TUSCALOOSA, AL (September 2010) – As the trucking industry is beginning to report a slight rebound, The Great American Trucking Show and other events held in the days leading up to the show produced very positive results. “This year’s GATS proved to be a real success in terms of exhibitor space as well as the attendee turnout,” says Mike Reilly, chairman, president and CEO of Randall-Reilly, which owns GATS. “The show itself, as well as all of the meetings surrounding it, attracted very high quality attendees.”
“The show floor was up nearly 20 percent over 2009 with almost 450 exhibiting companies in attendance,” says Alan K. Sims, GATS vice president/executive director. “Participation from external groups who are holding new meetings, or bringing existing ones to run before, or concurrently with GATS, has really increased the value of the show. We’ve received very positive comments from exhibitors, sponsors and attendees.”
A new event this year was the inaugural Commercial Vehicle Outlook Conference. The event attracted more than 350 industry leaders from all segments of trucking to enjoy expert presentations, panel discussions and numerous networking opportunities during two half-days immediately prior to the opening of GATS. Outlook was produced by Randall-Reilly Business Media & Information and the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association.
“For our first ever Commercial Vehicle Outlook Conference, we couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome,” states Tim Kraus, president and COO of HDMA. “Bringing together a large cross-section of our industry for a meaningful outlook conference on the commercial vehicle industry was our goal. Based on the more than 350 registrations and the high praise from a great mix of executives in attendance, we feel we are off to a great start for future CVOC events in Dallas, with GATS.”
Other events attracting qualified fleet attendees included the 2010 Truckload Carriers Association Independent Contractor Meeting, the newly formed TCA Open Deck Division, The Texas Motor Transportation Association’s Sand and Gravel Division, as well as their Tank Division. Additionally, a select group of North American truck dealers gathered to discuss their future needs and challenges.
The 2010 Great American Trucking Show occupied more than 422,000 square feet of space within the Dallas Convention Center. For nearly a decade GATS has been recognized nationally as one of the 200 largest events in the U.S. and Canada.
Next year’s Great American Trucking Show will be held August 25, 26 and 27 at the Dallas Convention Center.
About the Great American Trucking Show
The Great American Trucking Show is an all-encompassing convention of trucking professionals, featuring nearly 450 exhibitors representing truck, trailer, engine, component and parts manufacturers, as well as services catering to the heavy- and medium-duty trucking industry. Educational opportunities include the TruckSmart Summit and sessions produced by the Texas Motor Transportation Association. More than 45,000 trucking professionals attend GATS, including fleet executives, owner-operators, safety and operation managers and suppliers.
About Randall-Reilly
Founded in 1934, Randall-Reilly (www.randallreilly.com) is the premier U.S. media and information company focused on the trucking and construction markets. Its diversified portfolio includes print and digital publications, custom media, websites, interactive media, data products, research and events. The company’s trucking division serves the fleet, owner-operator, recruitment, truck stop, pre-owned truck and trailer, dealer and heavy-duty aftermarket segments. Randall-Reilly’s construction division covers the highway and heavy construction, road building, aggregates, landscaping and used equipment markets.
Randall-Reilly’s Equipment Data Associates business is an industry-leading collector and aggregator of equipment purchase and financing data, which it offers to its customers in industrial equipment end markets for sales lead generation and market intelligence. The company’s Custom Media Division provides major corporations with customized brand marketing programs.
Randall-Reilly has offices in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Chicago, Charlotte, N.C., and New Berlin, Wis.
