For Immediate Release

GATS MAKES GREAT GAINS
Fifth annual Great American Trucking Show
posts growth in both exhibitor and visitor participation.

DALLAS (Sept. 30, 2003) - The Dallas Convention Center hosted 39,854 attendees September 26-28, 2003, for the 5th annual Great American Trucking Show. Billed as America's convention of trucking professionals, the attendance grew nearly 10 percent over 2002. The upswing came from an increase in owner-operator and fleet management attendees, both critical equipment-buying market segments.

"We are very pleased with the increase in attendance and quality of visitors at this year's GATS," says Alan Sims, GATS director of event sales and marketing. "Exhibitors from component manufacturers through truck and trailer manufacturers have already put their stamp of approval on this year's event." GATS' exhibit space increased by more than 5 percent in 2003, with a total of 421 exhibitors.

Enhancements to this year's show included relocation to newly completed Halls E and F. These halls do not have columns, a feature that is especially beneficial to large exhibitors. Using these new halls put the exhibits adjacent to 20 acres of free truck parking, which was jam-packed each day of the show. This addition gives GATS the second-largest parking area of any trucking show in the country.

To address the needs of fleet attendees, the Truckload Carriers Association held its annual Independent Contractor Division Meeting at the Dallas Hyatt Regency Reunion in conjunction with GATS. A Fleet Pavilion area, reserved especially for fleet executives, provided educational sessions and refreshments.

In addition to exhibits, GATS attendees enjoyed a wide range of activities, including concerts sponsored by Exxon Mobil and Volvo Trucks North America, the Overdrive Pride & Polish Truck Beauty Show and numerous educational seminars.

"From the new truck parking, concerts and quality educational opportunities, to the overwhelming response to the Pride & Polish event, we feel the show made impressive strides," says GATS General Manager Randy Schwartzenburg. "We look forward to making GATS 2004 even better."

"With the increase in attendance and quality of visitors, GATS has positioned itself as the undisputed second-largest trucking event in North America," Sims says. "As the economy and the industry continue to strengthen, we expect GATS to gain even more momentum."

Dates for next year's GATS are September 10-12, 2004. For information on exhibiting at the 6th annual show in Dallas, contact or Alan K. Sims at (888) 349-4287. New information will be available online soon at www.gatsonline.com.

About Randall Publishing
Founded in 1934, Randall Publishing publishes more than 30 magazines, directories and periodicals, and maintains more than 25 websites. Randall operates the Trucking Media Group (Overdrive, Truckers News and CCJ magazines), the Construction Media Group (Equipment World, Top Bid and Equipment World Spec Guide) and Modern Woodworking magazine.

Randall also owns and operates several online media entities, including www.eTrucker.com, www.equipmentworld.com and www.modernwoodworking.com. Also under the Randall corporate umbrella are the Great American Trucking Show, radio programs, a billboard company, a company-sponsored publication division serving Fortune 500 companies, and a database and research group.