CHRISTCHURCH TRUCK SHOW A MUST–

THE 2020 TMC TRAILERS Trucking Industry Show, to be held at the Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch on March 20 and 21, promises to be a huge event for the industry. Our small team at the NZ Trucking Association has dedicated nearly two years to planning what is the biggest truck show to be seen in NZ and we can’t wait to bring it to you.

As usual, the stars of the weekend are the UDC Show & Shine trucks and their drivers. Four hundred to 500 gleaming rigs will make for a magnificent sight and a fantastic competition. We are so grateful to our friends at Interislander for providing a 20% discount to help North Island contestants get over the Cook Strait and take part in the event.

The Classic Trucks Showcase will again show off amazing classic trucks that have been lovingly preserved and are still fully functional. It is really important to be able to show off the incredible history of our industry, especially to younger generations of aspiring truckers.

Like so many events, the TMC Trailers Trucking Industry Show relies heavily on volunteers to make sure everything runs smoothly and we are grateful to everyone who provides a helping hand. The real winners of the weekend, however, are the event’s nominated charities. They have been selected by our drivers and this year include: Ronald McDonald House South Island, Child Cancer Canterbury, Westpac Rescue Helicopter, St John Ambulance, Riding for the Disabled, Men’s Health Foundation, Rotary and a suite of sports and community clubs.

The Friday Trade Day is a chance for businesses to engage with their customers while things are still relatively quiet before the gates are open to the public on the Saturday. Nearly 100 sponsors and trade exhibitors will also be there to show off everything from brand-new trucks to new product launches.

It’s a great way for businesses to reach their customers.

The Careers Transport Showcase is running on Friday and will provide high school students a great opportunity to get to know our industry and consider it as a career path. We are extremely grateful to Scania NZ for putting on buses to get students from all around the South Island to the event.

This year’s show is doubly exciting because it will feature a number of new events, including five national championships, with the winners to be celebrated at the Teletrac Navman Industry Show Dinner and Awards Ceremony on Saturday night.

The 2020 TR Group NZ Truck Driving Championships has had an overhaul and with three courses running simultaneously it promises to be a fantastic spectacle. Three $5000 prize packs will be awarded to the winners of the class 2 and class 5 categories, with special awards for Young Driver of the Year and VTNZ Woman Driver of the Year.

Mimico is sponsoring the excavator competition, with an amazing prize pack that includes a week-long, all-inclusive trip to Japan including a Kobelco factory tour. The Hyundai Forklift and Liebherr All-Terrain