President’s Report Tracks President’s Report By Greg Snyder, CAR MATE Trailers, Inc.
I am proud to welcome you to this spring’s Special Issue of Tracks magazine, and I will take this opportunity to discuss what the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers is doing to educate end-users through its trailer manufacturing members and their dealers.
The Association was founded to improve trailer safety and performance, and in 2002 established the NATM Compliance Verification Program. This program includes a consultation based on the Guidelines for Recommended Minimum Manufacturing Practices for Light- and Medium-Duty Trailers (Guidelines) which is a compilation of federal safety standards, regulations and industry best practices that govern trailer construction. Manufacturers that successfully complete the compliance verification program can purchase NATM compliance decals to display on compliant trailers. Displaying these decals adds value to the trailers, increases the top line and shows customers commitment to meeting Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). NATM is the only association in the nation that verifies compliance of light- and medium- duty trailers, and it is easy to distinguish compliant trailers from the rest: with the red, white and blue NATM decal.
simple flatbeds to stand out against competition, as uneducated consumers tend to look for their cheapest option. Consumers erroneously assume that all trailers are manufactured in accordance with the law, and don’t understand that penny- pinching can come at a cost when they purchase a trailer that has not been verified for compliance.
SAFELY TOWING A TRAILER
National Association of Trailer Manufacturers Promoting Trailer Safety
Seatbelts are not optional in cars; just as adequate safety chains and properly applied conspicuity tape is not optional on trailers. The difference in the selling of these two different products with their safety requirements is the lack of policing in the trailer industry compared to the billion dollar automotive industry. But, as NATM has been warning members, trailers are no longer being over- looked by authorities. The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA) has been fining at record-levels and recently mailed letters to trailer manufacturing regarding EWR requirements. For more information about NATM’s resources available in regard to these Early Warning Reporting and Recall requirements, turn to page 37.
Knowing that consumer education is a large component of trailer safety, the Association has produced the “Safely Towing a Trailer” brochure available for purchase by trailer manufacturers and dealers across the country. For more information about purchasing these brochures, contact NATM at
NATMHQ@natm.com.
This issue of Tracks is a Special Issue that, in addition to our usual circulation, is sent out to thousands of trailer dealers across the United States in order to spotlight compliant trailer manufacturers, as well as educate about the importance of selling trailers that have been verified for compliance. As a trailer manufacturer myself, I understand that it can be difficult for
6 March/April 2016
Promoting safety within the trailer industry through efforts such as this Spring Special Issue of Tracks is key to NATM’s newly created Strategic Plan. My memory isn’t as great as it once was, but even I can remember NATM’s new mission and vision statements after the Board shortened it to just “Promote trailer safety and the success of the trailer manufacturing industry through education and advocacy.” Promoting trailer safety is our purpose and reason for existing, and everything we do is in support of achieving this. While the trade show is always a good time, it is also an educational event for members to advance their knowledge and skills as suppliers and manufacturers. The annual Regulatory Roundup is an exciting time to experience the inner- workings of D.C., but it most importantly serves as NATM’s pathway of advocacy to educate legislators and thus affect
www.NATM.com
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