the International Truck, Trailer and Equipment Expo will deliver a preview of the trucks and technology that will enable transport operators to meet that growing task,” he said.

“It will also highlight the importance of trucks as a major manufacturing industry in the Australian economy with many thousands of people employed assembling and manufacturing trucks as well as engineering and designing vehicles and components,” he added.

“There are now four truck companies manufacturing and assembling trucks in Australia which is more manufacturers than remain in the local Australian car industry, a point that underlines the importance of the industry to both the skill and intellectual development of manufacturing in this country,” said Mr McMullan.

The Melbourne International Trailer, Truck and Equipment Expo will be staged at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds from May 8-10 and will also coincide with a major international truck and trailer technology conference with key speakers from Europe, China and the USA.

Truck and Trailer Technology the future blueprint conference will be headlined by Anders Lundstrom, head of feasibility studies from Scania in Sweden and Gary Hartley, Chief Engineer PACCAR and Malcolm Brown, Product Planning Engineer Volvo Mack.

Over twenty speakers will take attendees through the key design and development advances for the coming years in the truck industry.

The opportunities for young people in vehicle manufacturing, design, freight, transport and heavy vehicle repair will also be highlighted at the Melbourne Show.

“This is vital for the future competitiveness of the sector and the Melbourne Truck Expo will work to bridge the gap into schools and TAFE colleges and encourage more young people into the industry,” Mr McMullan said.

For further information:
Tony McMullen CEO Truck Industry Council
0427 941 281                                               

For further media information contact:
Jon Thomson
Thomson PR
0418 641 959