Great West Truck Show aisles crowded with qualified truck owners and buyers

Exhibitors, show producer/owner pleased with the results.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (July 13, 2009) – Despite difficult economic conditions, attendee turnout at The Great West Truck Show was excellent, said Mike Reilly, president and CEO of Randall-Reilly, the show’s owner. “To have a show hold up under such dramatic economic pressure and have such good attendance was better than anyone expected.”

“Although the show was smaller than in 2008, the quality and quantity of attendees, in such challenging times, was unprecedented,” said Alan K. Sims, vice president/executive director.

Show management reported that overall visitor registrations totaled 16,524, down 11.7% from 2008. However, the show saw gains in key “qualified” attendee categories.  Of the qualified registered attendees, the executive management/owner category increased 11.8%. Private fleet attendance increased 3%. “We were pleased with the quality of attendees, but were even more pleased with exhibitor’s reactions,” Sims said.

“I thought it was the most productive show, in terms of the number of quality of contacts, of any show I’ve personally attended to date,” commented Lane Bartram, marketing manager, with Arrow Truck Sales. Bud Weisbart, vice president with A&R Tarpaulins said: “The quality of attendance was one of the best ever, and we actually made contacts on the show floor that are resulting in sales.”

“We must attribute our continued success, to the help of our exhibitors in promoting the event and our unparalleled promotional capabilities, which include industry leading magazines, a database company, a radio network, a telemarketing company and other strong marketing partners,” said Sims. “We also receive great support from the California Trucking Association, Nevada Motor Transport Association, Arizona Trucking Association and other key partners.”

Next year’s Great West Truck Show will be held June 17, 18 and 19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Randall-Reilly also produces the Great American Trucking Show, held annually in Dallas, Texas. GATS has been recognized by Tradeshow Week, a leading industry publication, as one of the “Fastest 50,” the fastest-growing events in the U.S. and Canada, as well as one of the “Tradeshow 200” events, which represent the 200 largest events in the U.S. and Canada.

About Randall-Reilly

Founded in 1934, Randall-Reilly (www.rrpub.com) is the premier U.S. media and information company focused on the trucking, construction and industrial markets. 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, landscaping and used equipment markets. The company also publishes a magazine focused on the woodworking industry.

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 Northbrook division provides major corporations with customized marketing programs. Randall-Reilly has offices in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Chicago, Charlotte, N.C., and New Berlin, Wis.