THE biggest truck show Australia has seen opens in Melbourne this week.

Australia's largest-ever truck show will open its doors next week at Melbourne Showgrounds.

    FAST FACTS
  • WHAT: International Truck, Trailer & Equipment Show
  • WHEN: March 18-20
  • WHERE: Melbourne Showgrounds, Epsom Rd, Ascot Vale
  • HOURS: 10am to 6pm Thursday and Friday, 9am to 5pm Saturday
  • ENTRY: free to the trade and general public
  • PARKING: available at Flemington racecourse
  • MORE DETAILS: phone Sarah on (03) 9690 7022

The second International Truck, Trailer & Equipment Show from March 18-20 will have more than 350 exhibition sites spread across a 19ha show space.

More than 40,000 visitors are expected to attend to see the latest in truck, trailer and ancillary equipment products and services.

The show has attracted all major truck manufacturers, more than 50 of the nation's top trailer body builders and high-quality ancillary equipment suppliers.

"The show has reached new heights and we're thrilled to display the largest collection of trailer manufacturers and suppliers ever assembled at a transport exhibition in Australia," said show director Clint Hendry.

Visitors will have the chance to see moving displays, the latest trucks and the opportunity to win a trip for two to this year's Moto Grand Prix in Malaysia.

The show will spread over 11 indoor pavilions and a large outdoor exhibition space that houses a moving equipment display area.

Every possible trailer type and configuration will be on display.

Exhibitors include local transport companies of all sizes, as well as participants from New Zealand, India, Taiwan, Turkey and China.

And many are planning some impressive displays.

PACCAR Australia, one of the largest exhibitors at the show, will feature more than 15 of the latest models from Kenworth and DAF.

At PACCAR World, visitors can hear the latest news on truck safety, inspect displays on LNG power, see the PACCAR engine range, Cummins SCR and EGR emission solutions and the Eaton Ultrashift.

The Kenworth display includes the heavy-duty vehicles T408 and T408SAR, the long-bonneted T908, the T608 and the K108.

The popular T358 will also be on show, as will the most recent addition to the line-up, the T402.

DAF Trucks will promote its new safety options.

Western Star Trucks and MAN Automotive Imports will take over Exhibition Hall to display a full range of their models, including the latest developments for the refrigerated B-double market.

Mercedes-Benz will display a world record-winning truck on the Daimler stand.

A super-frugal Mercedes-Benz Actros safety truck will be set up in a similar specification to a vehicle with which Mercedes-Benz claimed a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the most fuel-efficient truck in the world.

Also on the Daimler stand will be a 2.8m raised roof Freightliner Argosy, a Columbia CL112 powered by Detroit's MBE4000 engine, plus the Sterling HX9500.

There will also be two Freightliner CST120 Century class 6x4 prime movers.

Detroit Diesel will also preview the successor to the Series 60 - the new DD15.

Vehicle collector Lindsay Fox plans to display four restored heritage trucks.