​NATM prides itself as an association with a loyal membership, and thus far, the 2020 renewal period is proving just that. As of March 19th, 88% of companies have renewed their membership for the coming year. Thank you to all NATM members for your continuous demonstrated commitment to trailer safety and the overall success of the industry. Your annual recommitment is what makes it possible for the Association to achieve its mission while also adding new member benefits. NATM is constantly evaluating costs and benefits to ensure your annual membership investment is being met with valuable returns.
 
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 for the remainder of the year!

​To renew your membership, contact NATM Membership & Events Director Kelli Maydew at Kelli.Maydew@natm.com.

As of January 31, 2020, all unpaid NATM memberships are considered past due. Any dues not yet received are considered delinquent and all membership benefits have been terminated until paid per the NATM Bylaws.

Membership renewals for 2020 have been mailed, and the main contact for your company has received several email notices as well. If you would like to confirm who your main contact is, please contact NATM Membership & Events Director Kelli Maydew or call NATM at (785) 272-4433. You can also log into the Members Only portal of www.NATM.com and select the “Update Your Contact Information” link to make edits instantly to this information.

In addition to paying your membership dues by check or over the phone by credit card, you are also able to pay online using the Members Only portal at www.NATM.com. Once you are logged in using your company’s login credentials, select “Pay My Bills.” If you need your credentials, or have any questions during this process, please contact NATM Membership & Events Director Kelli Maydew.

NATM is committed to improving the compliance verification program, delivering safety education and information, increasing consumer awareness about the importance of buying compliant trailers, providing opportunities for member input, and continuing to develop relationships with key decision makers on Capitol Hill and in federal agencies to advocate for industry needs. 

NATM, the Board of Directors, committees, and staff are working diligently to provide more value to members, and we look forward to working with you in 2020. We sincerely hope that you will allow us to continue to serve your needs and provide value to your organization.
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If you are unsure if your company’s dues have been paid, please contact Kelli Maydew at kelli.maydew@natm.com. 

The mission of Trailer Safety Week (TSW) is to improve the safety of the nation’s roadways by raising trailer safety awareness through education of end-users, dealers, and manufacturers on safe trailering practices. Held the first week of June every year, Trailer Safety Week reaches over 60,000 individuals annually and is the first nationwide traffic safety initiative aimed at addressing safe towing practices for light- and medium-duty trailers. NATM has developed content and resources in furtherance of this mission, all available through www.TrailerSafteyWeek.com.
 
Heading into the third annual Trailer Safety Week June 7-13, 2020, NATM is excited to announce new opportunities for engagement from industry members and peer organizations. For the awareness campaign to expand its reach and effectively improve roadway safety, Trailer Safety Week depends on extraordinary supporters who go above and beyond to reach their industry contacts and end-users. Further, to continue expanding the educational resources available to end-users, NATM is looking to partner with experts and other key stakeholders in towing and traffic safety.
 
As the Association commits itself to expansion, two new programs were created for industry organizations that would like to join NATM and its TSW Allies in improving trailer safety: TSW Champions and TSW Partnerships.

​NATM created the Trailer Safety Week Champion program to highlight companies whose support of TSW exceeds that of a Trailer Safety Week Ally (TSW Ally). As such, the company will earn greater promotional opportunities. While Trailer Safety Week includes Allies across the country, Trailer Safety Week Champions are those who fulfill the following requirements and receive the benefits listed below. Champions will support efforts in four specific ways:

1. Sign up as a Trailer Safety Week Ally
2. Include the TSW logo on their website
3. Share daily content on social media channels during TSW
4. Send one email communication piece promoting TSW (provided by NATM) to industry customers, vendors, dealers, and the like.

 
Upon successful completion of these items (verification requirements must be met), the organization will enjoy the following benefits:

• Linked logo on Supporter page of TrailerSafetyWeek.com from June 14, 2020, to June 12, 2021
• Rotating ad on TrailerSafetyWeek.com for three months in the following 12 month period (Dependent on receipt of ad meeting specifications provided by NATM Marketing Coordinator. NATM is not responsible for editing artwork, resizing, or adjusting file types. Placement is at the discretion of NATM, and a link will be provided once placed.)
• Listed in NATM’s coverage of Trailer Safety Week in Tracks magazine and The NATM Insider eNews
• Recognition at NATM’s Annual Convention & Trade Show
• 10% off one NATM Advertisement (Tracks, The NATM Insider eNews, Membership Directory or www.NATM.com)

​The next level of involvement is TSW Partnerships. The Trailer Safety Week Partnership program was established to recognize companies, groups, and agencies who support the mission of Trailer Safety Week through content development and resource sharing. Partnerships require more significant commitment in terms of educational content creation and the sharing of content and must conform to specific standards and requirements.
 
Organizations interested in the TSW Champion program can learn more and sign up online at www.TrailerSafetyWeek.com. Organizations interested in the TSW Partnership program are encouraged to reach out to NATM Executive Director Kendra Ansley at Kendra.Ansley@natm.com or (785) 272-4433.

In December, the NATM Executive Committee met in person at NATM Headquarters to set the 2020 committee goals and choose committee members. Using the results of interest indicators sent to all NATM members in November, members were selected for each committee. Taking into account the 2019-2021 Strategic Plan and NATM’s Mission, the Executive Committee diligently thought through what each committee could do to help raise the Association to new heights. For more information about becoming more involved in NATM through committee participation, contact NATM Executive Director Kendra Ansley at Kendra.Ansley@natm.com or call (785) 272-4433. 

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 2019 edition of the Guidelines. This massive document takes the guesswork out of meeting federal requirements governing the manufacture of trailers under 26,000 lbs GVWR and is a benefit of NATM membership.

Building trailers to meet the standards 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 vet the addition of recommendations and best practices.

This year through the annual revision process, the 2019 version of the NATM Guidelines received several updates. As part of the effort to help members achieve success, the NATM Compliance Team heavily updated the Compliance Quick Guide, which features a succinct synopsis of compliance requirements. This quick, to the point resource helps members get the information they need to make the change and move on to the next task.

Members report substantial time savings by utilizing the Guidelines, particularly on the topics of lighting and reflectors, VIN and data plates, calculating 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

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 Defect Investigations and Record Retention Requirements. 49 CFR 579.5, which requires manufacturers to submit to NHTSA copies of communications such as notices and technical service bulletins to dealers, owners or purchasers of their vehicles, 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. 

Membership renewal forms were mailed and emailed to NATM members this November. In order to avoid a membership lapse, 2020 dues are to be paid by January 31, 2020. Per NATM Bylaws, all membership benefits will be suspended beginning Feb. 1 for any member with unpaid dues.

For Trade Show Exhibitors, it is important to note that NATM DUES MUST BE PAID BY DECEMBER 31st, 2019 to maintain the member rate for booths at the February 2020 Convention & Trade Show in Las Vegas, NV.

Membership dues will again go unchanged in 2020. Rates are $795 for Associate (Supplier) members, $135 for Associate Branch members, $925 for Regular and International Regular (Trailer Manufacturer) members and $300 for Regular Branch members. If you joined between February and October of 2019, your 2020 dues are prorated accordingly.

NATM greatly values your membership and 2020 promises to be another fantastic year to be a NATM member. You can pay by check, over the phone, or online. The NATM website has a “Members Only” section where members are able to sign in and pay dues at any time.
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If you have questions, including username and password information for the “Members Only” site, please contact NATM Member Services Coordinator Kathy Johnson at (785) 272-4433 or Kathy.Johnson@natm.com. 

Members of NATM are cordially invited to attend the annual NATM Membership Meeting during the 2020 Convention & Trade Show on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at 10:15-11:15 a.m. No ticket is required for entry.

During the membership meeting, NATM will report on the many exciting achievements that took place over 2019, will give an update on the status of the 2019-2021 Strategic Plan, and will communicate about anticipated changes to the Association in the future. The NATM Executive Committee will be in attendance to answer questions. NATM Board Members will be dispersed throughout the room for one-on-one discussions as well.

In addition, we look to you as members for feedback and input on any topics and issues important to you that you would like to see NATM and its Board of Directors address. To submit comments regarding the Membership Meeting, please contact natmhq@natm.com.
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Those that are not NATM Members in good standing are unable to attend the event but may attend the Awards Luncheon with a ticket following the Membership Meeting.

​NATM is excited for new and revised sponsorship opportunities for 2020! There are marketing and general sponsorship opportunities available from $250 to $50,000 to fit any budget. Being a sponsor allows your company early access to booth selection, 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. This name recognition will help drive customers to your booth.
 
You can find the 2020 Sponsorship Brochure at: https://www.natm.com/sponsor.html. Don’t delay – these opportunities are going fast!
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 For more information about NATM’s 2020 Convention & Trade Show, including sponsorship opportunities and exhibit space, please contact Kelli Maydew at kelli.maydew@natm.com or call (785) 272-4433. 

​NATM trailer manufacturers 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 Member 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 all under the Vegas lights. Please contact NATM Membership & Events Director Kelli Maydew at Kelli.Maydew@natm.com or call (785) 272-4433 to take advantage of this promotion! ​

​NATM is excited to announce a new opening event, “Tee Off to Convention!” Help “tee off” the week with this newly created Top Golf event, which will include food, drinks and fun on Monday, Feb. 10. Tickets can be purchased on www.NATM.com. Spots are limited so get yours today! ​

​In an effort to keep member profiles more secure, our website software provider will no longer allow NATM access to member passwords. Your login credentials have not been changed. However, with multiple upcoming events we wanted to ensure that every member can successfully log on to the website with their login credentials. If you haven’t done so recently, we would encourage you to log on to the members only side of NATM.com to ensure you know your company’s login credentials.
 
Can’t remember your username/password? No problem! You can reset your password here: https://bit.ly/33D2sCO. Simply enter your main contact’s email address and wait for the reset email from NATMHQ@natm.com. You may also call NATM at (785) 272-4433 and have your company’s credentials manually reset by NATM staff.
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In order to receive member pricing on Convention & Trade Show registration, you must be logged in to your member profile.  ​