Heavy-duty issues

Top industry insiders provide their perspectives on critical issues such as sustainability, workforce development, and future growth at this year's Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress and Exhibition.

With a still-struggling but apparently stabilizing economy as a backdrop, SAE International's marquee commercial vehicle engineering event is ready to provide the critical platform to discuss and display the innovations necessary to move beyond the downturn.

Just as the economy has affected the OEMs and suppliers that are developing those technologies, so too has it impacted the development of this year's event. “Where we have felt the impact of the economy-as we expected based on industry-wide trends-is in the exhibition and sponsorship areas,” said Gregory Muha, SAE's Commercial Vehicle and Defense Sector - OEM and Events Business Development Manager. “Currently [as of late August] we are tracking about 40 to 50% behind in exhibits and sponsorships and 30% off on the number of registrants compared to last year. These numbers are similar to what other industry events have experienced.”