|
The National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM), known as the resource for safety and compliance for the light- and medium-duty trailer industry, has published the 2021 edition of the Guidelines. This massive document takes the guesswork out of meeting federal requirements governing the manufacturing of trailers under 26,000 lbs. GVWR and is a benefit of NATM membership.
Building trailers to meet the federal regulations outlined in the NATM Guidelines is the law. But it can be very time-intensive for trailer manufacturers to research the numerous federal rules, regulations, standards, and accepted industry practices that govern trailer construction. NATM addresses this by compiling the Guidelines for Recommended Manufacturing Practices for Light- and Medium-Duty Trailers. The document consists of over nearly 500 pages of laws, regulations, rules, standards, and industry best practices. While NATM’s Compliance Verification program focuses on federal regulation, the Association provides specific additional state regulation as reference. The Guidelines is updated annually by industry experts that stay abreast of changing regulations and vet the addition of recommendations and best practices. This year through the annual revision process, the 2021 edition of the NATM Guidelines received several updates. These include;
Members report substantial time savings by utilizing the Guidelines, particularly on the topics of lighting and reflectors, VIN and data plates, gross vehicle weight ratings, and state brake requirements. While the Guidelines focus on U.S. regulations, many may have an interest in Canadian compliance. For more information, visit Transport Canada’s website at www.tc.gc.ca/en/transport-canada.html. NATM assists its trailer manufacturing members in avoiding costly fines and decreasing liability related to trailer compliance through the NATM Compliance Verification Program (CVP). The NATM CVP is an unbiased, third-party audit of the trailer manufacturing process and uses the Guidelines as the backbone for the program. The CVP provides biennial on-site consultations to trailer manufacturers and technical assistance throughout the entire process to ensure companies are manufacturing trailers consistent with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and other industry best practices. Once a trailer manufacturer has successfully passed the Compliance Verification Program, the company is able to purchase NATM Decals and market their company’s dedication to fulfilling their safety requirements by participating in an unbiased, third-party audit of their trailers. While participation in the NATM Compliance Verification Program is an additional, voluntary cost for manufacturers, there are economic benefits of participation. “The first-year sales saw a 20 percent boost and blew past the forecast over three years for the sales improvements for revenue targets for the existing trailer product. We will continue to use up the [NATM] labels we have in stock, and then order more,” said Pete Dixon, Engineer at Karcher North America, Inc., regarding the benefit of being a member of the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers. For more information about how the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers can assist your trailer manufacturing company, visit www.NATM.com, email NATMHQ@natm.com, or call (785) 272-4433.
0 Comments
 The National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) is excited to welcome trailer dealers to the 2022 NATM Convention & Trade Show in Tampa, Fla. Feb. 1-3, 2022!
NATM has been committed to trailer safety for more than 30 years. While NATM has long worked with trailer manufacturers, industry suppliers, and service providers, trailer safety can only be improved through dealer interaction and consumer education. Expanding the Association’s base to include dealer affiliates and now allowing dealers to attend the Annual Convention & Trade Show is the logical next step in improving trailer safety. The NATM Convention & Trade Show is the annual trade show for the light- and medium-duty trailer industry. With more than 1,000 trailer manufacturer and supplier attendees per year and growing, this "must attend" event provides education, networking, and communication for those in the industry. The 2020 sold-out trade show boasted more than 200 exhibiting companies, with 37 new exhibitors, giving attendees a variety of products and services to view. The show also included attendees from more than 100 trailer manufacturing companies across North America. The Association’s purpose is to open lines of communication, increase trailer safety awareness, and provide dealers with the education and information they have long requested from NATM. NATM has worked diligently with committees, trailer manufacturers, industry suppliers, and dealers to create a path of inclusion for dealers. Dealers will be invited to attend all regular workshops and technical forums, as well as the Awards Reception on Tuesday; Dealer Workshop & Luncheon on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022 at 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and the Trade Show Reception Wednesday 4-5 p.m. Please note: Dealers are not able to attend the Tee Off Convention Top Golf event or the Trade Show Floor on Wednesday, Feb. 2 between the hours of 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Dealers are invited to tour the trade show floor and shop for components, materials, and service providers on Wednesday, Feb. 2 during the Trade Show Reception 4-5 p.m. and Thursday, Feb. 3 from 9 a.m. to noon. There will be no trailers on exhibit at this show. NATM will be offering a “New Dealer Promotion” to help offset costs for dealers attending the show. NATM Dealer Affiliates are eligible for two complimentary full registrations and two free hotel room nights while available! To apply for the New Dealer Promotion, contact NATM Assistant Director Meghan Ryan at Meghan.Ryan@natm.com or (785) 272-4433. The 2022 membership renewals are hitting inboxes, which makes this the perfect time for the Association to reflect on how membership dues are critical in supporting the actions, services, and educational programming that NATM provides for its members and the light- and medium-duty trailer industry. NATM is constantly evaluating costs and benefits to ensure your annual membership investment is being met with valuable returns.
In 2021, membership dues allowed NATM to:
NATM’s commitment is to its members and ultimately to trailer safety. Supporting NATM members’ ability to grow and prosper, while also contributing to the safety of the nation’s roadways, is what drives the Association’s work. Your support of this mission and your integral feedback along the way is vital to NATM’s success. NATM looks forward to continuing this important work in the coming year! 2022 NATM Membership Dues Your 2022 NATM membership renewal notice was mailed to the attention of your accounts payable department in November. For international members, invoices were emailed. For 2022, Membership Dues are:
You have the option to renew your membership online at www.NATM.com. Log into the Members Only section to view and pay the invoice. Should you decide to pay online, please advise accounts payable to disregard the notice. Your membership login credentials are below. Membership dues must be paid no later than January 31, 2022. Any dues not received by Jan. 31, 2022 will be considered delinquent, and all membership benefits will be terminated until paid per the NATM Bylaws. For Trade Show Exhibitors, it is important to note that NATM DUES MUST BE PAID BY DEC. 31, 2021 to maintain the member rate for booths at the February 2022 Convention & Trade Show in Tampa, Fla. Thank you for your continued support of the Association. Please don’t hesitate to contact Meghan Ryan, NATM Assistant Director, at (785) 272-4433 Meghan.Ryan@natm.com if you have any questions or concerns. Membership renewal forms will begin to be mailed and delivered to members in November. In order to avoid a membership lapse, 2022 dues are to be paid by Jan. 31, 2022. Any dues not received by Jan. 31, 2022 will be considered delinquent and all membership benefits will be terminated until paid per the NATM Bylaws.
For trade show exhibitors, it is important to note that NATM DUES MUST BE PAID BY DEC. 31, 2021 to maintain the member rate for booths at the February 2022 Convention & Trade Show in Tampa, Fla. Membership dues for 2022 are as follows: $860 for Associate (Supplier) members, $150 for Associate Branch members, $995 for Regular and International Regular (Trailer Manufacturer) members and $325 for Regular Branch members. If you joined between February and October of 2021, your 2022 dues will be prorated accordingly. If you have questions, including username and password information for the “Members Only” site, contact Catie Rutkowski, NATM Administrative Assistant, at (785) 272-4433 or Catie.Rutkowski@natm.com. Fall is the time when members can volunteer for committee assignments for the upcoming year. Interest indicators are now available to all NATM Members are due back Dec. 15. The number of volunteers has grown every year and unfortunately, there are usually more volunteers for some committees than can be accommodated. All the committees meet by conference call, varying from monthly to quarterly.
If you want to get more involved and support the industry, please consider volunteering for a committee. NATM Committees are responsible for steering the work of the Association, guided by NATM’s mission and strategic plan. Committee members play a critical role in ensuring programming, benefits, and resources remain valuable to NATM members. Contact NATM Assistant Director Meghan Ryan at Meghan.Ryan@natm.com for more information. Sign up before Dec. 15 to participate! Click here to access the 2022 NATM Committee interest indicator. Click here to access the 2022 Trailer Dealer Committee interest indicator. NATM Committees & Objectives Finance: The purpose of the finance committee is to plan and monitor the Association finances. Primary responsibilities include monitoring the annual budget and NATM investments, making recommendations as needed for change in revenue sources, and reviewing Finance Policies. Membership: The purpose of the membership committee is to recruit, qualify and approve applicants for membership, ensure ongoing member satisfaction and continuously find methods of engagement with members. Trailer Dealer: The purpose of the trailer dealer committee is to review and make improvements to the NATM Dealer Affiliate program and associated benefits. Education: The purpose of the education committee is to develop annual educational programming to be delivered to NATM members through a variety of mediums including Convention workshops and webinars. The committee will recommend presenters and topics based on member needs and industry trends. Convention: The purpose of the convention committee is to plan and oversee all activities of the Annual NATM Convention & Trade Show. The committee recommends speakers, workshop topics, and other events for consideration as well as develops plans to increase attendance and when needed, adopts policies governing the convention. Government Affairs: The purpose of the government affairs committee is to raise NATM's visibility among key government decision-makers and to advance NATM's position in order to proactively shape federal laws and regulations that may have a material impact on the light- and medium-duty trailer industry. The committee advocates these initiatives to members to recruit their assistance in educating and building relationships with Members of Congress. Technical: The purpose of the technical committee is to review, clarify and interpret technical and regulatory issues impacting the light- and medium-duty trailer industry. Technology: The purpose of the technology committee is to coordinate and serve as a forum for communication between tow vehicle manufacturers, component manufacturers, and trailer manufacturers, to better ensure that the technologies implemented are functional across vehicle types, makes, and models, for all parties involved as new technologies evolve and enter the market. Compliance: The purpose of the Compliance committee is to oversee the general outline and enforcement policies of NATM’s Compliance Verification Program and review the Guidelines and recommend updates as required.  Supply chain disruptions, material and component availability, and workforce shortages have caused the light- and medium duty trailer industry continued headaches. NATM recognizes the challenges and is curating the 2022 Convention & Trade Show to assist the industry’s success. The NATM Convention & Trade Show is the perfect one-stop shop for trailer manufacturers and dealers to meet with suppliers and service providers as they exhibit on the trade show floor. Looking for a new chain supplier? Interested in checking out new light options? Shopping around for new software to make life easier? If so, plan to walk the trade show floor and meet directly with suppliers and service providers in the industry! Educational events relevant to suppliers, trailer manufacturers, and dealers alike will be featured, including government affairs updates, a trade/tariff workshop, and information about addressing the workforce shortage. Stay tuned to the NATM Insider for updates about workshop topics. To sign up for the NATM Convention eNewsletter, visit www.NATM.com/convention.
The 2022 Convention & Trade Show is headed to the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla. Feb. 1-3, 2022. Florida continues to be a popular location for NATM’s Convention & Trade Show as it boasts sunny weather and great sites for dinners with customers, golf outings, shopping, and family-friendly vacation activities. This will be the first time that Tampa has been the host location for NATM’s event, but it’s sure to be a favorite. New Attendee Promotion Are you a new member trailer manufacturer? Are you a trailer manufacturer member whose company has not attended in the last five years? Are you a Trailer Dealer Affiliate? You may qualify for NATM’s New Attendee Promotion! The New Attendee Promotion includes two complimentary full registrations, two complimentary spouse/partner registrations, and up to two complimentary hotel room nights at the host hotel per company. Those interested in participating should contact NATM Assistant Director Meghan Ryan soon—complimentary hotel rooms are on a first-come, first-served basis and will go fast. Registration Costs for Trailer Manufacturers Registration will open online Sept. 13. Pricing for trailer manufacturers is as follows: • NATM Member: Full Registration—$300 • NATM Member: Trade Show Only Registration—$100 • NATM Member: Top Golf Ticket—$75 • NATM Member: Spouse Full Registration—Free • Non-Member: Full Registration—$600 • Non-Member: Trade Show Only Registration—$150 • Non-Member: Top Golf Ticket—$75 Note: registration fees will increase $50 after Jan. 30, 2022. Sign up early to save! Hotel Room Reservations For 2022, the NATM host hotels are the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina and the Embassy Suites by Hilton Tampa Downtown Convention Center. The Tampa Marriott is conveniently located directly across the street from the Tampa Convention Center and has an NATM room block rate of $289/ night. The Embassy Suites is also conveniently located directly across the street from the Tampa Convention Center and features a second level walkway directly to the convention center and a complimentary happy hour reception. NATM has negotiated a room block rate of $279/night. To make your reservations at either hotel, visit www.NATM.com/convention. Unauthorized third parties have begun contacting NATM Convention attendees about hotel reservations for NATM’s 2022 Convention & Trade Show. NATM advises that you do not engage or make reservations with any third-party group! Trailer Manufacturer Sponsorships Sponsorship opportunities are now available for trailer manufacturers interested in supporting the trailer dealer events and programming. Trailer manufacturers can sponsor the New Dealer Promotion to sponsor dealers to attend the week of events, as well as the Dealer Education & Luncheon. Stay tuned for more information about NATM’s 2022 Convention & Trade Show at www.NATM.com. Questions about registration, show sponsorship opportunities, or exhibit space? Contact NATM Assistant Director Meghan Ryan at Meghan.Ryan@natm.com or call (785) 272-4433.  In 2019, NATM launched its Dealer Affiliate Program, a natural next step to further the mission of the Association as well as a direct response to requests from the NHTSA Administrator and trailer dealers across the country. NATM has been committed to the light- and medium-duty trailer industry for more than 30 years, with its focus on the manufacture of compliant trailers, the safety of the nation’s roadways, and the unification of the industry. The incorporation of dealers into the Association is vital to the continuance of these efforts.
The Association took Dealer Affiliate involvement a step further with the creation of a Trailer Dealer Affiliate Committee. This will help ensure NATM continues to deliver value that aligns with dealer needs as well as manufacturer and supplier needs. The Dealer Affiliate Committee will help guide program expansion in the coming years and serves as another opportunity to unify the industry and improve trailer safety. NATM is looking for trailer dealers to participate on the NATM Trailer Dealer Affiliate Committee to better understand what dealers want and need from their Association. The objectives of the committee include reviewing current benefits and making recommendations for improvement and expansion; review and submit content suggestions to the NATM Dealer Compendium; provide feedback on marketing and recruitment efforts of dealers; recommend educational programming; and participation in NATM’s annual Trailer Safety Week. NATM encourages all dealers to consider participating and have their voice heard. For more information regarding the Trailer Dealer Affiliate Committee, contact NATM Assistant Director Meghan Ryan at Meghan.Ryan@natm.com or call (785) 272-4433. NATM is pleased to announce the launch of the NATM Online Store! In line with the Association’s mission and the 2019-2022 Strategic Plan, NATM is excited to provide members with relevant educational information that’s easily accessible.
*If you have already created a NATM Resource Library username and password simply login with the same credentials to gain access to the NATM Online Store.
 NATM is excited to welcome trailer dealers to the 2022 NATM Convention & Trade Show in Tampa, Fla. Feb. 1-3, 2022!
NATM has been committed to trailer safety for more than 30 years. While NATM has long worked with trailer manufacturers, industry suppliers, and service providers, trailer safety can only be improved through dealer interaction and consumer education. Expanding the Association’s base to include Dealer Affiliates and now allowing dealers to attend the Annual Convention & Trade Show is the logical next step to advancing the mission of NATM. The NATM Convention & Trade Show is the annual trade show for the light- and medium-duty trailer industry. With more than 1,000 trailer manufacturer and supplier attendees per year and growing, this “must attend” event provides education, networking, and communication for those in the industry. The 2020 sold-out trade show boasted over 200 exhibiting companies, with 37 new exhibitors, which gave attendees a variety of products and services to view. The show also included attendees from over 100 trailer manufacturing companies from across North America. The Association’s purpose is to open up lines of communication, increase trailer safety awareness, and provide dealers with the education and information they have long requested from NATM. NATM has worked diligently with committees, trailer manufacturers, industry suppliers, and dealers to create a path of inclusion for the entire industry. Dealers will be invited to attend all regular workshops and technical forums, as well as the Dealer Workshops & Luncheon on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, and a Dealer Reception exclusively for trailer dealers!* Please note: Dealers are not able to attend the Top Golf event, NATM Membership Meeting, or any events on the Trade Show Floor on Wednesday, Feb. 2. Dealers are invited instead to tour the trade show floor and shop for components, materials, and service providers on Thursday, Feb. 3, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. There will be no trailers on exhibit at this show. NATM will be offering a “New Dealer Promotion” to help offset costs for dealers attending the show. NATM Dealer Affiliates are eligible for two complimentary registrations and two free hotel room nights while available! NATM will provide more information to all Dealer Affiliates via email in September and on www.NATM.com/convention. Online registration will open on Sept. 13. NATM looks forward to seeing you in Tampa! For more information about the Convention & Trade Show or the NATM Dealer Affiliate program, contact NATM Assistant Director Meghan Ryan at Meghan.Ryan@natm.com or (785) 272-4433. Since 1992, the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) has annually published the Guidelines for Recommended Minimum Manufacturing Practices for Light- and Medium-Duty Trailers, otherwise known as the Guidelines. These updates are researched and compiled by NATM Staff, NATM Members, and NATM’s committees with approval by NATM Staff, and the NATM Compliance Committee. One drawback to the annual update process is only updating once a year. Members are required to wait until each new edition to gain any new or edited information. Starting this year, NATM will periodically update its membership on upcoming changes for the next edition of the Guidelines via Tracks magazine, social media, and NATM Tech Talk, a brand-new electronic newsletter keeping you up to date on all things technical and compliance. Sign up for this newsletter and more at www.NATM.com/email.
The intention of these general updates is not to provide an official new version of the Guidelines, provide a full context, or provide immediate changes, but to notify members of the upcoming changes so they may be prepared and take action if needed. Contact NATM Technical Director Terry Jones at Terry.Jones@natm.com or call (785) 272-4433 for more information. Upcoming Changes Section B11 – VIN / Data Plates and Manufacturer Information The addition of:
Purpose: Manufacturers may have additional requirements based on the type or stage of manufacturing they participate in, and the addition of these regulations will assist in navigating these requirements. Appendix 2 – Quick Guide and Checklist The addition of: Checklist question: 7.41 Underride properly labeled on the forward or rear of the underride, including the manufacturer’s name and address, date of manufacture statement, and DOT marking. Correlating Quick Guide information: The addition of: S5.3 Labeling. Each guard shall be permanently labeled with the information specified in S5.3 (a) through (c) of this section. The information shall be in English and in letters that are at least 2.5mm high. The label shall be placed on the forward or rearward facing surface of the horizontal member of the guard, provided that the label does not interfere with the retroreflective sheeting required by S5.7.1.4.1(c) of FMVSS No. 108 (49 CFR 571.108), and is readily accessible for visual inspection.
Purpose: Information on rear underride labeling and enforcing existing federal regulation which requires specific labeling of the rear underride guard and aligning the Compliance Verification Program with federal regulation. For more information on these changes, the Guidelines, or any other technical or compliance issue, contact NATM Technical Director Terry Jones at Terry.Jones@natm.com or (785) 272-4433. |
Archives
October 2021
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed