Organizers of one of the largest heavy-duty trucking shows in the country announced on Thursday that the event has been cancelled. According to organizers, the decision was made “with the health and safety of our attendees, exhibitors, employees, and show partners in mind.”
The Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) is held every year in Louisville, Kentucky. It was scheduled this year for March 26th-28th, but exhibitors and attendees will need to wait until 2021 to get their fix. The full text of the statement found on the MATS website is below:
“It is with a heavy heart and deep regret that we announce the cancellation of the 2020 Mid-America Trucking Show scheduled for March 26-28 in Louisville, Kentucky.
“This is a decision we did not make lightly, but in consultation with our exhibitors, attendees, supporters, and partners, including Kentucky Venues, Louisville Tourism, Kentucky Governor’s Office, and the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Families Services.
“In light of today’s extraordinary circumstances and with an abundance of caution, this decision has been made with the health and safety of our attendees, exhibitors, employees, and show partners in mind.
“MATS has a proud tradition as the largest and most well-attended show in heavy-duty trucking. We will return stronger than ever in 2021 and will focus on an unforgettable 50th-anniversary event – March 25-27, 2021, in Louisville, KY.”
The decision comes on the heels of the World Health Organization declaring that the COVID-19 viral disease is now considered a pandemic. President Trump has banned travel from several European countries. Markets have been incredibly volatile, with Thursday seeing the largest single-day fall since the “Black Monday” stock market crash in 1987.
It is not yet known what the final impact of COVID-19 will be on the U.S. or the world, but experts are warning that the worst could be far from over. So far 125,288 cases and 4,614 deaths have been confirmed worldwide. According to WHO data, as of Wednesday, 3/11/20, 987 cases had been confirmed in the United States, including 291 new cases reported that day alone.
Both the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the WHO are offering similar advice:
Wash your hands frequently
Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. If you can’t wash your hands, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Maintain social distancing
Maintain at least 3 feet distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
Wear a facemask ONLY if you are sick
If you are sick, should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office. If you are not sick, you do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick and isn’t wearing one. Facemasks may be in short supply and they should be saved for caregivers.
You can visit the WHO website and/or the CDC website for more information including symptoms, travel advice, and more.
Source: Truckinginfo, overdrive, WHO, WHO, CDC
Steve Duggan says
The fear mongers and pussies cancelling everything. Biggest overreaction ever!
Madcracka says
It’s all about control in the guise of this virus. Yet tens of thousands of people die a year of the flu virus and no one bats an eye.
Al says
No vaccine for this
Jigga says
I think what has everyone paranoid besides the media is the fact unlike the flu its no medication for it, its very little knowledge about it, and the fact that its spreading pretty rapidly. They claim you dont even no you have it for some cases up to 5 days. Just think how many you can infect in that amount of time. They claim there are quite a few cases where there were no noticable symptoms at all. We drive all over the Country, imagine bringing that shit home to your kids or other family members and you didnt even know it. Thats what got folks flipping out.
MrYowler says
There weren’t many actual truck drivers going, anyway. Actual truck drivers are busy actually driving trucks. These conferences are for industry bigwigs, regulators, and recruiters to pat one another on the back and tell each other how clever they are.
No surprise that they’re worried about catching the coronavirus. Any plans to do anything to protect drivers? Nope. We’re all just going to hide in our houses and telecommute, and then blame you awful, dirty, uncaring truck drivers for delivering our mail and groceries while spreading disease all over the country, instead of quarantining yourselves like any responsible citizen would do.
Shame on you!
Truck 77 says
You must not have ever attended one of these events? 1000’s of drivers attend. You really can’t appreciate the whole deal in just a couple days. I’ve been to the Dallas show in September. lts huge but Louisville is bigger. It’s worth the trip to see it.
Keith says
Another virus hoax, but this time, the liars are really building up the hype.