More than 2,600 heavy duty aftermarket professionals gathered January 16-19, 2023 at Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW) for four days of expert-led education, invaluable networking opportunities, personalized business meetings and a Product Expo featuring the latest products. At the event, the industry also honored Stu MacKay, president emeritus, MacKay & Company, as the 2023 Heavy Duty Aftermarket Industry Hall of Fame recipient and Weldon Parts as the Distributor of the Year.
“We are truly thankful for the amazing turnout at HDAW’23,” said Bill Betts, president and CEO, Betts Trucks Parts & Service, and the distributor co-chair for HDAW‘23. “The excitement, starting from our opening receptions to the Product Expo Floor and education sessions, was obvious. It was also incredibly important that we recognized the people and organizations that have made a lasting impact on our industry like Stu and Weldon Parts – it’s because of people like them that our industry continues to grow.”
The 2023 annual meeting featured a 59,000+ square foot, sold-out Product Expo floor with 300+ suppliers, including more than 40 first-time exhibitors, showcasing the latest HD aftermarket equipment, products, tools, technology and more. Produced by a joint operating committee of industry leaders from 12 distinguished industry associations, the 2023 event saw a 27% increase in attendance from 2022 and its largest distributor showing in event history.
This year boasted the theme of “Shift, Adapt, Grow” interwoven throughout the program, with a highly regarded keynote by Brian Kight, who offered leadership insights and a refreshing perspective on organizational development. There were additional opportunities for distributors and suppliers to meet through their popular One-on-One Business Meetings program and peer-to-peer roundtable discussions.
“There is a reason why HDAW’23 sold-out of supplier meeting rooms and had the biggest One-on-One program ever – our industry has been eager to reconnect and get ahead of this changing landscape” said Brian Rieger, vice president of North American Sales, ConMet, and the supplier co-chair for HDAW‘23. “It was important for us to provide the industry a first-look not only at the top brands and the latest innovations but offer a program that hit on topics impacting their businesses now and, in the future – like conversations on ‘HD Powertrains of the Future’ and ‘The Future of Diagnostics for HD/EV Vehicles.’”
The program also highlighted an industry hot topic with a discussion on Right to Repair, which featured an interactive conversation with Ann Wilson, SVP of Government Affairs at MEMA and Lisa Foshee, SVP of Government Affairs at Auto Care Association, moderated by Marc Karon, President, Total Truck Parts.
In the discussion, Foshee and Wilson spoke to the audience about the critical issue of Right to Repair legislation and how it is impacting the industry as a new legislative year kicks off. Audience members had the opportunity to ask questions and dive further into ways the industry could get involved. The passionate discussion ended with a call to be part of a movement to reach out to Congress by visiting www.repairact.com.
HDAW‘23 brings together executives and managers from across the industry, including distributors, suppliers, service providers, industry experts and thought leaders and more. Planning for the 2024 event, taking place January 22- 25 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, is already well underway.
For more information, visit, visit www.hdaw.org
