Figuring out where to begin is a tough one, since there were so many wonderful things this year at GATS. A shift towards technology and a bigger focus on driver health seemed to be key topics at this year's show, as well as trying to understand how the future of trucking is going to taking shape in a rapidly changing environment.
This year I remained mainly attached to the Freightliner booth, showcasing the CNG technology that I am familiar with running in my CNG-powered Cascadia, talking with what seemed to be an unending stream of folks interested in its comparison to diesel-powered trucks. Although CNG has been out for several years now, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of people who still had not discovered the possible savings of CNG-powered trucks and wanted to learn more about the options available for their specific operations. It seemed as though a large majority of folks I talked to realize that diesel is not going to stay cheap forever and want to learn more about being proactive in the possibility of powering their fleets with cleaner, more price-stable alternative fuels.
Driver health and wellness were on the forefront of this year's Great American Truck Show as well. The Landstar Fit for the Road Health & Wellness Pavilion was a prime example of this show's commitment to the drivers and the need to keep them healthy by bringing vital screenings and health education to them. It is not easy living life on the road and this type of lifestyle often does not make it easy to attain some of the services offered that non-trucking people take for granted. Having heard that the mobile mammogram bus was utilized by a good number of drivers who needed this potentially lifesaving screening, it let's me know that the need is out there for more of this type of driver-focused care at shows like this! Judging by the number of blue armbands I saw on people walking around the show, I am certain that the annual blood drive was a big hit with drivers as well!
I was also able to take part in the 5K run/walk on Saturday morning, which took place out at the truck parking area of Fair Park. The wet morning weather did not dampen any of the participant's spirits, which turned out to be a good-sized crowd to chart the course around the Cotton Bowl and through historic fairground courtyards. Although I participate in the health walks at every show I attend, the fun and energy that this official 5K generated was something that I hope to see spread at this show and grow for next year!
In a slight change from recent years, I noticed an increased interest in exhibitors that were from the tech side of trucking. As you may well know, I am always looking for the next new hot app to help in the success of my trucking. There 
were a few newer technology based vendors set up to showcase how they are aiming to help in the productivity of many different aspects of trucking operations. Two new apps that I look forward to learning more about that generated a lot of buzz at this year's show were Trucker Path and Transfix, which are in development to help owner-operators streamline processes such as trip planning, load matching, and even getting paid faster. I will definitely be watching these "tech tools" to see what is to come, as both app developers plan to roll out new features in the near future.
In whole, this trip to GATS yielded a very rewarding experience. I was able to represent the great CNG technology that Freightliner offers in the form of the Cascadia CNG and network with a large amount of industry contacts all in one place. It was also nice to get together with trucking friends from throughout the industry, some new and some old, for a 
change of pace from the daily grind of hauling freight. As much fun as GATS was though, it's back to the "left coast" for me and time to get back to rolling down the road! Until next time GATS...thanks for a great time!