Man in a cowboy hat and tan jacket facing the camera in soft low light, the owner-operator look of a Louisville March

trucking, fleet and EV · Louisville

MATS 2027Exhibitor guide for Louisville: booth costs, key dates, deadlines

Chrome, cabs and 53,507 truckers: MATS 2027 booths in Louisville

Event dates
March 18–20, 2027
Exhibit hall
March 18–20, 2027 (Thu VIP 10 a.m.–1 p.m., all 1–6 p.m.; Fri 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sat 9 a.m.–4 p.m.)
Venue
Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville

4.9 star rating from clients10,000+ booths built3,000+ exhibitors servedSince 2015

Prime Video booth by Purple Exhibits: open Prime Video experiential space with a pink-to-blue gradient back wall, an example for MATS exhibitors in Louisville
Built by PurplePrime Video island
Barantech booth by Purple Exhibits: four staff posing in a white Barantech marine electronics booth, a reference for planning a MATS booth
Built by PurpleBarantech inline booth
  • 53,507attendees at MATS 2026 source
  • 830exhibiting companies in 2026 source
  • 55countries represented in 2026 source
  • 1M+ sq. ft.of show floor in 2026, per MATS source

Quick answers

MATS 2027 in 30 seconds

The Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) is the largest trucking trade show in the U.S., held each March at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville. MATS 2027 runs March 18–20, 2027, with VIP hours Thursday morning. In 2026 it drew 53,507 attendees from all 50 states and 55 countries and 830 exhibiting companies across more than one million square feet, per MATS. Owner-operators, drivers, fleet owners, technicians and dealers walk the floor. Space sells per square foot indoors from $14.50, outdoors at $6.50 from 20×20, and in furnished Technology and Recruitment Pavilions. Purple builds inline, island and outdoor displays for it.

When is MATS 2027?
March 18–20, 2027, at Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville.
When is the exhibit hall open?
March 18–20, 2027, Thu VIP 10 a.m.–1 p.m., all 1–6 p.m.; Fri 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sat 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
How big is MATS?
53,507 attendees, 830 exhibitors (2026 edition).
What does booth space cost?
$14.50 per sq. ft. (100–1,500, +$100 per corner), $13.50, $12.50, $11.50 (2,901+), paid to the organizer.
What does a 10×20 booth cost all-in at MATS?
$7,500 – $15,000 for a Purple rental at MATS with design, graphics, lighting, install and dismantle. Space and show services are billed by MATS.
For MATS, what is the next exhibitor deadline?
Contract space by this date for $0.50 per sq. ft. off: November 15, 2026.

Trucking & fleet · Louisville · 2027

53,507

truckers, fleets and dealers at MATS 2026 in Louisville source

The lookLouisville 2027

Chrome by the acre. Truckers by the thousand.

The Mid-America Trucking Show returns to the Kentucky Exposition Center March 18–20, 2027. In 2026 it drew 53,507 attendees from all 50 states and 55 countries, and 830 exhibiting companies, per MATS.

Freight trucks rolling out of morning fog on a two-lane highway as the sun breaks through
01Out of the fog, rolling
Tanker truck crossing a highway overpass under a gold and orange sunset sky
02Tanker against a gold sky
Polished chrome headers on a custom build, the kind of shine show-truck owners chase
03Chrome headers, polished bright
Truck side mirrors on their brackets reflecting a clear blue sky and the road behind
04Mirrors full of sky
Macro of a worn heavy tire tread with deep grooves and road grit
05Deep tread, worn honest

Everything about MATS 2027 in one place

MATS 2027 fact sheet

MATS 2027 key facts
Official nameMid-America Trucking Show (MATS) 2027
Event datesMarch 18–20, 2027
Exhibit hall datesMarch 18–20, 2027 (Thu VIP 10 a.m.–1 p.m., all 1–6 p.m.; Fri 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sat 9 a.m.–4 p.m.) source
VenueKentucky Exposition Center
937 Phillips Ln, Louisville, KY 40209
OrganizerMid-America Trucking Show
Size (2026)53,507 attendees · 830 exhibitors source
Who attendsOwner-operators, fleet owners, drivers, technicians and dealers
Next deadlineContract space by this date for $0.50 per sq. ft. off: November 15, 2026 source
Nearest airportLouisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF)
About 10 minutes, directly across from the fairgrounds, per Purple's venue guide
HotelsAirport-area hotels 5 to 10 minutes away or downtown Louisville 15 to 20 minutes away, per Purple's venue guide
Official hotel page →
Official websitetruckingshow.com

Official MATS resources

MATS 2027 calendar

MATS 2027 dates and deadlines

Published MATS dates in order, each one linked to the organizer page that states it. The next date is highlighted.

  1. Contract space by this date for $0.50 per sq. ft. off source
  2. MATS 2027 opens: VIP hours 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., then all attendees source
  3. Final day; the show closes at 4 p.m. source

01 Purple at MATS 2027

Chrome, cabs and 53,507 truckers: MATS 2027 booths in Louisville

MATS is the biggest trucking show in the U.S., where owner-operators, drivers and fleet buyers walk more than a million square feet of trucks, parts and gear. We build booths that hold their own next to a show truck, indoors or out.

  • Mar 18–20 · Louisville
  • 53,507 attendees in 2026
  • 830 exhibitors in 2026

What makes MATS different, and how we build for it

The Mid-America Trucking Show is where U.S.trucking comes to look at itself: 53,507 attendees from all 50 states and 55 countries and 830 exhibiting companies across more than one million square feet in 2026, per MATS. Owner-operators and drivers walk the halls of the Kentucky Exposition Center beside fleet owners, technicians and dealers, so a booth sells to the person who drives the truck as well as the person who buys it. Trucks fill the outdoor lots, the Big Rig Build-Off puts custom rigs on display in PKY Lot N, and the Technology and Recruitment Pavilions give smaller companies a turnkey spot.

Owner-operators and drivers

Gear, parts and services they can see, hold and price on the spot, from people who talk like truckers.

Fleet owners and managers

Equipment, technology and recruiting tools with a clear cost per truck, and a seat to talk numbers away from the crowd.

Technicians and dealers

A close look at parts, tools and diagnostics, and a dealer or distributor program explained at a counter.

Your team in Louisville

How Purple runs MATS 2027 in Louisville

We fabricate in Fishkill, NY or Las Vegas and route the crates through the advance warehouse listed in the MATS exhibitor kit, so they reach the Kentucky Exposition Center as soon as the halls open to exhibitors. Our project manager leads the install in the hall or on the outdoor lot with the labor the show contractor assigns, and plans dismantle from the Saturday 4 p.m. close.

Inside MATS 2027

53,507 attendees at MATS 2026 source830 exhibiting companies in 2026 source55 countries represented in 2026 source1M+ sq. ft. of show floor in 2026, per MATS source

MATS rules that shape your booth

Rate falls as space grows

MATS prices indoor space in four tiers, from $14.50 per sq. ft. up to 1,500 sq. ft. to $11.50 above 2,900, with $100 per corner on the first tier. We show you where the next tier starts before you settle on a footprint.

Organizer rule

Outdoor space starts at 20×20

Outdoor exhibit space at MATS is sold from 20×20 at $6.50 per sq. ft. in 2027. We design outdoor displays with weighted bases and weather-rated graphics for a Louisville March.

Organizer rule

Pavilions come furnished

Technology & Recruitment Pavilion space costs $15.50 per sq. ft. and includes carpet, a skirted table and two chairs. We add printed graphics, a counter and lighting inside that footprint.

Organizer rule

Right-to-work campus

Kentucky has been right-to-work since 2017, and hand-carry and self-install allowances at the Kentucky Exposition Center come from each show's official contractor. We plan the install from the MATS exhibitor kit.

Organizer rule

Programs worth planning for

Big Rig Build-Off

Returns for 2027: custom trucks judged on welds, custom paint and fabrication, with a $15,000 cash prize, displayed in PKY Lot N during show hours.

Official details

Technology & Recruitment Pavilions

Furnished pavilion space for technology companies and driver recruiters at $15.50 per sq. ft. in 2027, with carpet, a skirted table and two chairs.

Official details

MATS is the largest open trucking show in the U.S.; choose it over TMC and Work Truck Week when you sell to owner-operators, drivers and Class 8 fleets and want the biggest crowd rather than a room of spec writers. See how MATS compares with every automotive and transportation show we build for →

automotive and transportation at MATS

The industry behind MATS, in pictures

Long exposure of a highway at night, red and white light trails streaming past
Night miles, in light
Night highway seen through a windshield, with a dash camera glowing below the mirror
Dash cam, night shift
Tugboat pushing up the Ohio River at Louisville, Kentucky, on bright blue water
Ohio River tug, Louisville

02 Booths & pricing for MATS 2027

How much is a booth at the Mid-America Trucking Show 2027?

MATS prices indoor space per square foot in four tiers, from $14.50 for 100–1,500 sq. ft. down to $11.50 above 2,900, with outdoor lots at $6.50 from 20×20. Parts and accessory brands take inlines; truck, trailer and tire makers take islands and outdoor lots. We recommend a 10×20 inline with product on lit shelves for a first MATS and a 20×30 or larger island when a truck is on display.

Sedemac booth by Purple Exhibits: white inline booth for Sedemac innovative controls, shown for MATS exhibitors
Inline10×20$7,500 – $15,000all-in rental

Lit shelves of parts or accessories, a counter that takes orders or leads and a back wall big enough to read across a crowded aisle.

Pictured: Sedemac, a Purple inline booth

See 10×20 rental booths →
New York Cosmetics Corp. booth by Purple Exhibits: corner inline booth for New York Cosmetics with black metal, an example for MATS exhibitors in Louisville
Inline10×30$12,000 – $22,000all-in rental

Product shelves on both ends, a demo screen in the middle and a stool corner where an owner-operator can sit and ask questions.

Above: New York Cosmetics Corp., a Purple inline booth

See 10×30 rental booths →
SunUs booth by Purple Exhibits: tall white tower with a blue-and-grey graphic wall of gearboxes, like the booths we plan for MATS
Island20×20$16,000 – $40,000all-in rental

An island around one hero product, such as a sleeper interior, tire or engine component, with a hanging sign and counters on two aisles.

Pictured: SunUs, a Purple island exhibit

See 20×20 rental booths →
dimi booth by Purple Exhibits: dimi industrial UV inkjet printer booth with a circular white hanging sign, a Purple build like the booths we plan for MATS
Island20×30+$25,000 – $55,000all-in rental

A show truck as the centerpiece with a lit structure behind it, a product counter and a quiet corner for fleet buyers.

Pictured: dimi, a Purple island exhibit

See 20×30 rental booths →

In Purple's MATS price

  • Design work and a 3D rendering, with revisions until the MATS layout is right
  • Booth structure and printed graphics, plus counters and storage as specified
  • Lighting and power distribution inside your MATS booth
  • Installation and dismantle at the Kentucky Exposition Center, with our project manager on the floor
  • Each service order and deadline in the MATS exhibitor kit, tracked for you

What MATS and its contractor bill

  • Booth space, paid to Mid-America Trucking Show
  • Drayage, or material handling, when it is not in the MATS space rate
  • Electrical service, internet access and rigging
  • Booth cleaning and whatever union labor the MATS venue requires

Rates to plan with for MATS:

  • Indoor space, 2027 $14.50 per sq. ft. (100–1,500, +$100 per corner), $13.50, $12.50, $11.50 (2,901+) source
  • Outdoor and pavilions, 2027 Outdoor $6.50 per sq. ft. from 20×20; Technology & Recruitment Pavilions $15.50 source
  • Drayage About $125 per cwt, 200 lb minimum, Purple's 2026–27 planning figure source
  • Booth build 10×20 rental $7,500–$15,000; custom 20×30 island $75,000–$175,000, Purple's 2026 planning range source

We estimate each of these on your MATS proposal, so the total is on paper before you sign.

Prices are all-in 2026 rental ranges for design, structure, graphics, installation and dismantle; custom builds are quoted per project. Want an exact number for Louisville? Use the booth cost calculator or the 2026 booth cost guide.

Each MATS fee listed upfront and in full, on paper.
Share the booth size you have at MATS and what you need the space to do. A reply within one business day, then a MATS rendering and fixed proposal, usually within a week. No charge.
Get my MATS proposal

The booth we would build for MATS 2027

The parts counter that owner-operators shop

MATS is the one big show where the person who drives the truck is also the buyer, often for a single truck. The booth works like a well-lit parts store with a counter: product they can hold, prices they can read, and a person who answers like a mechanic, next to whatever chrome the neighbors bring.

Built for the road you drive. Priced for the truck you own. 01Shelf wallLit shelves of real product at eyelevel, each with its fitment and price,so a driver can find the part for…02Hero pieceOne product out of the box at the aislecorner, an exhaust, light bar, seat ortire, lit like a show truck so it…03Order counterA counter with a tablet for orders,dealer lookups or recruiter sign-ups,staffed by someone who has turned…04Fleet cornerTwo stools away from the aisle for thefleet owner who wants pricing for 50trucks, not one. MAIN AISLE CROSS AISLE CROSS AISLE
Concept plan for MATS, not to scale: zones follow the show rules on this page; your final plan is drawn to your space and the organizer's rules.
01

Shelf wall

Lit shelves of real product at eye level, each with its fitment and price, so a driver can find the part for their model without asking.

02

Hero piece

One product out of the box at the aisle corner, an exhaust, light bar, seat or tire, lit like a show truck so it holds attention against the neighbor's chrome.

03

Order counter

A counter with a tablet for orders, dealer lookups or recruiter sign-ups, staffed by someone who has turned a wrench.

04

Fleet corner

Two stools away from the aisle for the fleet owner who wants pricing for 50 trucks, not one.

The demo

Show the product on the truck it fits: a short video loop of the install and the before and after, then hand the part across the counter. For technology, run the app on a phone mounted in a cab mock-up.

The meetings

MATS has no organizer meeting system; meetings happen at the booth or in Louisville after hours. Use Thursday's VIP hours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for booked fleet and dealer meetings, before the floor fills with drivers at 1 p.m.

Built for the road you drive. Priced for the truck you own.
What the back wall could say at MATS

03 Built by Purple

MATS 2027 booths built for owner-operators and fleets

KLEEMANN booth by Purple Exhibits, a case study we share with MATS exhibitors

Case study · KLEEMANN

KLEEMANN at an industrial technology exhibition

KLEEMANN combined real machines with digital simulations so visitors could see the product work, which is what a MATS parts or truck booth needs when owner-operators want the real component in reach and the proof on a screen.

Read the KLEEMANN case study All case studies →

“Itzy and his team are the real deal. If you want to wow your potential customers at your next trade show, this is the team for you. They create the best custom and portable trade show exhibits by far.”

Sherri McManus, Corporate Training, The Lou Everett Group · more client reviews
10,000+ booths built3,000+ exhibitors served4.9★ client ratingSince 2015

Trusted by exhibitors including

Philippine AirlinesKLEEMANNNantsuneEagle ChemicalsRPS GroupFIMI Group

04 Designing for truck, trailer, parts, accessory, tire, technology and service brands for owner-operators and fleets at MATS

Designing a MATS booth that stands up to the show trucks

Weathered man in a plaid work shirt looking past the camera in a rustic barn interior1

Stand next to a show truck

At MATS the booth next to you may hold a polished custom rig. We use height, a lit back wall and one big product image, so your booth still reads from the aisle when the neighbor's chrome is catching every light in the hall.

Silhouette of a man in a cowboy hat against a violet and peach sunset sky2

Talk to the driver

Owner-operators and drivers make up much of the MATS crowd and buy for their own trucks. Graphics in plain trucker language, prices on the shelf and products they can pick up beat corporate slogans on this floor.

Man in a flannel overshirt and beanie standing among pines in late golden light3

Use the VIP morning

Thursday opens with VIP hours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. before the floor opens to all at 1 p.m. We schedule the final walk-through for Wednesday evening so your team spends the VIP morning on fleet and dealer meetings.

Steel bridge trusses and cables throwing shadows on the deck in Louisville, Kentucky4

Book space early, save per foot

MATS takes $0.50 per square foot off for contracts signed by November 15, 2026, and rates fall as space grows. On a 20×30 the discount alone is $300, and the per-foot rate steps down at 1,501, 2,401 and 2,901 square feet.

Purple Exhibits concept rendering for Flashnet, shown for MATS exhibitors

Concept rendering

Your MATS proposal comes with a rendering like this

Layout, graphics, lighting and product positions are all in the 3D view, revised until right, before a single panel is cut for MATS. Shown: a Purple concept for Flashnet.

Start my MATS concept

Floor at a glance

Where you could be at MATS 2027

MATS fills the Kentucky Exposition Center's halls and lots. These are the areas that shape a booth, from MATS and Purple's Kentucky Exposition Center guide.

AIndoor halls
BOutdoor lots
CPKY Lot N
Kentucky Exposition Center, LouisvilleSchematic, not to scale
A

Indoor halls

Part of 1.2 million sq. ft. of display space on the campus, per Purple's venue guide; MATS covered more than one million square feet in 2026.

Our advice Ask for your hall's ceiling height before we design a hanging sign or a tall island.

B

Outdoor lots

Outdoor exhibit space from 20×20 at $6.50 per sq. ft. in 2027, on the campus's 356 acres of grounds.

Our advice Plan for March weather in Kentucky: weighted bases, wind-rated banners and a covered counter.

C

PKY Lot N

Home of the Big Rig Build-Off, in front of the West Wing and South Wing, open with the show hours.

Our advice A booth on the path between Lot N and the West or South Wing catches the custom-truck crowd.

05 Kentucky Exposition Center · Louisville

MATS 2027 freight, outdoor lots and Kentucky Expo Center rules

MATS spreads across a 1.4 million square foot campus with 356 acres of outdoor grounds, in a state that dropped compulsory union membership in 2017, per Purple's venue guide; what your staff may hand-carry or build is set by the official contractor in the MATS exhibitor kit. For budgeting, Purple plans drayage here at roughly $125 for every 100 pounds, 200 pounds minimum, across 2026 and 2027. Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport sits across from the fairgrounds. MATS 2027 move-in dates and vehicle rules are not confirmed yet; our project manager sets the install plan once the exhibitor kit names them and leads it on site with the labor MATS requires.

Hall rules, drayage estimates and freight deadlines for the building that hosts MATS are in our Kentucky Exposition Center exhibitor guide.

What Purple handles

  • Inline and island booths that hold their own beside show trucks
  • Outdoor lot displays from 20×20 upward
  • Lit product shelving for parts and accessories
  • Freight and drayage planning at the Kentucky Exposition Center
  • Graphics written for owner-operators and drivers
  • Storage and reuse for TMC, HDAW or other trucking shows

Your MATS timeline, from move-in back

Contract MATS 2027 space for $0.50 per square foot off: November 15, 2026. On a 20×30 island that is $300; we can price the build the same week you sign.

Design sign-off for MATS is due by early January 2027.

  1. November 15, 2026Contract space by this date for $0.50 per square foot off the 2027 rates.
  2. Early January 2027Design sign-off, with outdoor or vehicle plans set for the exhibitor kit's deadlines.
  3. January–February 2027Production in our Fishkill, NY or Las Vegas shop; graphics proofed for trucker audiences.
  4. Late February 2027Freight to the advance warehouse named in the MATS exhibitor kit.
  5. Days before March 18, 2027Move-in at the Kentucky Exposition Center; exact 2027 move-in days not confirmed yet.
  6. March 18–20, 2027Show days; our project manager is on site, and dismantle follows the Saturday 4 p.m. close.

Purple's planning timeline for MATS. Official move-in, freight target and order deadlines for MATS come from your exhibitor kit and assigned schedule; we confirm them against your booth when you book.

Print the MATS budget & deadline sheet

Before you book MATS 2027

What MATS 2027 exhibitors should know before Louisville

  1. Space contracted by November 15, 2026 costs $0.50 less per square foot, and the per-foot rate also drops at 1,501, 2,401 and 2,901 square feet. source

  2. Thursday, March 18 opens with VIP hours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. before general admission at 1 p.m.; book fleet meetings into that window. source

  3. Outdoor exhibit space starts at 20×20 and costs $6.50 per square foot in 2027, less than half the smallest indoor rate. source

  4. The Big Rig Build-Off shows custom trucks in PKY Lot N in front of the West and South Wings during show hours, which draws the custom-truck crowd to that side of the campus. source

  5. The Technology and Recruitment Pavilions cost $15.50 per square foot with carpet, a skirted table and two chairs included, a simple entry for a first MATS. source

Who you meet on the floor

Owner-operators

They buy for their own trucks and come to see parts, accessories and services in person, per MATS's audience description.

Fleet owners

Fleet owners walk MATS for trucks, trailers, technology and recruiting, alongside the drivers they want to hire.

Drivers

Drivers from all 50 states attend, many looking at new equipment and at carriers in the Recruitment Pavilion.

Technicians and dealers

Technicians and dealers come for parts, tools and dealer programs, per MATS.

Side by side

MATS vs TMC Annual Meeting vs STN EXPO East: 2027 at a glance

MATS vs TMC Annual Meeting vs STN EXPO East: 2027 at a glance
MATSTMC Annual MeetingSTN EXPO East
DatesMarch 18–20, 2027March 8–11, 2027April 1–5, 2027
WhereLouisville, KY · Kentucky Exposition CenterOrlando, FL · Orange County Convention CenterConcord, NC · Embassy Suites by Hilton Charlotte Concord Golf Resort & Spa
Size53,507 attendees at MATS 2026350,000 square feet of exhibits in 202628,800 sq ft of exhibit space in 2027, per STN
Main buyersOwner-operatorsVice presidents of maintenance and equipmentSchool district transportation directors
Booth spaceIndoor space, 2027: $14.50 per sq. ft. (100–1,500, +$100 per corner), $13.50, $12.50, $11.50 (2,901+)Price not publishedSTN 2027 booth rates: 10×20 $6,175; 20×20 $10,575; 30×50 $28,975; 10% more after December 1, 2026

Figures carry the year and source shown on each show's own page.

Travel to MATS 2027

Getting to MATS 2027: airport, hotels and parking

Fly in

Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF)

About 10 minutes, directly across from the fairgrounds, per Purple's venue guide

Stay

Airport-area hotels 5 to 10 minutes away or downtown Louisville 15 to 20 minutes away, per Purple's venue guide

Official MATS hotels →

Park

I-264 and the Watterson Expressway both reach the campus directly

Find the venue

Kentucky Exposition Center
937 Phillips Ln, Louisville, KY 40209

Open in Google Maps →

Travel facts from purpleexhibits.com.

MATS by the numbers

MATS year by year

2026
53,507 attendees
830 exhibitors
Louisville source
AttendeesExhibitors

How MATS 2027 compares with other automotive and transportation shows

The automotive and transportation shows closest to MATS on the calendar, with the latest size each organizer has published. Select any name to open our exhibitor guide for that show.

ShowDatesCityLatest published size
TruckloadTruckload Carriers Association (TCA)February 28–March 3, 2027Las Vegas, NV–
AIMExpoMotorcycle Industry Council (MIC)March 3–5, 2027Orlando, FL–
VISION Hi-Tech Training & ExpoMidwest Auto Care Alliance (MWACA)March 4–7, 2027Overland Park, KS3,500+ (exhibitor page); 3,800+ (about page) · 140+ sponsors and exhibitors (2026)
TMC Annual MeetingTechnology & Maintenance Council (TMC) of the American Trucking AssociationsMarch 8–11, 2027Orlando, FLAbout 375 vendors on 350,000 sq. ft., sold out exhibitors (2026)
MATSMid-America Trucking ShowMarch 18–20, 2027Louisville, KY53,507 attendees · 830 exhibitors (2026)
NORTHEASTAlliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ)March 19–21, 2027Secaucus, NJ6,500+ anticipated attendees (2026)
Heartland Carwash Product ShowHeartland Carwash Association (HCA)March 23–24, 2027Tinley Park, IL1,200+ attendees · 100+ exhibitors and sponsors (2026)
New York International Auto ShowNew York International Auto ShowMarch 26 – April 4, 2027New York, NYHundreds of thousands of potential car buyers, per the show · 700+ vehicles on display exhibitors (2026)
STN EXPO EastSTN Media Group (School Transportation News)April 1–5, 2027Concord, NCTrade show in the 28,800 sq ft Concord Ballroom exhibitors (2027)
Seatrade Cruise GlobalInforma MarketsApril 5–8, 2027Miami Beach, FL12,500+ attendees · 650+ exhibitors (2026)

MATS exhibitor questions

Mid-America Trucking Show 2027 questions exhibitors ask

When is MATS 2027?

March 18–20, 2027, Thursday to Saturday, at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, per MATS. Thursday opens with VIP hours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., then 1 to 6 p.m. for all; Friday runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

How much does a booth at MATS cost?

$14.50 per square foot for 100–1,500 sq. ft. indoors, plus $100 per corner, falling to $13.50, $12.50 and $11.50 above 2,900 sq. ft., per MATS's 2027 rates. Outdoor space is $6.50 per sq. ft. A 10×20 inline is $2,900 in space before the build.

Is there an early-booking discount for MATS 2027?

$0.50 per square foot comes off for contracts signed by November 15, 2026, per MATS. On a 10×20 that saves $100 and on a 40×40 island $800.

How many people attend MATS?

53,507 attendees from all 50 states and 55 countries came to MATS 2026, with 830 exhibiting companies from 44 states and 13 countries across more than one million square feet, per MATS.

Can we exhibit outdoors at MATS?

Outdoor space is sold at $6.50 per square foot in 2027 and starts at 20×20, per MATS. Trucks, trailers and large equipment use the lots, and the Big Rig Build-Off displays custom rigs in PKY Lot N in front of the West and South Wings.

What are the MATS Technology and Recruitment Pavilions?

Turnkey pavilion spaces at $15.50 per square foot in 2027 that include carpet, a skirted table and two chairs, per MATS. They suit technology companies and carriers recruiting drivers that want a simple footprint on the floor.

What is the Big Rig Build-Off at MATS 2027?

A custom truck competition returning for 2027: entries are judged on welds, custom paint and fabrication, and the winner takes a $15,000 cash prize, per MATS. The trucks are shown in PKY Lot N during show hours, free to badged attendees.

Who exhibits at MATS?

Truck and trailer makers, parts and accessory brands, tire companies, technology firms and service providers: 830 exhibiting companies from 44 states and 13 countries in 2026, per MATS, plus carriers recruiting drivers in the Recruitment Pavilion.

What are the labor rules at the Kentucky Exposition Center?

Kentucky is right-to-work (since 2017, per Purple's venue guide), but at MATS the official contractor decides what exhibitors may carry in or assemble themselves. Our project manager follows those allowances and brings in contractor labor for the rest.

How much is drayage at the Kentucky Exposition Center?

Plan on roughly $125 per hundredweight, 200 pounds minimum: that is the figure Purple budgets for this campus in 2026–27. The MATS exhibitor kit carries the official tariff.

Can Purple build our MATS booth?

Yes. We build in Fishkill, NY or Las Vegas, ship to the advance warehouse in the MATS exhibitor kit, and our project manager stays from the first crate in to the last crate out.

How is MATS different from Work Truck Week?

MATS is the open show of heavy trucking, with owner-operators, drivers and fleets of Class 8 trucks; Work Truck Week is NTEA's event for truck body builders, upfitters and vocational fleets. Choose MATS for over-the-road trucking and Work Truck Week for work trucks.

Is MATS worth it for a small parts brand?

It can be: a 10×20 inline costs $2,900 in space at the 2027 rate, and MATS puts more than 53,000 truckers in front of it. The Technology and Recruitment Pavilions offer an even simpler footprint for newcomers.

Before you sign for MATS

Five questions to ask any exhibit builder for MATS:

  1. Which MATS official contractor rules apply to hand-carry and self-install at the Kentucky Exposition Center, and how will you staff around them?
  2. How will you design an outdoor display for March weather in Louisville?
  3. Can our booth hold its own beside a show truck: what height, lighting and hanging sign do you propose for our hall?
  4. How will freight and drayage be priced at the Kentucky Exposition Center?
  5. Between shows, where does the booth live, and what does it cost to send it on to TMC, HDAW or Work Truck Week?

What MATS exhibitors ask us

MATS is huge. Will a 10×20 get lost? Not if it is built for the aisle: lit shelves, prices and one hero product. With 53,507 attendees in 2026, a booth that reads in five seconds gets plenty of stops; a vague one gets passed.

Indoor or outdoor? Outdoor space costs $6.50 per square foot against $14.50 indoors for smaller spaces, and it starts at 20×20. It suits trucks, trailers and large equipment; parts and technology do better indoors, where lighting does the work.

We only sell to fleets. Is MATS too driver-heavy? Drivers and owner-operators are a large share of the crowd, but MATS names fleet owners, technicians and dealers too. If your buyer only writes fleet specs, TMC in Orlando, ten days earlier, is the tighter room.

Get a proposal

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A reply about MATS within one business day. A rendering and a fixed proposal usually follow within a week. No charge, no commitment.

Your request about MATS reaches Purple’s exhibit team directly.

What happens next

  1. We reply within one business day with questions about your products, goals and MATS footprint.
  2. You get a concept rendering and a fixed proposal for MATS, usually within a week. All fees listed upfront, in full, on paper, before MATS.
  3. We build in 30–45 days, ship to the MATS advance warehouse and install before the hall opens.
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