 Verifying compliance with federal regulations and industry best practices is no small feat. NATM member trailer manufacturers’ commitment to safety deserves public recognition. While NATM continues to market the value of the compliance decal in a number of different ways, we would love to know: where in the world is your compliant trailer?
NATM is looking to collect photos of trailers with the NATM decal in your everyday life – sitting at a job site, hauling a boat to the lake, at the campground, or wherever it may be! The “Where in the World is Your Compliant Trailer” social media campaign posts will have the manufacturer of the trailer tagged, a photo of the trailer being featured, as well as a direct link to the member’s directory listing on NATM.com. Photos and a brief description of where the picture was taken can be submitted to decals@natm.com. Recognize NATM members that help America work and play safely by submitting a “Where in the World is Your Compliant Trailer” post today!
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Kay Deever - Administrative AssistantKay received her bachelor’s in political science and government at Kansas State University and her Master’s in Biblical studies with an emphasis in program management at Colorado Christian University. Her past experience with the Geary Community Healthcare Foundation in Kansas and the American Holistic Nurses Association will serve her well in her role as administrative assistant.
Reach out to Kay with questions regarding Decal orders, Trailer Safety Product orders or general questions about the Association.  The National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM), known as the resource for safety and compliance for the light- and medium-duty trailer industry, published its first edition of the NATM Light- and Medium-Duty Trailer Dealer Resource Compendium.
Known as the Dealer Compendium, this document will launch Sept. 1, and is free to all NATM Dealer Affiliates. The Compendium is full of educational content and materials that will help trailer dealers access essential information quickly and easily in one place. The document includes state laws, helpful trailer safety information, as well as resources NATM Dealer Affiliates can pass along to their customers. Modeled after the NATM Guidelines for trailer manufacturers, this resource guide is over 300 pages and contains information on:
The information featured in the Compendium 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, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration amongst others. The Compendium will be updated annually by NATM Staff and Committees that stay abreast of changing regulations and vet the addition of the document’s contents. The National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (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. The NATM Dealer Affiliate program is an opportunity to unify the trailer industry to improve trailer safety. In addition to granting access to NATM’s publications such as Tracks magazine, the NATM Insider, dealers receive hard copies of safety resources to distribute to customers. For more information about how the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers can assist your dealership, visit www.NATM.com, email NATM Assistant Director Meghan Ryan at Meghan.Ryan@natm.com or call (785) 272-4433.  NATM is thrilled to be heading to Nashville, Tenn. for the 33rd Annual Convention & Trade Show being held February 23-25, 2021. Make plans
to join your peers in the light- and medium-duty trailer industry at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center! NATM has been closely monitoring COVID-19 and is working with the Gaylord to create proper protocols for all attendees. Safety is our top priority, and we will ensure the correct steps are taken to protect all attendees as much as possible as we continue to plan the event. Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center Situated in the heart of Nashville, the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center allows you to hit all the high notes of Music City both under their roof and in the surrounding area. Catch a show at the Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium, then return to the nine acres of lush indoor gardens and cascading waterfalls. A full-service spa is also offered for a more relaxing way to unwind. When it's time to refuel, indulge in Mexican, Italian and Japanese restaurants followed by a frozen yogurt or gelato dessert. The discounted NATM rate for the Gaylord is $230 per night. Gaylord Opryland suites offer many special amenities including bay windows, balconies with patio furniture and plenty of space to relax on your trip. The resort offers room options that allow you to relax and unwind in comfort. Atrium View rooms offer unrivaled views of one-of-a-kind atriums that host tropical environments with waterfalls, fountain shows and fish ponds. Nashville – Something for Everyone Voted one of the Top 15 cities in the United States in 2019, Nashville offers a unique experience for all of its visitors! Much more than a honky-tonk town — though if you’re after energy-packed nightlife and live music, you won’t be disappointed. From the historic Grand Ole Opry to new James Beard Award-winning restaurants, industrial-chic hotels to cowboy-boot shops, there’s plenty to enjoy in Music City. The sound of Nashville reverberates from the city’s downtown core where visitors from all over the world converge with the business and government district. Running smack in the middle is Lower Broadway where world-class live music 365 days of the year and never charge a cover. In the area “North of Broadway” are historic buildings reimagined into music attractions, boutique hotels, art galleries, and chef-driven restaurants, and “South of Broadway” are newly constructed hotels, eateries, music venues, and attractions. Wherever you go, there is plenty of fun to be had around Nashville’s incredibly walkable downtown. Nashville’s connection to music is unequaled, and its reputation as Music City has been consistently proven for over 200 years. Welcome to the city where music is written, recorded and performed every single day. Welcome, to Music City.  Membership renewal forms will be mailed and emailed to NATM members this November. In order to avoid a membership lapse, 2021 dues are to be paid by January 31, 2021.
For Trade Show Exhibitors, it is important to note that NATM DUES MUST BE PAID BY DECEMBER 31st, 2020 to maintain the member rate for booths at the February 2021 Convention & Trade Show in Nashville, TN. Membership dues will again go unchanged in 2021. 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 2020, your 2021 dues are prorated accordingly. NATM greatly values your membership and 2021 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 companies are able to sign in and pay dues at any time. 2020 Added Benefits This year, NATM has maintained the many benefits members know and utilize, while also adding the following:
COVID-19: NATM is Here for You For many NATM members, this has been a difficult and uncertain time. NATM knows that members are getting creative about how to approach the myriad of new challenges that exist. NATM is working to help members navigate this time by providing resources and information promptly. In response to COVID-19, NATM has:
For questions regarding your company’s membership or the renewal process, please contact NATM Assistant Director Meghan Ryan at Meghan.Ryan@natm.com or (785) 272-4433. Nominations are now open for the 2021-2024 term on the NATM Board of Directors. Would you like to be a part of the future success of NATM, or do you know someone that would be a strong leader for the Association? For more than 30 years NATM has been fortunate to be guided by committed and visionary members serving on the Board of Directors. It is because of these boards that NATM has a Compliance Verification Program, has been able to respond to issues such as tandem towing and tariff challenges, has created a national campaign to raise awareness of safe trailering, and launch a Dealer Affiliate program. Through strategic planning, meaningful discussion and decisive action, the NATM Board is tasked with ensuring that the industry and the Association continues to thrive and grow. Nominations Process In accordance with the NATM Bylaws, the board of directors calls for nominations from the Association’s membership. Election of directors takes place by email ballot prior to the annual NATM Convention & Trade Show. Typically, the call for nominations goes out in September. Nominated candidates fill out a questionnaire, which is reviewed by the nominations committee. The nominations committee, chaired by the current vice president, selects a slate of candidates for approval by the board of directors. Ballots are sent to all NATM Regular and Associate Members in December. Regular members (trailer manufacturers) elect the regular member directors and associate members (suppliers) elect associate member directors. Board Member Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Terms and Term Limits Board members may serve two consecutive terms, of three years each, on the NATM Board of Directors. A member who is appointed to fill a vacancy on the board of directors is eligible to be elected for two complete terms following appointment to the board. How to Apply or Nominate a Candidate If you are interested or know someone interested in serving on the NATM Board of Directors, please fill out the form at the bottom of this page. If you would like more information about the responsibilities and time commitment for serving on the board, contact NATM Executive Director Kendra Ansley at (785) 272-4433 or Kendra.Ansley@natm.com. Nominations must be received by Sept. 30, 2020 in order to be considered.  As COVID-19 continues to spread, the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) has been monitoring the situation closely. The cornerstone of NATM’s mission is safety, and the Association takes the safety of its employees, members, and the many citizens impacted by its work very seriously. On March 13, 2020, NATM suspended travel for its employees, but is now allowing limited travel to member facilities within driving distance. In monitoring the recommendations of public health officials, the Centers for Disease Control, and OSHA amongst many resources, NATM feels it is prudent at this time to continue to implement precautions to protect its team and those who come in contact with them throughout the course of their daily lives. At this time, the impact of these precautions is mostly on the NATM Compliance Verification Program’s onsite consultations. NATM and its compliance consultants have transitioned to either entirely remote or a hybrid remote-onsite consultations with members whose compliance certifications are set to expire in the near future and with new members. NATM was well-positioned for this change with the recent transition to electronic checklists and a history of completing international member consultations mostly through a remote process. However, there are still many hurdles for both consultants and members to overcome in order to complete the thorough consultation NATM members have come to expect. The two main challenges being encountered and the ways to mitigate those are: Contacting Members – Most, if not all, members have seen their work environment and processes drastically changed and their workload increase as a result. Many members have reported an increasing volume of email communications as well as a workforce shortage and order backlogs which often results in being away from email or phones for extended periods of time. Together, these challenges have created significant delays in responsiveness as consultations are scheduled via email. NATM understands the mounting pressures members are facing and are working to find ways to increase flexibility as members cope and adapt. For example, if a member’s business has been shut down due to COVID-19, NATM would not expect a consultation immediately. As a company’s expiration date draws near, members are encouraged to keep an eye out and respond promptly to consultant scheduling attempted to prevent any gaps in compliance or issues filling decal orders. Providing Evidence for Consultation – Under normal conditions, NATM consultants typically view all checklist items in-person during onsite consultations. These items range from tire recordkeeping to the lens coding on tail lamps. The work for the most part is left to the NATM Consultant through the onsite inspection process. The challenge then is ensuring a thorough inspection of these items while completing the consultation remotely, which means requesting more effort and support from members through the process. There are currently two options to address the challenge of providing evidence to meet the NATM Compliance Verification Program requirements: hybrid remote-onsite consultations and entirely remote consultations. Hybrid Remote-Onsite ConsultationsThe ideal consultation procedure at this time is the utilization of the hybrid remote-onsite method. In this method, a consultant will travel to your facility to view the physical trailers in an outdoor location. The member is invited to be present, but not required, and must follow the same guidelines as the consultant (face mask, distancing, etc. as outlined in NATM communications during the scheduling process). Likewise, the consultant will follow any protocol as required by the member company, such as temperature screenings and medical questionnaires. Onsite Inspection – The in-person inspection will cover all physical aspects of the trailer, including, but not limited to, lamps, reflectors, capacities, etc. These are the items most challenging to verify remotely. Verifying these critical checklist items in-person allows a more thorough and quality consultation for members. Another deviation from previous methods is that of scheduling. Consultants will schedule for a.m. or p.m., during business hours, rather than a specific time. This flexibility will allow consultants to move from site to site without delay while also giving each location the time needed for a thorough and complete inspection. This structure also allows consultants to complete more consultations in a shorter amount of time, decreasing both travel expenses (hotels, meals, fuel, etc.) and risk of exposure to COVID-19. Please note that not all members will qualify for this consultation method due to travel restrictions. At the time of this publication, NATM Consultants are not able to travel internationally, to a state with an active stay at home order, or any state identified by the Kansas Department of Health as “high risk”. Remote Inspection – To finish the consultation, all other items not completed during the onsite inspection will be covered during a remote second meeting. This includes questions directly relating to the consultation, informational items, and a review of any issues found during the onsite inspection. These items have historically been completed in an indoor office, in a face-to-face environment that would violate today’s CDC guidelines relating to COVID-19. Some of these questions may still require the member to provide documents and/or pictures such as proof of tire recordkeeping, Manufacturer Certificate of Origin (MCO) verification, etc. NATM Consultants will set up an online meeting through several different providers such as Zoom or GoToMeeting. Entirely Remote InspectionAgain, NATM Consultants can set up an online meeting through several different providers such as Zoom or GoToMeeting. During this meeting, the member will have two ways to transmit the required evidence to the consultant. The member may use their smartphone or tablet to show the consultant all items via live video. The member may also send pictures documenting each item though this may require a large number of pictures to be transferred. It is possible to conduct the consultation using a mixture of these methods. A common occurrence is for a member to send pictures of documents and recordkeeping, but perform the actual trailer inspection via live video.
It is important to note, at this time, all members will be allowed to select a remote consultation if an onsite inspection violates company safety standards in relation to COVID-19. NATM will continue to monitor the situation and communicate with members as the situation changes. You can expect to receive the same benefits and services you have come to know and rely on with adaptations intended to protect everyone. If you have any questions about your consultation, your expiration date, or questions about the NATM Compliance Verification Program, contact Technical Director Terry Jones by texting or calling (620) 381-8040 or by emailing him at Terry.Jones@natm.com.  One year ago, NATM announced the launch of its Dealer Affiliate Program. The Association has been committed to the light- and medium-duty trailer industry for more than 30 years, with its focus on the manufacturing of compliant trailers. The extension to include trailer dealers as affiliates was a natural next step in the evolution of NATM’s expanding trailer safety efforts. NATM Dealer Affiliate Program Trailer dealers serve as the main point of contact during the sales process of many NATM compliant trailers. This group is also a key stakeholder in the fight to improve trailer safety as it is in their best interest that their customers are safe and happy with their purchase. As a result, NATM created the NATM Dealer Affiliate Program. Increasing end-user awareness of the importance of the NATM Compliance Verification Program has consistently ranked as a top priority for trailer manufacturing members. By bringing trailer dealers in as affiliates, NATM is better able to serve its membership by directly communicating about the importance of purchasing NATM compliant trailers. The NATM Dealer Affiliation is $150 and affiliates experience a host of benefits, with an emphasis on education and resource access. The following list includes current Dealer Affiliate benefits: Samples of NATM publications:
More details about the program can be found at www.natm.com/dealers.html. Have ideas for additional benefits? Contact NATM Membership & Events Director Kelli Maydew at Kelli.Maydew@natm.com or call (785) 272-4433.  Dealers Invited to NATM Convention!
For the first time in NATM history, the Association is excited to invite trailer dealers to the 33rd Annual NATM Convention & Trade Show in Nashville, Tenn. Feb. 23-25, 2021! Dealer attendees will have the opportunity to participate in all workshops and technical forums, along with dealer-centered educational sessions. Plan to attend the trade show, which will house 298 booths! Special networking events will provide the opportunity to mingle with fellow industry peers, NATM Board Members and staff, and trailer manufacturers while in Music City. NATM will be offering a “New Dealer Promotion!” Companies can sign up for NATM’s Dealer Affiliate Program for just $150 and are then eligible for two complimentary registrations and two free hotel room nights while available! Non-affiliate dealers can register to attend for $300. 2021 Convention & Trade ShowNATM is excited to be using Map Your Show’s online booth sales software again for the NATM Convention & Trade Show in Nashville Feb. 23-35, 2021. This program has proven to be a time saving and far less frustrating process for exhibitors. There is no more waiting around until your contract arrives to see what booth you have been assigned. This user-friendly software will allow you to select your desired booth in real-time! The opportunity to select exhibitor space at the 2021 trade show has been made available to suppliers and service providers in the following phases: Phase 1: 2020 sponsors choose their booths first during the following dates:
Phase 2: 2020 non-sponsor exhibitors select their booths during the following dates:
Phase 3: The general membership and non-members will be allowed to choose booth space:
The 2020 sponsors and exhibitors that sign up by September 13 will receive a discounted rate of $1,228 per 10’x10’ booth. The rate for any member that signs up for booth space after September 13 will be $1,428 per 10’x10’ booth. Booth spaces for non-members of NATM are $2,856. On the day your booth selection window opens, you will receive an email from NATM notifying you that the booth sales application is now available online for your company. Within this email a unique code is provided that, when entered, pre-populates the online booth sales application. Within the app, exhibitors can view the 2021 show floorplan and select the desired booth(s). During the completion of the online application, exhibitors pay for their booth(s) with credit card. Once NATM show management approves the application, an email containing login credentials to the exhibitor dashboard is sent. The dashboard allows exhibitors to update their company profile and contact information and view other important information relevant to the upcoming show. As always, the sign up for booth space is first-come, first-served. You can sign up at any time after your group’s window begins. If you miss the window for your group, the privilege of choice during your group’s time is lost. Be sure to mark your calendar to remember to sign up as soon as you receive your email from NATM! If you have any questions regarding how to book your exhibit space or if you would like to be a sponsor at the 2021 Convention & Trade Show, contact NATM Membership & Events Director, Kelli Maydew at Kelli.Maydew@natm.com or (785) 272-4433.
 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. |
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