BRAMPTON, Ont. — The fifth annual Road Today Truck Show took to a new Brampton venue over the sunny-skied weekend, with nearly 7,000 attendees visiting the Soccer Centre May 25-26.

The show, hosted by the publishers of Road Today magazine, was called “very successful” by event organizers, who also described the mood of both visitor and exhibitors as “upbeat.” 

About 100 exhibitors from a variety of sectors took part in the trade show, including companies focused on trucks (used and new), trailers, heavy-duty parts and accessories, servicing equipment and supplies, engines and power train components, fuels and fuel additives, media outlets and financial services. 

Organizers called the Job Fair for drivers and owner/operators “a huge success.” Staff members from MTO commercial vehicle enforcement were also there to answer queries of truckers.  

Road Today editor Manan Gupta told Truck News that the event was designed for whole families to enjoy, with show features including as a clown, face-painting, live entertainment, a rock wall, a bouncy castle, and prize giveaways.

The show was inaugurated by Brampton Mayor Susan Fennell and Regional Councillor John Sanderson. Other prominent dignitaries visiting the show included Jim Karygiannis, Member Parliament for Scarborough Agincourt; Linda Jeffrey, Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; and Vicky Dhillon, City Councillor.

Special greetings and congratulatory messages were sent in by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Transportation Glen Murray, and Canadian Trucking Alliance CEO David Bradley.

The show also featured The Road Today Trucking Excellence Awards. Award winners included Aman Thakral of ITS Transport (Owner Operator of the Year), Dr. Peter Gibson of Bramalea Secondary School (Trucking Educationist of the Year) and Hans Janzen of Mississauga (Trucking Ambassador of the Year).

“The Road Today Truck Show management is thankful for the continued patronage received from the trucking industry and community. We now look forward to the sixth year celebrations in May 2014,” show organizers said in a release.