 This year’s national Trailer Safety Week takes place June 5-11, 2022. While NATM prides itself on promoting trailer safety 365 days of the year, Trailer Safety Week offers a unique opportunity for the trailer industry to come together and make the nation’s roadways safer one trailer at a time. The mission of Trailer Safety Week (TSW) is to improve the safety of the nation’s roadways by increasing 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 has reached more than 300,000 people 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.TrailerSafetyWeek.com.
5 Reasons NATM Members Should Celebrate Trailer Safety Week
Convinced your company should be celebrating Trailer Safety Week? NATM is encouraging its members to participate in this campaign to reach end users and dealers as either Trailer Safety Allies, Champions, or Partners. Trailer Safety Ally Program: Becoming an Official Trailer Safety Week Ally is a wonderful opportunity for companies who want to be involved in the safety movement but don't have significant time to invest. NATM provides Allies with the official Trailer Safety Communications kit to promote their involvement in Trailer Safety Week and to share information about safe trailering practices. This digital kit includes pre-crafted social media posts, downloadable Trailer Safety Week graphics, a blog post, and much more. Promoting the company’s involvement with Trailer Safety Week is a breeze with this jam-packed kit. The content can even be customized to include content specific to each Ally’s products and services that promote trailer safety. Becoming a Trailer Safety Week Ally shows potential customers that your company prides itself on making safe products. Visit www.TrailerSafetyWeek.com for more information. 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 is committed to expansion, two 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. Trailer Safety Champion Program: NATM created the Trailer Safety Week Champion program to highlight companies whose support of TSW exceeds that of a 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 on the TSW website here: www.trailersafetyweek.com/interest. Trailer Safety Partner Program: 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. For more information on what it takes to become a TSW Partner, contact NATM Executive Director Kendra Ansley at Kendra.Ansley@natm.com For more information about becoming a Trailer Safety Ally, Champion or Partner, visit www.TrailerSafetyWeek.com. NATM looks forward to working with its members to improve the safety of the light- and medium-duty trailer industry!
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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. 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.
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.
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