Iowa 80 Truckstop’s 37th Annual Walcott Truckers Jamboree is happening July 14-16 – this Thursday, Friday and Saturday – at the Iowa 80 Truckstop on Interstate 80, Exit 284, in Walcott, Iowa.
This year’s show will feature nearly 150 exhibits, including the Super Truck Beauty Contest, antique truck display, Iowa pork chop cookout, Trucker Olympics, carnival games and several free concerts. Live music on Thursday, July 14, includes the Dani Lynn Howe Band and Clare Dunn. North of 40 and Sammy Kershaw will take the stage on Friday. Trucking’s Highway Angel Spokesperson Lindsay Lawler will perform on Saturday.
Showgoers can expect fireworks displays both nights. On Friday, the 1916 Mack AC truck will be celebrating its 100th birthday at the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum. Ruth Fruehauf, granddaughter of trailer founder August Fruehauf, will be attending the celebration for a book signing.
In addition, the 2016 Fitzgerald Truck Show is happening this weekend in Crossville, Tenn., July 15 and 16. Live music, fireworks, food and a kid’s play area is planned. Tony Justice will be on stage at 8 p.m. Friday night
Some of the nation’s top show trucks will be showing their stuff in the Pride and Polish Truck Beauty competition. Fitzgerald’s show is one of several stops in Randall-Reilly’s National Championship Series tour.
Cash and trophies will be awarded in a variety of classes, and competitions are open to anyone with a working truck. There will be a special competition for Fitzgerald glider kits only.
World record holding stunt-biker Jesse Toler and his crew will be there with a show scheduled for Friday evening prior to the fireworks (at dusk) and Tony Justice’s show.
In Kentucky, another trucking event is planned for the weekend, July 15-16. Expedite Expo is not a new trade event, but this year it has a brand-new venue. The Expo will be held for the first time at the Lexington Convention Center, located in the heart of Lexington, Ky.
Lawrence McCord, chief executive officer of On Time Media, the producers of Expedite Expo, says preregistration indicates the attendance is almost double what it was last year.
“The idea here is to be able to deliver more by moving to Lexington, Ky. – more free parking, more hotel rooms, more local fare, and more Expedite Expo,” said McCord.
For drivers, the new venue offers access from I-75 and acres of free overnight car, truck, tractor-trailer and RV parking.
Launched in 2001, Expedite Expo has been the only trade event focused exclusively on the expedited trucking industry. In addition to learning about the newest trucks, products and business potential from every major industry category, truckers also gain networking opportunities to help them succeed in the business.
More than 20 workshops are being presented by industry experts at the Expo, including what you need to know before getting into expedited trucking; straight talk on buying a truck for an expedite operation.
The Caffees will represent Freightliner Team Run Smart, and the topic will be buying fuel intelligently. Workshop attendees will learn how a working knowledge of the relationship of fuel costs, fuel tax, IFTA, FSC and carrier fuel discounts can be used to improve your business profits. How truck aerodynamics and speed affect fuel usage will also be discussed.
Expedite Expo will feature several family friendly activities, including a health walk around the convention center, numerous giveaways, All-American Working Truck Show and casino night. The free drivers’ BBQ – a whole hog roast – is scheduled for Friday, July 15.
