2022

The American Truck Historical Society (ATHS) was founded in 1971 with the mission to preserve the history of trucks, the trucking industry, and its pioneers. Initially headquartered in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, the society relocated to Birmingham, Alabama, in 1977 under the leadership of President Harris Saunders, Sr. This move marked a period of significant growth […]

The Howard Trucking Company started in 1955 with just one dump truck. Jerry Howard, the current owner, started J.A. Howard Inc. in 1989 where he hauled goods to 48 states ranging from 50 to 1,500 miles. The love for trucks was always there for Jerry, as he started to collect old trucks dating back to

Allen “Al” Koenig was an influential figure in the trucking industry, renowned for his dedication to preserving and promoting its history. His passion for trucks ignited in the 1940s during his childhood in Minnesota, where he eagerly observed and interacted with passing truck drivers. In 1967, Al founded Midwest Specialized Transportation in Rochester, Minnesota, starting

Johnnie Bryan “J.B.” Hunt was an entrepreneur who significantly transformed the trucking industry. Born on February 28, 1927, near Heber Springs, Arkansas, Hunt left school after the seventh grade to work in his uncle’s sawmill. After serving in the U.S. Army, he pursued various roles, including lumber salesman, auctioneer, and truck driver. In 1952, he

Susie grew up in a truck. She knew from an early age that she wanted to drive a truck like her Dad. Susie noticed from an early age that there were not many women behind the wheel. After graduating high school, she successfully got her CDL in 1980, and went on her mission to break

Hank is a trucker’s trucker that’s been everywhere. He took his Highway Hilton and went to Germany and trucked on the Autobahn, he’s been in movies, numerous trucking ads, he did the show circuit for years showing his truck. He has won over 120 trophies in his trucking career. His Highway Hilton now resides in

Chuck Kemner is a dedicated promoter of the show trucks that are located at the front lot of the MATS show annually. He is one of the organizers of the National Association of Show Trucks. Chuck has spent numerous hours volunteering to promote the trucking industry. He faithfully attends the Mid American Truck Show and

Steve Sturgess was a distinguished trucking journalist and editor, celebrated for his extensive knowledge and influential contributions to the trucking industry. Born in London, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering in 1970. Discovering a passion for writing over design, he transitioned into journalism, eventually relocating to North America. Sturgess dedicated 18

Jimmy lost his arm to cancer when he was six years old. He has been a truck driver for 44 years and has never let anything in life stop him. In 2014, he was one of five drivers to receive the Citizens Driver Award. The local truck stop in Manning, SC is named The Jimmy

Dr. John McElligott is a respected physician known for his dedication to the health and well-being of truck drivers. With a background in internal and occupational medicine, he has spent decades addressing the unique medical challenges faced by those in the trucking industry. As the co-founder and Medical Director of the St. Christopher Trucker Development

Erik “Big E” Sieben was a dedicated contributor to 10-4 Magazine, known for his engaging articles and deep involvement in the trucking community. His passion for the industry was evident in his detailed show reports and features, such as his coverage of the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas. Erik’s commitment extended beyond journalism; he

Bryan has been working on and around trucks since he was 10 years old. With big rigs being a big part of the Martin family heritage, he worked anytime he could – helping fix tires, changing oil & assisting with breakdowns on his father’s fleet. Bryan went to Nashville Auto Diesel College in 1986, and

Joyce has celebrated over 25 years in the trucking business. She went from a 1 truck fleet to over 70 and a flourishing 3PL company. She started Trucking Families in 2012, a non-profit foundation. This foundation is set up to help the families of truck drivers with financial concerns or setbacks that might occur. Brenny

Keith Foster was an American inventor and entrepreneur who significantly impacted the trucking industry through his development of innovative unloading systems. In the 1950s, he founded a manufacturing company in Madras, Oregon, focusing on agricultural equipment. Recognizing the need for efficient material handling solutions, Foster introduced the first commercially viable moving floor unloading system under

Clessie Cummins was an inventor and entrepreneur known for pioneering advancements in diesel engine technology. Born in Indiana, he founded the Cummins Engine Company in 1919, transforming it into a leader in diesel innovation. Cummins was instrumental in proving the viability of diesel engines in automobiles, famously driving a diesel-powered car across the U.S. in

Dave Nemo hosts a show on Road Dog Trucking on Sirius XM Radio. Before that, Nemo hosted The Road gang, which was a huge overnight truckers broadcast in New Orleans. Nemo’s show broadcasts from Nashville, where huge country music stars from the industry come and stop by. He has broadcasted to the trucking industry for

When Ingrid Brown got into the trucking world over 40 years ago, she knew only five other women in the industry. She started driving as a teenager back in 1979 when her dad bought her first truck, and has been on the road ever since. Since then, she has driven through 48 states with over

Todd has truly dedicated his entire life to trying to improve working conditions for truckers. Todd served for many years as the Executive Vice President of OOIDA and is now the President of the Association. In 1980 Todd began working full-time at OOIDA, alongside Jim Johnston, handling Landline and the advocacy parts of the Association.

Ellen Voie is the founder and CEO of the Women In Trucking Association (WIT). She is constantly implementing new approaches to achieving gender diversity and inclusion within the trucking industry. When Ellen first started WIT 14 years ago, the industry was not concerned about the lack of gender diversity in the trucking industry. She didn’t

Bill Mack was a staple on country radio, starting all the way back in the 1960s. Mack was known to his listeners as the “Dean of Country Music Disc Jockeys” and “Radio’s Midnight Cowboy” due to him being both a country music DJ and songwriter. He started in 1969 in Fort Worth, where he hosted

Paul became involved in the trucking industry in 1981. As North American president of Eberspaecher, Paul enjoyed early success in the industry on the supplier side for several years and continued by forming his own marketing communications and consulting company. It was through this venture that he began penning copy for various trucking industry publications,

From the early age of 12 years old Bob Spooner has been, in the words of his mother, “a wandering soul”. His desire to wander eventually led him to a storied career in trucking. From his first experience driving a truck in the marine corps to hauling potatoes to McDonald’s across California, to hauling the

Mirah Lesa Worley, is a 40 year trucking veteran who went by the CB handle “YoYo”. A female trucking pioneer and living legend YoYo was also a singer and semi-truck racer. She won the first Atlanta Motor Speedway bobtail truck race in 1979.

Bud Farquhar is an integral piece of MATS history, as he ran the PKY Truck Championship from 2001-2019.

Dale Sommers, aka The Truckin’ Bozo, was perhaps the most-listened-to host in the history of trucking radio. Starting at WLW and other affiliated stations in 1984, his overnight show achieved ratings that were the envy of many top-flight drive-time radio hosts. He continued that when he moved in 2004 to XM Satellite Radio, transitioning after

Jim Johnston was elected president of OOIDA in 1975. Jim nurtured OOIDA as the largest national organization of professional truckers in the country. He boldly led OOIDA’s legal challenges against many state governments and regulatory bodies on issues associated with unfair treatment against truckers. Jim was active in White House working groups during the Carter

MATS began when Paul K. Young, former Kentucky Motor Transport Association President, and a few industry friends had an idea. They wanted to develop a show in the eastern half of the United States, similar to the largest heavy-duty show at the time, the International Trucking Show in California, and more accessible than the North