The Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS), the largest annual heavy-duty trucking event, is proud to announce its premier kickoff event: the 2026 Opening Breakfast: Network & Learn. Scheduled for Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 7:45 AM, this event is engineered to provide independent owner-operators and small fleet owners with the high-level intelligence and networking required to build resilient, profitable businesses in today’s volatile freight market.

Presented by Progressive Insurance and supported by DAT Freight & Analytics, the Opening Breakfast goes beyond standard networking. It serves as a strategic briefing for the year ahead, featuring a powerhouse lineup of analysts, technology leaders, and veteran carriers who will provide actionable solutions for cutting costs, navigating regulations, and maximizing cash flow.

“The 2026 market presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities for the small carrier,” said Toby Young, President of MATS. “Our goal, with the breakfast event, is to give small carriers the same competitive advantage usually reserved for the largest carriers.

Event Highlights & Strategic Sessions:

• Smarter Savings on the Road: Sanjay Vyas of Progressive Insurance will explore innovative strategies to reduce insurance overhead using telematics, dash cams, and enhanced roadside support.
• Freight Market Insights to Future-Proof Your Trucking Business: Lee Klaskow of Bloomberg Intelligence will deliver a deep dive into the current freight cycle, capacity trends, and macroeconomic indicators. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of where the market is headed in 2026 and how to position their businesses to survive the lows and capitalize on the highs.
• Expert Panel Session: The morning will conclude with a moderated panel and a live Q&A session, allowing attendees to engage directly with speakers on a wide range of topics that are most important to their daily operations.

2026 Featured Speakers:

• Lee Klaskow – Senior Analyst, Transportation and Logistics, Bloomberg Intelligence
• Sanjay Vyas – General Manager, Commercial Lines Product & Pricing, Progressive Insurance
• Bill Driegert – Executive Vice President, DAT Carrier Products + Convoy Platform
• Dale Prax – Founder, FreightValidate and Strategic Fraud Advisor at Truckstop.com
• Jamie Hagen – Owner & President, Hell Bent Xpress LLC
• Adam Wingfield – Founder & Managing Director, Innovative Logistics Group
• Jason Cowan – Founder & President, Silver Creek Transportation
• Brent Hutto (Moderator) – Chief Relationship Officer, Truck Parking Club

Event Details:

• When: Thursday, March 26, 2026 | Doors open at 7:45 AM (Breakfast starts at 8:00 AM)
• Where: South Wing Meeting Room B103, Kentucky Exposition Center
• Admission: $100 (Pre-registration required)

The 2026 Opening Breakfast is an exclusive, ticketed event. Attendees are encouraged to register early and submit questions for the panel via the official event page. To add the Opening Breakfast to your MATS badge or to learn more, visit truckingshow.com/opening-breakfast.

About MATS The Mid-America Trucking Show is the premier forum for the heavy-duty trucking industry. For over 50 years, MATS has provided the platform for educators, innovators, and industry leaders to connect with the professionals who keep the country moving.

About MATS

Since 1972, the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) has grown to be the world’s largest and longest-running annual heavy-duty trucking event. MATS is the place to experience everything from new technologies to networking with industry thought leaders. This is where the industry’s largest brands and promising startups do business, form partnerships, and make meaningful connections. More than 800 exhibitors and 50,000 attendees are expected from across the globe at MATS this year, making it the education and innovation epicenter of the trucking industry. The entire industry connects at MATS 54 on March 26-28, 2026.