FERGUS, Ont. – One of the hottest truck shows of the season, the Fergus Truck Show, was back at the Fergus Fairgrounds July 22-24, coming on the tail of some of the hottest weather in the province’s history.

Thousands braved the heat to take part in some of the many activities at the show, including live music, tractor pulls and the always popular show’n’shine competition. But what makes the show – which has often made the annual list of the Top 50 Ontario Festivals – a cut above the rest? Truck News did a special on-site version of the Truck Stop Question at the 2011 Fergus Truck Show to see what keeps truckers coming back year after year.

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For David Selig, a driver with Celadon Transport, 2011 marked his first appearance at the show – and it sounds like he’ll be back again.

“I am usually away and on the other side of the continent somewhere when it’s on.  It’s a nice show with lots of vendors and exhibits. I liked seeing the truck pull in the corner and it’s been a nice day. Glad they got nice weather for it this year,” he said. “Maybe I might clean up the truck one year and bring it down (for the show’n’shine competition).”

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Jeff Logan, a driver with Ayr Motor Express in Mississauga, Ont., has been coming to Fergus for the last 10 years at least and he, his friends and his family like to stay and camp and make a weekend of it.

“We just love coming here, seeing all the people and trucks, seeing the MTO and the OPP; they’re doing a wonderful job here,” he said at the show. “I came in here this morning and brought two of my boys in and we’ve been walking around. A wonderful place for the kids. Fergus is a beautiful place and this has been a wonderful place to come and visit.”

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For Randy Paton, a driver with Gary Mercer Trucking out of Mississauga, Ont., it looks like the 2011 Fergus Truck Show is also going to be his last.

“It costs too much money now. I have two 14-year-old daughters and it cost me $108 just for them to sit here for the weekend. Why can’t they have kids free? It’s all about having fun, not making money.”

Prior to the price hike, Paton says he used to come for the people, but “I have to work two weeks in a row now to afford to go to the truck show, so who cares about the people anymore?”

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Gerb Dykema, a driver with Appleby Transportation in Burlington, Ont., was making his second appearance at the show.
“I just like fancy trucks and all of the chrome and cool stuff on these trucks. I like looking at the owner/operator vehicles,” he said. “I’m a company driver and probably won’t ever be an owner/operator because I would want one of these fancy rigs and I’d be broke all the time.”

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Steve Kovacs, a driver with IFS Transport out of Tillbury, Ont., likes to make the trip out to the Fergus Truck Show about once every five years for a little “something different,” as well as a chance to take the kids out and make it a family weekend.

“We were looking at some dump trailer stuff there, and a lot of stuff for the kids. It’s a pretty good time.”
Asked whether he has any plans for taking part in the show’n’shine competition himself: “No, I’m too old for that,” says the 20-year veteran of the road. “Too lazy for all of the polishing.”