The Great American Trucking Show (GATS) is a major annual trucking industry trade show held in Dallas, Texas. In 2017, the event took place at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center and the Fair Park grounds in September.

Attendance & Scale

GATS 2017 attracted approximately 50,000 registered attendees and featured over 500,000 square feet of exhibitor space. The show hosted nearly 500 exhibitors and displayed more than 100 trucks.

Recruitment & Networking

Nearly 100 recruiting companies participated in the Recruiting Pavilion, providing visitors with direct opportunities to explore career options and meet potential employers.

Health & Wellness Initiatives

The Health and Wellness Pavilion offered a variety of screenings, including digital mammograms, DOT physicals, and eye tests. Baylor Scott & White Health provided a mammogram bus that served 49 patients. A blood drive at the event collected 43 pints, potentially saving over 129 lives.

Entertainment & Activities

• The Progressive Commercial Roadhouse Run included a 5K run and one-mile walk, with proceeds benefiting the St. Christopher Truckers Development and Relief Fund.
• Two new stages, the Health and Wellness Pavilion Stage and the Truckers News Stage, offered more than 26 hours of programming, including cooking demonstrations, the Trucker Talent Search finals, and FMCSA informational sessions on Electronic Data Logs.

Style & Community Events

• The Overdrive Pride & Polish truck competition showcased over 50 show trucks, with winners recognized in more than 20 categories.
• TA / Petro Truck Parking hosted over 1,500 trucks and offered services such as DOT inspections, tire and engine maintenance, pet grooming, showers, and nightly entertainment, creating a strong community atmosphere.

Evening Concert & Socializing

GATS partnered with Uber Freight to host the “Take a Load Off” party at Eddie Deen’s Ranch, where attendees enjoyed free food, beverages, and live music from artists such as Tony Justice, Jayne Denham, and Bill Weaver.

Why It Mattered

GATS 2017 delivered an all-in-one experience by combining industry education, recruitment opportunities, health services, entertainment, and a strong sense of community. The event placed particular emphasis on driver well-being through health screenings, wellness activities, and networking opportunities that connected drivers with career advancement and the latest industry innovations.

Deaf Truckers at GATS 2017

While GATS 2017 was not exclusively focused on deaf or hard-of-hearing drivers, the event included advocacy representation and networking opportunities for deaf truckers. Organizations such as Deaf Truckers United were present to connect with attendees, share information about the CDL hearing exemption process, and promote equal access within the industry. These efforts tied into the broader movement toward inclusivity in trucking, especially following regulatory changes that began in 2013.

Background on CDL Hearing Exemptions

Before 2013, federal regulations required CDL applicants to pass a hearing test, specifically, the forced whisper test, which was a barrier for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Following advocacy efforts, the Department of Transportation began granting exemptions for qualified drivers with safe driving records.

Key points include:

• A 2008 FMCSA study found that deaf and hard-of-hearing drivers posed no greater crash risk than hearing drivers, also questioning the validity of the whisper test.
• The first wave of exemptions in 2013 included 40 drivers, with numbers growing significantly in subsequent years.
• By 2020, an estimated 900 deaf drivers had obtained exemptions, many citing heightened visual awareness as an asset on the road.
• Success stories, such as those of Suzie Helgerson (Wisconsin’s first female deaf trucker) and Sandy Sloat, showcased how deaf drivers continue to break barriers in the industry.

At GATS 2017, the presence of deaf truckers and their advocates reflected the trucking industry’s gradual shift toward greater accessibility, technology-driven communication, and inclusive hiring practices.