5 Ways to Get More Out of Your CONEXPO 2026 Booth Visits

CONEXPO is a massive event, and if you’re heading to Las Vegas this March, you’re about to experience something truly unique. But with so many exhibitors and so much ground to cover, the show can feel a bit overwhelming. You’ve invested time and money to be there, and one of the best ways to get a real return on that investment might be to change how you think about visiting the booths before you arrive.

We know there are a lot of CONEXPO attendees that feel a bit hesitant to approach booth staff, thinking they’re only there to make a sale. But for most of us exhibitors, that’s not really the case. Exhibit staff — from engineers and product managers to service specialists and application experts — are there because they’re passionate about what they do for a living. They’re eager to show you the result of the hard work they’ve put in over the past several years, demonstrating how their new or evolving solutions can help your business run smarter and more profitably.

These exhibits really are fantastic learning centers, not sales floors. The key for you is to feel empowered to start more meaningful conversations. Here are five tips to help you get more out of every booth visit:

1. Come prepared with a few specific questions. Before you even hit the show floor, think about your biggest business challenges. Are you curious about ways to lower fuel costs, increase uptime or improve jobsite safety? Having a few questions ready makes it easier to start a conversation and shows the booth staff that you’re serious about finding a solution. 

Take the example of Vermont contractor Harold Lunnie. He walked up to a Volvo expert at a recent CONEXPO-CON/AGG show and simply asked, “So, what does Dig Assist do?” His curiosity led to a personalized demonstration and a hands-on learning experience that now helps his site prep business on a daily basis.

2. Get hands-on. The show floor is your chance to try things out and compare one manufacturer’s products against another. So don’t just browse the machines — when you can, get in a cab. Maybe test out the controls on a simulator or stick around to see a live demonstration of a new feature you’ve read about. And if you have a chance to actually operate a machine, do it. Many exhibitors have interactive displays and hands-on experiences specifically for attendees to learn without pressure. This is how you can truly understand how a new machine or technology feels to operate.

3. Bring your whole team. If you’re an owner or a fleet manager, bring your operators and service techs with you. Having different perspectives can provide a more complete learning experience. An operator can provide feedback on machine ergonomics and visibility, while a service tech can ask detailed questions about daily service checks and preventative maintenance.

4. Be clear about your business needs. Whether you run a small crew or manage a large fleet, be upfront with the booth staff about the size and scope of your business. The technology and solutions at CONEXPO are often scalable, and being direct helps the experts provide you with the most relevant information for your unique operation.

5. Sign up for CONEXPO education sessions. The learning opportunities at CONEXPO go well beyond the show floor. The education program offers hundreds of sessions on everything from predictive maintenance to workforce development. For owners and fleet managers, these sessions can be a key part of your investment.

To get the most out of them, start by identifying your business’s top three to five pain points. Are rising fuel costs cutting into your profits? Do you need new strategies to improve uptime and efficiency? Wish you had guaranteed uptime? Once you have a clear idea of what you need, you can strategically browse the session schedule to find actionable insights that will directly impact your bottom line back home. This approach ensures you’re not just attending classes — you’re getting real, tangible value.

Make CONEXPO 2026 a turning point for your business.
CONEXPO Las Vegas is a chance to discover technologies and solutions that can truly transform the way you work. By proactively engaging with booth staff and strategically choosing education sessions, you can ensure you leave the show with a deeper understanding of what’s next for the construction industry and new ideas you can put into practice.

And if you’re curious what we’ll be up to at the show this March, visit our Volvo at CONEXPO page for more details and be sure to sign up to get exclusive CONEXPO updates in your inbox. Sign up early and you could win a one-of-a-kind Volvo CONEXPO VIP experience!