John Michael Montgomery
From live entertainment to family-oriented seminars, this year’s Great American Trucking Show in Dallas has events for everyone.
Attendees of the show will have the chance to see two big-name country artists perform free concerts. The convention is Sept. 6-8.
At 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 6, Tracy Byrd will highlight some of the songs off his newest album, Ten Rounds, including its hot new single “Just Let Me Be In Love” which is heading into the Top 10 in the music charts. The RCA artist behind hits like “Keeper of the Stars” – which earned Song of the Year from the Academy of Country Music – and “Watermelon Crawl” will be sponsored by Volvo Trucks North America.
John Michael Montgomery will take center stage on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 6:30 p.m. The singer is known for such hits as “Be My Baby Tonight,” “Sold,” “I Swear” “Life A Dance,” and “I Love The Way You Love Me.” Ford Commercial Trucks is sponsoring the concert.
Cajun country singer Eddy Raven will be at the Midnight Trucking Radio Network booth on Friday to sign autographs. Those who stop by also can register for $1,000 to be given away on Sunday.
But GATS offers much more than just entertainment.
Focus on the Family will present a two-hour seminar, “Strengthening Your Family for the Long Haul,” 1-3 p.m. Saturday. The panel discussion will be moderated by Dr. Bill Maier, psychologist in residence at Focus on the Family, the nation’s largest family-oriented Christian ministry.
Panelists will discuss what it takes to raise a family while on the road, as well as how fleets can do better in attracting and retaining truckers when they address their physical, emotional and family needs. The panelists will be Chuck Sonn, founder of Hope Haulers (his Chaplain’s Corner column appears on eTrucker.com); Scott Weidner of Transport for Christ; Yvette Maher, vice president of women’s ministries for Focus; Bob Hataway, president of Transalive, a nationwide service that assists injured or ill truckers with transportation; and Rick Towe, vice president of driver relations at Covenant Transport, which provides a benevolence and faith-based care and counseling for its drivers.
The discussion will continue from 8:30-10 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 8, and will include a performance by former trucker Kenny Robbins. He was named 2000 Country Gospel Artist of the Year and last year was inducted into Country Gospel Hall of Fame.
Other GATS highlights:
- Internet & Technology Pavilion.
- Overdrive‘s indoor Pride & Polish truck beauty show.
- The Commercial Work Truck Pavilion, for class 3-7 trucks.
- GATS Fleet Executive Conference, Sept. 5-6.
