Families from across Pierce County got up close and personal with trucks, trains, cargo-handling equipment and more at the Port of Tacoma's annual Touch-a-Truck event on October 4. The Port's largest public outreach event drew more than 3,000 visitors of all ages. 

Whether climbing into the front seat of a forklift, watching the nimble moves of a tugboat, or honking the horn of an electric yard truck, children were able to explore how these enormous machines work. They also met members of International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 23 and Port of Tacoma staff who operate the machinery and asked questions about what it's like to work in the trades.   

The event featured fun activities like learning how to tie up a ship and virtual reality goggles that simulated operating a container crane. Families could also climb the Port's observation tower and watch activity on the Sitcum Waterway. 

The event was made possible by the participation of community partners, including the City of Tacoma, ILWU Local 23, Maritime|253, Tacoma Public Schools, Operation Lifesaver, SSA Marine, Tacoma Rail, Tacoma Fire Department, T.E. Walrath Trucking, Inc., and the Youth Marine Foundation. 

Two children play with a toy car on an orange track attached to a wall. A small girl stands underneath a large black tube with her arms outstretched. A child stands on a rail track next to a stationary train. A shot of an orange crane and people standing in front of it. A happy young boy's hair appears to be sucked up through a black tube. Overhead shot of a street lined with people and construction vehicles. A robotic "dog" walks down a busy street of people. Two people stand on an observation deck. A toddler in red pants sits in a construction vehicle. A woman and small child take a selfie inside a construction vehicle. Two children in Spider-man costumes stand in a construction vehicle. A man with brown hair smiles and holds a small child in a blue shrt. A man lifts his child out of a construction vehicle while other people around look on. Three adolescents in train conductor hats pose for the camera.