With less than a week to go, the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show is poised to be the biggest and best in the event’s storied 55-year history
With over 35,000sqm exhibits filling all three levels of the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre – including all the big truck and trailer brands, plus further expansion of activations and entertainment in the nearby South Bank Parklands, the 2023 show is on track to be the biggest and best in the event’s history.
Buoyed by record demand for new trucks over the past 18 months, key brands Volvo, Mack, UD, Hino and Isuzu have returned to the Southern Hemisphere’s largest road transport equipment expo, joining stalwarts Kenworth, DAF, Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, Fuso, Western Star, MAN and Iveco.
And the big brands have a slew of new products on show, some publicly for the first time, including Kenworth’s new K220, MAN’s new TGL, TGM, TGS and TGX models, the Fuso Shogun 510, Western Star’s new X-Series models, and the all-new Iveco S-Way and T-Way.
What’s more, the biggest showcase of battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles ever assembled in the country is also on display. These include multiple models from established truck brands such as Volvo, Kenworth, Daimler (including both the eEconic and eActros), Isuzu and Hyundai, as well as new offerings from new brands including SEA Electric, Hyzon and HDrive.
Not to be left behind, more than 30 of Australia’s world-class trailer manufacturers are also showcasing the latest innovations in trailer design, including a raft of new products from the likes of The Drake Group, MaxiTRANS, Robuk Engineering, CIMC, Holmwood Highgate and Bruce Rock Engineering.
Connecting it all together, a record number of parts and accessories suppliers, and technology providers, are exhibiting a raft of product advances that are playing an increasing role in delivering on the 2023 show’s key themes of innovation, safety, sustainability and knowledge.
Continuing the show’s evolution into a week-long festival of all things trucking, the event continues to extend well beyond the walls of the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) into the nearby South Bank Parklands and beyond.
With the support of Tourism and Events Queensland, the Brisbane City Council and South Bank Corporation, the South Bank Truck Festival sees Little Stanley Street and Stanley Street Plaza again closed to traffic to showcase an ever-expanding line-up of innovative trucks and trailers, including a new zone dedicated to EV’s.
Following its success in 2019 and 2021, there’s also an abundance of activities and entertainment in the Parklands, supported by the precinct’s retailers waiting to welcome visitors with a plethora of great drinking and dining options.
There’s also a series of Rock On Riverside family concerts down by the Brisbane River, including Chris Cheney and The Superjesus on the Friday night, and Phil Jamieson and Australian Rock Collective on the Saturday evening.
However, the centrepiece of the South Bank Truck Festival is a full-scale Mack Anthem built entirely from LEGO bricks. Comprising almost one million bricks, the build has taken seven months in the lead up to the show, with the finishing touches to be added live in front of the public at what’s sure to be among the most popular displays at the show.
Also at South Bank, the HVIA National Apprentice Challenge maintains its new home in the Piazza, where the wider community will be able to see for themselves the high level of skills and diverse range of rewarding career paths on offer in Australia’s heavy vehicle industry.
And in a return to its roots, the big yellow machines are back at the Brisbane Showgrounds, with the 2023 Heavy Equipment and Machinery Show (HEMS) again running alongside the Truck Show from Thursday to Sunday. The show is held in conjunction with Civil Contractors Federation Queensland (CCFQ).
Plus for old truck fans, cool classic trucks will again be a feature of the Brisbane Truck Show, with the Heritage Truck Association Australia staging its big annual event on the weekend of May 20-21at Rocklea Showgrounds.
HVIA Chief Executive Todd Hacking says the response to the show’s strategic expansion has been “fantastic”.
“All of that success is a reflection on the leadership shown by so many of our exhibitors who did such an amazing job of showcasing the values of their companies and our industry to the broader community,” he says.
“The opportunity to showcase our industry in this spectacular location provides the perfect opportunity to share our story with the community in a tangible and lasting way.
“We are extremely grateful to the Queensland Government and the City of Brisbane for coming on board to enable this initiative to come to life.
“They recognise that the Brisbane Truck Show is a vital Queensland business, tourism and cultural asset, recognised internationally amongst the world’s leading industry business events.”
Now ranking among the world’s leading transport industry events, the Brisbane Truck Show has come a long way from its humble beginnings back in 1968 when 21 truck, trailer and component manufacturers and suppliers came together at Haulmark Trailers’ premises in Rocklea.
These days, it is, by far, the biggest business event the road transport industry holds in the Southern Hemisphere.
And it is recognised among the best, with the 2019 event named ‘Australia’s Best Corporate Event and Best Exhibition, Trade or Consumer Show’ in the Australian Event Awards; while the 2021 show took out the ‘Best Live or Hybrid Congress, Conference or Exhibition’ gong in the 2021 awards.
Those accolades have only served to inspire more energy to further improve the show for both exhibitors and visitors, according to Hacking.
“Our industry exhibitors do an extraordinary job raising the bar every show and 2023 is no different,” he says.
“On display at the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show is a fantastic array of products, from the very latest trucks and innovative trailer designs, to components, equipment, accessories and ground-breaking technology solutions.”
To ensure you don’t miss out on the Southern Hemisphere’s largest transport and trucking industry event, secure your tickets today here.
What’s On Calendar
BTS23 BP Official Opening Breakfast
Thursday, May 18, 7:00am-9:30am
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
BTS23 Ampol Media Preview Tour
Thursday, May 18, 9:30am-12:00pm
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
Brisbane Truck Show
Thursday, May 18-Sunday, May 21, 10:00am-5:00pm
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
South Bank Truck Festival
Thursday, May 18-Sunday, May 21, 10:00am-5:00pm
South Bank Parklands
Heavy Equipment & Machinery Show
Thursday, May 18-Sunday, May 21, 10:00am-5:00pm
Brisbane Showgrounds
National Apprentice Challenge Heats
Thursday, May 18, 8:00am-3:30pm
South Bank Piazza
National Apprentice Challenge Heats and Final
Friday, May 19, 8:00am-2:00pm
South Bank Piazza
Heritage Truck Show
Saturday, May 20-Sunday, May 21, 8:00am-5:00pm
Rocklea Showgrounds
