GBATS Frequently Asked Questions

WELCOME DRIVERS! We missed you all last year!

GBATS is a family-friendly event and a great opportunity for us to show the public just how hard-working, innovative, proud, creative, and highly professional big rig drivers are. (No pickups or dualies please).

Please feel free to interact with the attendees and tell them about you, your truck, and what you do for a living.

This is a family-friendly, no alcohol event. We’re proud to say we’ve never had an issue at GBATS and appreciate your cooperation again this year.  Also, no outside food or drink will be allowed inside the tractor pull or at the street party. Thank you again, and we hope you have a wonderful time at GBATS 2023!

WHY SHOULD I PRE-REGISTER MY TRUCK & WHERE DO I GO WHEN I GET TO JOPLIN, MO?

 

Pre-registering allows you to use the EXPRESS LINE at the Registration Tent saving you time plus you’ll get a coupon for a free t-shirt ($10 off at the CSM Gear Tent).  Even though you pre-register your truck, you’ll still need to come to the Registration Tent (see GBATS Schedule & Maps) to pick up your truck number and get staged for parking.

CAN I RENT A GOLF CART AT THE TRUCK SHOW? CAN I BRING MY OWN GOLF CART OR UTV?

 

Good news, you CAN bring your own golf cart to the truck show. We’d like true golf carts to be brought, but we understand many people have UTV’s/ATV’s. Whether you bring a gold cart or a UTV, we just ask that you be courteous of pedestrians walking around the show and please pay attention to the signage helping you know where carts are allowed on the property and where they are not.  It’s going to be a great show, and we appreciate all your cooperation!

Golf Cart Rental Prices:

1-day:   $100
2-day:   $200
3-day:   $300

Call Brittany @ 417-438-4449 to book your rental.  There are only so many rental carts allowed during the show, so the earlier you call the more likely you are to secure yours.

WILL THERE BE A PLACE TO PARK MY CAMPER?

 

While we don’t have camping spots available on the GBATS grounds, there are a couple of campgrounds very close to the action.

Joplin KOA: I-44 Exit 4, (800) 562-5675, 0.4 miles/2 minute drive, 8-minute walk
https://koa.com/campgrounds/joplin/

Downstream RV Park: I-44 Exit 1 (West of Exit 4), (417) 626-6750, 5.2 miles/8 minute drive https://www.quapawtribe.com/372/Downstream-RV-Park

WILL THERE BE A PLACE TO GET MY SEMI-TRUCK WASHED BEFORE THE SHOW?

 

This year there will not be an on-site wash service available as in years past.  There are 2 wash options available off-site you can contact to get all washed & prepped before parking on the GBATS show lot if you would like:

Blue Beacon: I-44 Exit 11/3101 S Bedford Ave, Joplin, MO, 64804, (417)206-4186 (Open 24 Hours!)

Truck-O-Mat: I-44 Exit 4/4198 Mo-43, Joplin, MO, 64804, (417)624-7979 (Open 24 Hours!)

WHAT IS THE LATEST I CAN ARRIVE ON FRIDAY AND STILL ENTER MY TRUCK IN THE TRUCK SHOW?

 

The registration booth will close at noon on Friday. However, we strongly encourage you to arrive Thursday evening before 5:00 pm.

This allows for a smoother registration and parking procedure. Most importantly though, early arrival enables you to enjoy the competitor’s hospitality dinner which will be held Trackside on the West side of 43 highway this year at 6:00 pm on Thursday evening.

If you arrive anytime after Friday at noon, feel free to find a parking spot for your truck & just enjoy the show as it is an action-packed weekend!

WHAT DOES IT COST TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GBATS TRUCK SHOW? DO I HAVE TO BE A CUSTOMER OF CSM/4 STATE TRUCKS?

 

Everyone is welcome! This is no charge for this hospitality, trucker appreciation event.

CAN I ADVERTISE MY TRUCK FOR SALE DURING GBATS?

 

There are absolutely NO FOR SALE signs or other signs advertising your truck is available for purchase allowed at the truck show, please. Anyone who displays a “for sale” sign or a sign similar at any time throughout the show will be penalized.

HOW DO I REGISTER AND PARTICIPATE IN THE WORLD’S LARGEST CONVOY FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS?

 

You may pre-register for the convoy online by visiting our Registration page, and filling out the registration form. (Click Here)

To register once you arrive, visit the Special Olympics tent located near the retail storefront entrance. They will collect your $100 donation, get you registered, and give you a special decal to place in your windshield so that parking personnel will know you are a Convoy Participant.

  • There is a mandatory driver’s meeting for all Convoy Participants at 4:30 pm on Saturday evening near the Special Olympics tent.
  • The convoy will be bobtails only, no trailers.

For questions please email:

Haley Blevins | Development Director SWMO | Special Olympics Missouri

PO Box 14463 Springfield, MO 65814 | Phone:  636.575.3570 (mobile)

www.somo.org | mailto:blevins@somo.org

CAN I GIVE A RIDE TO A SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETE ON THE CONVOY?

 

Absolutely! In fact, we need approximately 40 drivers to provide a “Ride in a Big Rig” for Special Olympics athletes.

You must download a pre-authorization/background check form off our website (link coming soon!), fill it out, and mail it to the Joplin Special Olympics office BEFORE the event.

Your form must be received by September 16th,2023 in order to be eligible. Please register in advance so that ALL of these athletes get the opportunity to ride in a truck during the convoy.

CAN I ENTER MY TRUCK IN THE CONVOY EVEN IF I’M NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE TRUCK SHOW?

 

You certainly can!

The cost for the convoy participation is a $100 donation per truck.

All proceeds will be used for Missouri area Special Olympics activities, needs, and events. Truckers that are not participating in the Truck Show but plan to participate in the Special Olympics Convoy must be pre-registered with Special Olympics by 4:00 pm on Saturday.

All convoy participants must also be present for a mandatory driver’s meeting at 4:30 pm on Saturday evening to be held in the Special Olympics tent.

Joplin Police Department Officer Brian Henderson will advise us on the driving route and instructions for the convoy. Exit 4 will be extremely congested all weekend.

Convoy Participants who arrive Saturday are asked to “stage up” and line up down the frontage road on the SE corner of exit 4 — this is the area in front of Rapid Roberts/Conoco, KOA Campground, TMC Truck Lines.

Use channel 33 when you get to exit 4 for help in staging your truck. Convoy departure time is 6:00 pm sharp.

WHAT DOES IT COST TO ATTEND THE THURSDAY DEMOLITION DERBY?

Truck Show Participants

You have FREE ACCESS to front row VIP seating-just bring your own lawn chair.  There will be no admittance to the VIP seating area unless you bring a chair.

So, bring your lawn chair, relax, and enjoy the show.

Grandstand seating

  • $10 – CDL Holders
  • $20 – Non-CDL Adults (ages 13 and up)
  • $10 – Children (Ages 6-12)
  • FREE (Children 5 & Under)
  • $10 – Standing Room Only (No Seating)

 

** No outside food, drinks or coolers allowed.

** Seating on the grandstands are limited.

WHO CAN ENTER THEIR TRUCK IN THE FRIDAY NIGHT TRACTOR PULL?

 

All vehicles who participate in the pull are required to pass a basic safety inspection.

This is an invitational event, so classes are “loosely” formed. We will do our best to allow ANY Stock Road Semi Truck an opportunity to pull the sled with no pre-registering required. Simply show up and sign up for the event and you’re good to go.

However, if you have a pickup truck, 4×4 pickup, diesel pickup, farm tractor, Hot Tractor, Pro Semi Truck, Super Modified Tractor, or Street Stock Semi you need to contact social@4Statetrucks.com for information.

WHAT ARE THE CLASSES FOR THE 2023 TRUCK & TRACTOR PULL?

A Tentative List Of Classes

  • 2.6 Pro Street Diesel Trucks
  • Pro Stock 4×4 Pickup Trucks
  • 85 Limited Pro Tractors
  • Light Pro Tractor
  • Hot Rod Semi
  • Street Semi

WHAT DOES IT COST TO ATTEND THE FRIDAY TRUCK & TRACTOR PULL?

Truck Show Participants

You have FREE ACCESS to front row VIP seating-just bring your own lawn chair.  There will be no admittance to the VIP seating area unless you bring a chair.

So, bring your lawn chair, relax, and enjoy the show.

Grandstand seating

  • $10 – CDL Holders
  • $20 – Non-CDL Adults (ages 13 and up)
  • $10 – Children (Ages 6-12)
  • FREE (Children 5 & Under)
  • $10 – Standing Room Only (No Seating)

** No outside food, drinks, or coolers allowed.

** Seating on the grandstands is limited.

WHERE CAN I FIND HOTELS AT A GOOD RATE? DO THEY HAVE A SHUTTLE?

 

Our hotel partners are LaQuinta and TownePlace Suites. Both hotels will be offering a special CSM rate.

When you call these hotels, be sure to mention Chrome Shop Mafia Truck Show in order to get the special rates and other perks.

Click Here For More Info

WHEN CAN I LEAVE THE SHOW?

 

Participants Of The Convoy event are asked to wait until 10:30 pm to leave 26th & Maiden Lane area.

Non-Participants of the convoy event we ask that you stay until the convoy pulls out around 6:30pm on Saturday.

If you are a spectator you are welcome to come and go as you please. However, please know around 6:30pm we will be pulling the convoy out of the 4 State Trucks area and traffic will be heavy.  We ask that you allow the convoy to finish getting out before leaving.

WILL THERE BE SECURITY FOR MY TRUCK AT THE EVENT?

Yes, We will have security Wed -Sat.

WHERE IS THE GBATS REGISTRATION TENT?

 

We are excited to launch our new “Rolling Registration” at GBATS 2023! The registration location has moved to the Petro lot (follow the signs upon arrival) where you will roll up in your rig and we will come to you. No parking your truck to wait in line and get your truck number, we’re streamlining this process for you! Stay tuned for more info on this as we get closer to truck show time.

WHERE CAN I PARK MY CAR IF I’M JUST COMING TO WALK AROUND THE SHOW?

We’ve got you covered on auto parking!

Unfortunately, There will be no place for cars to park at 4 State Trucks.  We are packing all the amazing show trucks into these areas, but we do have three great parking areas ready to go for you.

Auto parking will be designated behind Rapid Roberts, open area north of Dollar General, and an open area on the west side of 43 Highway (Behind the show truck area.)

All Auto Parking areas will be designated with signage as auto parking, so keep an eye out!  (See Maps)

WHAT IF I WANT TO PURCHASE LARGE/BULKY ITEMS FROM 4 STATE TRUCKS DURING THE SHOW?

 

We’re here to help!

We’ll haul you and your purchase back to your vehicle, anywhere around here at Exit 4.