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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.
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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. 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.
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.  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 its 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 both suppliers and trailer manufacturers alike will be featured, including government affairs updates, a trade/tariff workshop , and information about addressing the workforce shortage. Stay tuned to www.NATM.com and the NATM Insider for updates about workshop topics. Host Location 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, but this will be the first time that Tampa has been the host location for NATM’s event. The Tampa Convention Center is located along the Riverwalk in the heart of downtown and will serve as the site of educational workshops, networking events, and the trade show. Attendees of the show can access the NATM special room block rates at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Tampa Downtown Convention Center and the Marriott Tampa Waterside. More information will be provided via the NATM Insider newsletter and email. To sign up for the NATM Insider, contact NATM Marketing Director Savana Morrison at Savana.Morrison@natm.com. Booth Selection Trade show space opened to the 2020 Sponsors starting June 1. Following sponsors, companies that chose to roll their 2021 booth funds over to 2022 began to select their spaces July 6. The opportunity to select space for the general membership will begin Aug. 4, and non-members can select booths starting Aug. 18. Sponsorships As always, the NATM Convention & Trade Show would not be possible without the support of its generous sponsors. There are sponsorship opportunities available from $500 to $50,000 to fit any budget. Being a sponsor allows you to select your booth before previous exhibitors and the general membership, as well as provides a wide range of exposure, both electronically on NATM’s website and mobile app and in print on the convention program map and branded events. This creates name recognition which helps drive customers to your booth. Watch your email for sponsorship information coming in May. New Attendee Promotion Are you a new member trailer manufacturer? Are you a trailer manufacturer 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 and up to two complimentary hotel room nights at the host hotel for the convention. 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. Stay tuned for more information about NATM’s 2022 Convention & Trade Show at www.NATM.com. Questions about the show sponsorship opportunities or exhibit space? Contact Meghan Ryan at Meghan.Ryan@natm.com or call (785) 272-4433. NATM is soliciting nominations for awards to be presented at the annual NATM Convention & Trade Show Feb. 1-3, 2022 at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla. Please consider and nominate individuals who may be eligible candidates for the following awards. The Outstanding Member AwardThe Outstanding Member Award is presented each year to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the trailer manufacturing industry. The nominee must be an employee of an NATM Regular (trailer manufacturer) Member. The nomination must include the name and address of the nominee and nominator along with a brief narrative about the contributions the nominee has made to the trailer manufacturing industry. Pam O’Toole Trusdale Woman in Manufacturing AwardThe Pam O’Toole Trusdale Woman in Manufacturing Award is given to a woman from the manufacturing floor to the C-Suite in the light- and medium-duty trailer industry who has demonstrated excellence in their role. The award recognizes the contribution of the recipient to the success of their organization and/or industry. The nominee must be an employee of an NATM Member company. The nomination must include the name and address of the nominee and nominator along with a brief narrative about the accomplishments of the nominee. Young Professional AwardThe purpose of the Young Professional Award is to recognize the accomplishments of young individuals in the trailer manufacturing industry. Nominees should be individuals under the age of 40, who have been innovative and successful in the trailer manufacturing industry. Both Associate and Regular member company employees are eligible for this award. The nomination must include the name and address of the nominee and nominator along with a brief narrative about the accomplishments of the nominee. Innovation AwardThe Innovation Award is open to member companies that exemplify creativity and innovation in the areas of technological advancement, green practices, or workforce development. Applicants for the award must submit a written description of the company’s innovative practices, including both qualitative and quantitative evidence of success. This award is open to all NATM Members and will include a charitable donation made in the company’s name. Awards will be presented at the Annual Awards Luncheon on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022. To request the award nomination form, contact NATM Assistant Director Meghan Ryan at Meghan.Ryan@natm or (785) 272-4433. Nominations are due by Nov. 30, 2021.
 Booth Sales NATM’s booth sales continue as the industry looks forward to the 2022 show! Booth selection for the 2022 Convention & Trade Show began on June first. On July 6th, companies that chose to roll their 2021 booth funds over to 2022 begun to select their new booth locations. Starting August 4th, the general membership will be allowed to choose booth space. Exhibiting at NATM’s Convention & Trade Show is affordable, with the cost per 10’ x 10’ booth at $1,457 for NATM members and $2,914 for non-members. Exhibitors can choose to carpet their booth or request electricity through Freeman this Fall. If you would like to purchase a booth, contact NATM Assistant Director Meghan Ryan at Meghan.Ryan@natm.com or call (785) 272-4433. Registration Registration will open Sept. 13 online. All exhibiting suppliers must register their booth workers online at NATM.com. Each exhibiting company receives two complimentary booth workers per 10’ x 10’ booth purchased. Additional booth workers can be registered for the Early Bird rate of $75. This price increases by $50 per person when registering after Jan. 30, 2022. Sponsorships Think outside the booth! Sponsorships are still available for the Annual Convention & Trade Show. The success of the NATM Convention is directly tied to the support of its generous sponsors. There are marketing and general sponsorship opportunities available from $250 to $50,000 to fit any budget, including networking receptions, the Top Golf Tee-Off event, trade show lounges and more! Being a sponsor allows your company early access to booth selection for the 2022 show and provides a wide range of exposure, both electronically on NATM’s website and mobile app, as well as in print on the convention program map and in Tracks magazine. This name-recognition will help drive customers to your booth. NATM will work with you to find the sponsorship opportunity best fit to get your company’s name in front of industry decision-makers. You can find the full 2022 Sponsorship Brochure at www.NATM.com/sponsor. Hotel Reservations For 2022, the NATM host hotels are the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina and the Embassy Suites by Hilton Tampa Downtown Convention Center. Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel: The Tampa Marriott is conveniently located directly across the street from the Tampa Convention Center. NATM has negotiated a room block rate of $289/night. Hotel Address: 700 S Florida Ave, Tampa Fl 33602 Phone Number: (813) 221-4900 To make your reservation at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel for $289/night click here. Embassy Suites by Hilton Downtown Convention Center: The Embassy Suites is conveniently located directly across the street from the Tampa Convention Center with a second level walkway directly to the convention center. NATM has negotiated a room block rate of $279/night. Hotel Address: 513 South Florida Avenue Tampa, Florida 33602 Phone Number: 813-769-8301 To make your reservation at the Embassy Suites for $279/night click here. Arrgh! Scammers Ahoy! Unauthorized third parties have begun contacting NATM Members about hotel reservations for NATM's Convention & Trade Show. NATM advises that you do not engage or make reservations with any third-party group! Trailer Manufacturers & Dealers: Take Advantage of New Attendee Promo NATM trailer manufacturers and dealer affiliates who have never attended the NATM Convention, or who have not attended in the last five years, are eligible for two complimentary full registrations and two complimentary hotel room nights (while available) as part of the New Attendee Promotion. Full registrations include access to all events and meals (except Top Golf Tee-Off) outlined in the show calendar. This is an affordable opportunity for trailer manufacturers to receive top-notch education, networking, and develop supplier relationships while in Tampa. NATM is excited to once again offer free full registrations for trailer manufacturers’ spouses. NATM hopes you will plan to bring your other half along to enjoy the show! Click here to apply for the New Attendee Promo!  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 2020 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 not optional. It is required by law and enforced by law enforcement every day on the nation’s roadways. 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 400 pages of laws, regulations, rules, standards, and industry best practices. This information is gathered from resources such as the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc., the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association, the Traffic Safety Administration, the Maintenance Council, and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association amongst others. The Guidelines is updated annually by industry experts that stay abreast of changing regulations and who vet the addition of recommendations and best practices. 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.TV.GC.ca/en/transport-canada.html. In recent years, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has increased its enforcement activity concerning the compliance of motor vehicle manufacturers, including trailer manufacturers. NHTSA has placed particular concern on meeting tire recordkeeping requirements, which includes both manufacturer records as well as the provision of TIN cards to dealers, distributors, and purchasers. This is only one of the many requirements outlined in NATM’s Guidelines. 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. |
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