Guest
editorial
Derek
Hill
Governor
at Large
NTEA
Generation Next
Fallsway
Equipment Co. Inc.
This
article was published in the February 2024 edition of NTEA News.
As
an annual event for the commercial vehicle community to help connect those who
design, build, use and maintain the world’s commercial vehicles and equipment,
Work Truck Week is a great opportunity to network and share experiences with
those who are in similar shoes. If you’re brand new to the work truck industry,
I would highly recommend checking out Generation Next events ideal for those
who have been in the industry for less than 10 years. Generation Next is free
to join and the networking possibilities are endless.
Time
and time again I hear fellow truck equipment enthusiasts at Work Truck Week
wishing they had just one more day to hit a couple more booths. We all know
it’s not realistic to think you’ll be able to visit all 500+ exhibitors, but
with some help, you can plan out your journey with some handy resources
provided by NTEA — and with the event scheduled for March 5–8, now is the time.
Register
and stay
Remember
to register for WTW24 at worktruckweek.com/register.
Secondly, if you’re traveling to the event, make sure you line up a place to
stay. Visit worktruckweek.com/hotelandtravel
to locate available hotels.
Familiarize
yourself with the schedule
When
registering for WTW24, familiarize yourself with the scheduled events at their
respective times and dates. Once you’ve registered, you can create a planner to
schedule which events and booths you plan to attend and visit. You can also use
the mobile app (learn more at worktruckweek.com/app).
What
should be on your packing list
This
will be my third year walking the floor of WTW, and I know from experience that
there are a few things you’ll want to bring with you.
- Cell phone charger or battery bank: No
one wants to have a dead phone by noon with lingering questions to be answered
by your coworkers or customers. Although there will be charging stations set up
throughout the floor, these may be in high demand.
- Light backpack or bag: You will be
talking with multiple vendors and grabbing lots of swag or literature. Having a
bag of some sort to hold all these things will keep your hands free for easier
handshakes toward the end of the day.
- Comfortable shoes: I cannot stress
enough the importance of comfortable walking shoes. Your feet will thank me
later.
- Map: A floor plan will be provided
when you pick up your badge on the first day. I highly recommend you always
keep this with you. It will save you endless time walking up and down each
aisle to find specific vendors.
- Pack light but think of other
essentials you will need.
Sessions
and events
If
you would like to get more involved, multiple sessions and events are scheduled
throughout each day of the week. Some of these may require additional purchases
to hold your spot, such as the Generation Next Leadership Workshop &
Networking Reception. These are set to provide additional insights into work
truck-related topics, as well as professional development and networking
opportunities.
There
are many ways to prepare yourself for WTW24. Preparation is the key to success,
and I recommend doing your research now. The show can be intimidating without a
plan, but if you follow any of the tips here, you should be well positioned to
get the most out of this upcoming event.
Learn
more about Generation Next at ntea.com/generationnext.