NATM successfully published its Guidelines for Recommended Manufacturing Practices for Light- and Medium-Duty Trailers in October. A great deal of time and effort goes into updating the Guidelines to provide members with the most current information derived from the Code of Federal Regulations, state and federal statutes, industry standards, and best practices. In an effort to provide the Guidelines to members more quickly, a link to download the Guidelines and other associated materials has been emailed to NATM Members in lieu of mailed CDs.

Unfortunately, NATM accidentally omitted an NATM Licensed Warning Label Provider in Section B9 of the 2018 Guidelines. Tech Products, Inc. - Signs, Tags and Markers was not included in the originally emailed resources and NATM would like to issue an apology for this oversight. For more information about Tech Products, visit www.technproducts.com. All printed copies of the Guidelines, CDs, and the digital copy available on the Members Only Side of www.NATM.com have been updated.

Trailer warning labels are critical as they provide the final opportunity for the trailer manufacturer to communicate with the end-user about the potential hazards associated with operating the trailer in an effort to avoid a preventable accident resulting in serious injury and/or property damage. Warning labels concede that certain risks of injury or damage may be associated with the operation of trailers, as well as their use and foreseeable misuse.

Warning labels can be purchased from many different label manufacturers. However, the NATM ANSI approved warning labels have undergone testing under the direction and guidance of Weinstein Associates, with a cross-section of the general public for clarity and comprehension in accordance with established procedures of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The labels were certified as adequate and in conformity with the ANSI testing requirements.
NATM ANSI approved trailer warning labels can be purchased from licensed NATM Associate members. The NATM warning label series consists of seventeen generic warning labels for light- and medium-duty trailers. NATM has copyrighted these labels but has agreed to allow licensed supplier members of NATM to reproduce the labels and sell them to any trailer manufacturer. The labels meet all ANSI design standards, are weatherproof, durable and well designed for trailer applications.

To maximize the effectiveness of the NATM warning labels and minimize the trailer manufacturer's exposure to product liability, the NATM warning labels should be placed on the trailer in locations in close proximity to the dangers and risks associated with the label’s content.
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 NATM encourages all members to revisit their warning label needs and to support the Association by using NATM licensed labels whenever appropriate on their trailers. 

​2019 membership renewal communications will begin to arrive via email on or around November 15th. Membership dues can be paid by check, over the phone, or online using the "Members Only" section of NATM. Com. Membership dues are to be paid by Jan. 31, 2019, unless you are exhibiting at the February 2019 Trade Show in Orlando, FL. For Trade Show Exhibitors dues are to be paid by Dec. 31, 2018 to maintain the member booth rate. If you have any questions regarding membership renewals please contact NATM Membership & Education Director Bill Tofflemire via email (Bill.Tofflemire@natm.com) or at (785) 272-4433. 

​Did you miss the How to Find Veterans and Service Members to Fill Your Jobs webinar presented by Retired Brigadier Marianne Watson with the Center for America? You can review a recording of the webinar here, and you can also download the full PowerPoint PDF used in the webinar here. You may be asked to download a small Adobe Connect software and the recording may take a minute to load depending on your internet connection. You can also find the best practice guides mentioned during the webinar here. Please forward the presentation to anyone in your organization involved with hiring and training employees. If you have questions or need assistance please reach out to Steve Nowlan with the Center for America. They are passionate about connecting veterans and reservists to your open jobs.

The latest Regional Educational Workshop was held on September 20, in Elkhart County Indiana and hosted by Ivy Tech Community College. The workshop focused on the skilled labor shortage. Local business, economic development organizations, and education leaders shared how their individual organizations provide a variety of programs designed to lessen the burden of this serious problem, and how they also work together as a community to prepare workers for manufacturing jobs. You can access presentations from all of the speakers here.
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​NATM is encouraging members to take part in this year’s Manufacturing Day, taking place on Friday, October 5th. Produced by the National Association of Manufacturers, Manufacturing Day is the industry’s opportunity to showcase all it has to offer. By working together, the manufacturing industry can address the skilled labor shortage, help change the public’s perception on the industry and empower the future generation of manufacturers. 

​There are several ways for NATM members to get involved in this year’s Manufacturing Day. Open your doors to aspiring manufacturers, show your support for the industry and attend a fellow manufacturer’s event or sponsor a local event. Manufacturing Day events can be held any time during the month of October. If you plan to host an event, don’t forget to let NATM know! ​

Registration for the 31st Annual NATM Annual Convention & Trade Show is now open.
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Plan to join us in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Feb. 19-21, 2019 for NATM’s 31st Annual Convention & Trade Show at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. With more than 1000 trailer manufacturer and supplier attendees per year and growing, this "must attend" event provides education, networking and communication for suppliers and trailer manufacturers in the industry.
 
Registration opened the beginning of September with discounted early bird registration rates available until Dec. 31 for both trailer manufacturers and exhibitors. This year NATM is excited to offer free full registrations for trailer manufacturers’ spouses. NATM hopes you will plan to bring your better half along to enjoy the show. Come early or stay late as Disney Coronado Springs Resort offers the discounted NATM rate of $165/night two days prior to the convention, as well as the two days after the show. Disney is known for their service and Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort will not disappoint.
 
We hope you will help us wrap up the Convention and Trade Show with an evening filled with food, drinks and fireworks at Disney’s Epcot. This event you won’t want to miss.

​Did you miss the How to Find Veterans and Service Members to Fill Your Jobs webinar presented by Retired Brigadier Marianne Watson with the Center for America? You can review a recording of the webinar here, and you can also download the full PowerPoint PDF used in the webinar here. You may be asked to download a small Adobe Connect software and the recording may take a minute to load depending on your internet connection. You can also find the best practice guides mentioned during the webinar here. Please forward the presentation to anyone in your organization involved with hiring and training employees. If you have questions or need assistance please reach out to Steve Nowlan with the Center for America. They are passionate about connecting veterans and reservists to your open jobs.

 Is your HR manager overwhelmed trying to manage the ever-changing world of labor laws and regulations? From OSHA reporting to benefits administration to equal employment opportunity complaints and many other issues, where do you turn to provide accurate resources to help your HR manager perform the job without spending a fortune on legal and/or consulting fees? Join NATM for a free member to learn more about Trailer Makers Insurance Toolkit, and about the 50% discount that NATM members receive. Below are just a few of the helpful resources you will find in the Toolkit.

• A wide range of HR forms and notices on topics such as FMLA, COBRA, HIPAA
• A tool to record and report your OSHA Incidents
• Workplace policy templates including a Hand-Held Mobile Phone Policy, Telecommuting Policy, Reference and Background Check forms, and many others
• A tool to help manage open enrollment process for employee benefits from start to finish

 
For more information about the event and to register please contact Andrew Dearing and Josh Gurley.
Josh Gurley, CIC, MWCA
Trailer Industry Risk and Insurance Advisor
jgurley@trailermakersins.com
 
Andrew Dearing, CIC, MWCA
Trailer and Truck Body Industry Risk and Insurance Advisor
adearing@trailermakersins.com
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​NATM is pleased to let you know that numerous members responded to the Association Health Plan (AHP) Data Collection email sent to members and we continue to receive inquiries from members who are interested in submitting Data Collection responses for their company’s plan.
 
MMA is reviewing submitted information on an ongoing basis to best position NATM for AHP discussions with insurance carriers.  MMA will be contacting NATM members that didn’t submit a response who are located in regions with higher response levels to be sure they have the opportunity to be included.
 
A memo explaining Association Health Plans (AHP’s) and the Data Collection form can be found here.  If you did not submit your company’s Data Collection response and want to be included in NATM’s AHP evaluation, submit your response to Jamie Conover at Jamie.conover@marshmma.com. 
 
NATM will continue providing updates.  In the meantime, we encourage you to contact Lisa Clark at  lisa.clark@marshmma.com with any questions related to NATM’s AHP implementation evaluation.  

​​Featured Presenter:
Brig. Gen. (ret) Marianne Watson, Director of Outreach Center for America
former Director of Manpower and Personnel Planning National Guard Bureau, Washington, DC
 
Topics:

• Finding military candidates for your jobs -- connecting with military units
• Getting ready to ask referral sources for help
• Engaging with military employment transition teams
• National organizations that provide candidate referrals at no cost
• Getting job postings directly to military transition counselors

​Is your HR manager overwhelmed trying to manage the ever-changing world of labor laws and regulations? From OSHA reporting to benefits administration to equal employment opportunity complaints and many other issues, where do you turn to provide accurate resources to help your HR manager perform the job without spending a fortune on legal and/or consulting fees? Register for this free webinar to learn more about the Trailer Makers Insurance Toolkit and how NATM members can get the Toolkit for 50% off. Below are just a few of the helpful resources you will find in the Toolkit.

• A wide range of HR forms and notices on topics such as FMLA, COBRA, HIPAA
• A tool to record and report your OSHA Incidents
• Workplace policy templates including a Hand-Held Mobile Phone Policy, Telecommuting Policy, Reference and Background Check forms, and many others
• A tool to help manage open enrollment process for employee benefits from start to finish

​

For more information about the event and to register please contact Andrew Dearing and Josh Gurley.

Josh Gurley, CIC, MWCA
Trailer Industry Risk and Insurance Advisor
jgurley@trailermakersins.com
 
Andrew Dearing, CIC, MWCA
Trailer and Truck Body Industry Risk and Insurance Advisor
adearing@trailermakersins.com

​The Annual Regulatory Roundup and Capitol Hill Visits will be in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018. Along with the Convention & Trade Show, this is one of NATM’s most important events of the year. The event brings in speakers from industry groups and agencies such as the National Association of Manufacturers and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to provide updates on current policy and regulatory happenings. Topics are geared toward current events and industry needs, with attendees being given the opportunity to engage with experts. Following morning speakers, attendees will be prepared for afternoon visits on Capitol Hills with the staff of their legislators. For those who might be unsure about this event, all attendees are paired into teams with more experienced attendees helping to navigate the Hill and lead meetings. The event is structured to be as easy as possible for attendees while providing the important function of raising awareness of the industry and the issues being faced with legislators.

With the impact of tariffs and proposed tariffs on the industry businesses and the general volatility of the government affairs arena in recent months which is likely to increase in this important midterm election year, messaging for the visits has not yet been confirmed. The Government Affairs committee continues to monitor and adapt possible messaging to ensure our visits on the Hill are relevant and reflect the needs of the industry in the moment.

While messaging is in the works, the next step to ensure a successful event is to encourage more participation from members. NATM Members attending the Capitol Hill Visit serve as crucial constituent voices and are the most important in these one-on-one meetings. Members who have attended in the past have found the experience very rewarding and provided the following comments:

John Kerr, Executive Producer, Manufacturing Practice Group, Marsh & McLennan Agency, says, “I have attended every Regulatory Roundup since I have been a member of NATM. The Roundup has allowed me to have a real and meaningful impact on the trailer manufacturing industry…Without a doubt, this event has been the most important and impactful contribution I have made to the industry. The benefits of this work are real and I would challenge every NATM member to up their commitment to the industry by joining us in Washington,” said Kerr.

NATM’s long-term approach to and investments in government relations continue to pay dividends to the Association and its members. Legislative and regulatory enactments are important and beneficial to NATM, but preventative activities—stopping bad things from happening—are perhaps more important from NATM’s perspective. The Association has been successful on both counts. The current government relations program in place for NATM is strong, and maintaining a steady course will continue to provide tremendous value to NATM members. Expanding the participation at the Regulatory Roundup and Capitol Hill visits will help build on that success and help NATM educate members of Congress about the trailer manufacturing industry.

If you would like more information about the Regulatory Roundup or how you can get involved in the NATM Government Affairs program, contact NATM Assistant Director Meghan Ryan at Meghan.Ryan@natm.com or call (785) 272-4433. ​
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It has come to our attention that there are scammers claiming to offer NATM’s marketing lists NATM has historically had difficulty with scammers claiming to offer registration lists for the NATM Convention & Trade Show and as well as support in booking at host hotels.

These scammers are sophisticated and often build emails and websites that look very professional, but they are purely out to collect your data and money. If you use them, you will not be registered for the event and may find that your hotel reservation does not exist.

Registration for the 2018 NATM Convention & Trade Show can only be done directly through NATM. Registration will officially open Sept. 5. To register or make hotel reservations, visit www.NATM.com or by submitting the paper registration form that was mailed to your company directly. On-site registration will be available; but the earlier you register, the more you save!

NATM offers its membership lists FREE OF CHARGE to all members. For the most up-to-date membership list, contact Membership & Education Director Bill Tofflemire at Bill.Tofflemire@natm.com or call (785) 272-4433.
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If you have any questions about registering for the 2018 NATM Convention & Trade Show or booking your rooms at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, contact Events Coordinator Lane McNeil at Lane.McNeil@natm.com.