Complete Guide to Exhibiting at Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW) 2026

Ask any veteran exhibitor in the automotive space which shows are non-negotiable, and Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW) will almost certainly make the list. Here is your comprehensive guide to making the most of it.

What Makes Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW) Essential

Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW) takes place on January 18-21, 2027 in Dallas, TX. The event draws approximately 2,975 attendees and features 329 exhibitors, making it one of the most significant automotive exhibitions on the calendar.

Industry Context

The automotive industry is in the middle of its most significant transformation in a century. Electric vehicles, autonomous driving, and connected car technologies dominate the conversation. Exhibitors positioned at this intersection of hardware and software capture the most attention.

For exhibitors at Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW), understanding this landscape is critical. The companies that generate the highest return on their trade show investment are those that align their booth strategy with the broader industry conversation happening on the show floor.

Planning Your Exhibit

Booth Selection and Design

Booth space at Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW) is priced at approximately $5,000 - $25,000. When selecting your position on the floor plan, prioritize locations near entrances, food service areas, and anchor exhibitors. Corner booths offer visibility from multiple aisles and are worth the premium when available.

Design your space around a single, compelling message. Attendees walking the floor will give your booth approximately seven seconds of attention before deciding whether to stop. That message needs to be visible from thirty feet away and immediately relevant to their business challenges.

Staffing Your Booth

Staff selection can make or break your exhibition. Choose team members who combine product expertise with genuine interpersonal skills. The ideal booth staffer can qualify a prospect within two minutes, pivot their pitch based on the visitor's specific needs, and capture contact information without breaking conversational flow.

Brief your team on specific objectives for Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW). Assign roles: greeter, product demonstrator, senior closer. Rotate positions every two hours to maintain energy levels throughout the day.

"The most successful exhibitors treat trade shows as revenue-generating events, not marketing expenses. Every interaction should move a prospect closer to a decision."

-- Trade Show Executive Magazine

Maximizing Your Presence in Dallas, TX

Accommodation

Proximity to the venue matters for both logistics and networking. Hotels closest to the venue fill up quickly, so book early. Recommended options include:

• Omni Dallas Hotel (Connected to Kay Bailey) — $180-350/night
• Sheraton Dallas Hotel (0.3 miles) — $150-280/night
• Hilton Anatole (1 mile) — $160-300/night

Post-Show Strategy

The real work begins after the show closes. Research consistently shows that exhibitors who follow up within 48 hours convert leads at significantly higher rates than those who wait. Prepare your follow-up sequences before the event, categorize leads by temperature on the show floor, and execute the moment you return.

Use a lead capture tool like Scannly to digitize contacts instantly at your booth, eliminating the post-show data entry bottleneck that causes so many promising leads to go cold.

Insider Tips for Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW)

Final Considerations

Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW) represents a significant opportunity for automotive companies willing to invest the preparation time. The exhibitors who win are not necessarily those with the largest booths or the biggest budgets. They are the ones who arrive with clear objectives, a compelling message, and a systematic approach to converting conversations into revenue.

Start planning now. The best opportunities at any trade show go to those who prepare earliest.