Commercial Truck Industry Reunites at Work Truck Week 2022

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI — There were smiles and handshakes all around when Work Truck Week^®2022 returned to Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, March 8–11. North America’s largest work truck event often felt more like a long-awaited reunion than a tradeshow, as a verified 12,696 industry professionals gathered in person for the first time in two years.

Mike Rowe, famous for both his show, Dirty Jobs, and as the founder of the mikeroweWorks Foundation, gives the keynote at the NTEA Annual Meeting, while new NTEA Board Chair Tina Albright looks on.

Work Truck Week, which includes The Work Truck Show^® and Green Truck Summit, is produced annually by NTEA – The Association for the Work Truck Industry. Last year’s event was virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Work Truck Week has always been the commercial vehicle industry hub, but this year felt extra special in light of everything we have been through since March 2020,” says Steve Carey, NTEA president & CEO. “People were excited to be together, shake hands, share ideas and explore the latest trucks, equipment and technology. In many ways, it delivered the sense of normalcy that our industry needed.”

While overall event attendance was down about 7% versus 2020, Green Truck Summit, a full-day program focused on clean energy trends for commercial vehicles, set a record with a verified 835 participants—an increase of more than 58%. The Summit brings together government representatives, educators, fleets, manufacturers, and innovators to provide updates on the work truck industry’s path to zero emissions.

Hundreds of vocational trucks were on display.

That path wound through The Work Truck Show exhibit hall, where electric vehicles and charging dominated the product introductions.

The Shyft Group introduced Blue Arc EV Solutions, a new brand offering a trio of initial product offerings: a purpose-built commercial EV chassis, an all-electric Class 3 walk-in van, and a fully portable remote-controlled charging station called the Power Cube.

Ford Pro announced new charging hardware that’s launching alongside the 2022 E-Transit all-electric cargo van currently shipping to dealers and 2022 F-150 Lightning Pro all-electric pickup arriving this spring.

SEA Electric introduced the Class 6 SV6 EV step van powered by its proprietary SEA-Drive power system and designed for the battery-electric last-mile delivery segment.

The Lion Electric Company announced several key partnerships with truck upfitters to provide new fully electrified refrigerated, dry freight and aluminum stake body options for its Lion6 zero-emission urban truck.

Morgan Truck Body debuted its electrified refrigerated concept truck body on the Lion6 chassis, as well as a prototype 24-foot dry freight cargo van body on a Navistar electric chassis.

Ram Commercial unveiled the new 2023 Ram ProMaster and announced that in 2023 it will introduce a battery-electric ProMaster designed with input from Amazon to include unique last-mile delivery features.

Chevrolet Commercial Vehicles showcased its 2024 Silverado EV fully electric truck and highlighted the fleet-oriented WT model. Other “green” news included announcements related to customer adoptions of propane and biodiesel.

Hundreds of event attendees participated in the Work Truck Week Ride & Drive March 9–10. Ride & Drive featured 19 commercial vehicles with the latest advanced technologies, sustainability offerings and alternative fuel applications. Participants drove many of the vehicles on city streets.

Work Truck Week returns to Indiana Convention Center March 7–10, 2023. Sign up to receive email updates about the event, including when registration opens in the fall, at worktruckweek.com/wtw23signup.