Burnouts, a visit from FMCSA’s Martinez, and listening session highlight GBATS Day 1

The 2018 Guilty By Association Truck Show in Joplin, Mo., is off to a roaring start.

Highlights from the show’s first day include the perennially popular Big Rig Burnouts, as well as a listening session hosted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to gather input from truckers on proposed changes to the hours of service regulations.

FMCSA administrator Ray Martinez is at 4 State Trucks in Joplin for Friday’s festivities. He met with representatives of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, including OOIDA President Todd Spencer.

FMCSA Administrator Ray Martinez (from left) meets with OOIDA Board Member Leo Wilkins and OOIDA President Todd Spencer at the Guilty By Association Truck Show on Friday, Sept. 28 in Joplin, Mo. Photo by Jami Jones, Land Line Managing Editor.

The FMCSA public listening session concerning the agency’s hours-of-service regulations was scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. CDT in 4 State Trucks’ shop area behind the main store.

There also will be plenty of entertainment at the show. Some of the other featured events include a professional bull riding competition, a truck and tractor pull, a motorcycle stunt rider show, big rig drag races, a truck convoy that benefits the Special Olympics of Southwest Missouri.

Following the convoy on Saturday night, downtown Joplin will play host to a street party and concert featuring Confederate Railroad.

The 2018 Guilty By Association Truck Show is already poised to be the largest in the event’s 10-year history.

As of Monday, Sept. 24, about 730 trucks had preregistered for GBATS, which runs through Sept. 29. OOIDA, which is celebrating its 45th anniversary of fighting for the rights of truck drivers, has partnered with 4 State Trucks to present this year’s show.

Blink and you’ll miss amazing trucks.#GBATS #OOIDA45 pic.twitter.com/dU5ha6Fz6h

— Jami Jones (@shewhoknowstruk) September 27, 2018

Those in attendance will have the opportunity to talk with members of OOIDA’s leadership team, as well as the chance to enjoy all of the truck show’s scheduled entertainment and activities. The Association will host an open house meeting from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29.

Spencer and OOIDA Executive Vice President Lewie Pugh, as well as the members of the Association’s Washington, D.C., team and several OOIDA board members, are scheduled to be in attendance. Jon Osburn and OOIDA’s touring tractor-trailer, The Spirit of American Trucker, also will be at the show.

More information about the show can be found here.

Associate Editor Mark Schremmer contributed to this report.