This year’s Great American Trucking Show in Dallas promises to be the largest in its young history. Mark your calendar for Thursday-Saturday, Aug. 25-27, and make plans to be at the Dallas Convention Center. I can’t wait for this year’s event – and I’m going to tell you why you should be excited, too.
Fleet owners are invited to attend the first GATS Fleet Forum, presented Thursday, Aug. 25 by Texas Motor Transportation Association and GATS. Keynote speaker Bart Starr will start off with a rousing inspirational message, “Be The Best You Can Be.” A professional and college football standout, Starr quarterbacked the Green Bay Packers to victory in five NFL Championships and the first two Super Bowls.
The forum will include topics on the hottest trends, technologies and techniques that can impact your fleet’s financial success. Topics include:
- “Safety Rules for the Next Decade,” presented by Bill Webb, president/CEO of Texas Motor Transportation Association.
- “Trends in Driver’s Compensation,” by Gordon Klemp, The National Survey of Driver Wages.
- “Future of Electronic Onboard Recorders,” by Dan Pearce, director of risk management for Schneider National.
- “Pro-Active Leadership,” by Webb.
- “Finding Tomorrow’s Drivers Today,” by Ray Kuntz, CEO of Watkins Shepard Trucking and chairman of ATA’s Driver Recruiting and Retention Committee.
- “Hours of Service Update,” by Dave Osiecki, American Trucking Associations vice president of safety, security and operations.
After the Thursday session, Fleet Forum attendees are invited to the famous Texas watering hole, Gilley’s, to relax and enjoy the company of our sponsors and other guests. Sponsors for the Fleet Forum include Commercial Carrier Journal, TMTA, Bridgestone, Peterbilt, Cummins, MultiMedia Advertising, Midnight Trucking and TripPak Services.
Another “first” at GATS is a massive national safety and security training session administered by ATA under an agreement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Highway Watch training will be offered on-site to all transportation professionals attending GATS; it will be held every hour on the hour for the estimated 42,000-plus drivers, owner-operators, fleet executives and exhibitors expected to attend the show. ATA says more than 100,000 transportation professionals nationwide have received the program’s training; this year, GATS will host the largest participant training session at one location.
Consider bringing the whole family to GATS because there will be plenty to see and do. It’s not too late to register: Visit this site.
