Altona Truck & Trade Show 2019 — bringing the industry together

ACT’s 2019 Altona Truck & Trade Show report reflects on community connections and attracting the next generation.

Original ACT archive feature. Images from the ACT archive; no individual photographer is identified in the retained feature.

It was a very hot week in Melbourne with plenty going on including a major raffle involving a Kenworth truck out at Hepburn and a massive air show at Avalon.

For some on the to do list for that weekend included the second Altona Truck and Trade Show.

The organisers couldn’t do much about the weather.

However, the heat did give show goers a chance to be creative in working out ways to cool down.

This included bringing or making their own pools. One was even made in the back of a tipper!

The event would not have been possible without the generous support and the assistance of a great line up of sponsors.

“We have to thank firstly the Hobsons Bay City Council for helping us put on the Altona Truck & Trade Show as well as our sponsors including Major Sponsor Kentweld Bullbars,” said Chris Smith.

He said the sponsors and exhibitors including Klos Custom Trucks, Southern Cross Transport Equipment Group, SubTrux, Diesel Tech Fleet Services, Kenworth DAF Melbourne, Truckline, Metcher Tyres, Kendall Trucking Co, Haulin’ Apparel and Australian Custom Trucks magazine were businesses that understood that the survival of the trucking industry depends on attracting a new generation of drivers and workers to the industry.

He expressed his acknowledgment of the support given by Cummins South Pacific promoting its recruitment arm at the event and the continual support of Transport Women for attending and doing their part to strengthen the industry.

“All the industries associated with transport industry need to dig deep and work together to secure the next generation of workers for the industry and form a strong connection with the local community,” he said.

“I expect more businesses that are associated with transport to come and support the event. It’s great having corporate events, but they just preach to the converted, events like the grass roots shows invite people, we desperately need, into the industry.”

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