Headquarter’s Report

By Kendra Ansley, NATM Executive Director

Spring is upon us! In years past, this time of year manufacturing kicks into high gear as consumer and dealer demand spikes, but the industry did not see the usual winter slow-down this year, and orders remain strong for the majority. The need for a strong, stable workforce to meet demand remains a primary challenge for the industry, and NATM is continuing to work with members to try to support efforts to close the gap. Looking to increase diversity inclusion initiatives (D&I) can be one way to tap into underrepresented populations and maintain employment levels. Turn to page 22 for the beginning of a D&I series. NATM also encourages its members to use the NATM Job Board to find candidates—learn more on page 26.

As we all look forward to warmer weather and the continuation of increased production and sales, trailer safety will be key as trailer owners get back out on the road in full force. Ensuring trailers are road ready and compliant as well as providing resources to dealers and end-users about the safe use of trailers is the foundation of NATM’s mission—to promote trailer safety and the success of the trailer manufacturing industry through education and advocacy. NATM has released a number of fantastic resources for dealers in the last six months, including the NATM Dealer Compendium which includes over 300 pages of federal and state regulatory information as well as consumer resources. The Association also launched the NATM Resource Library for members and dealer affiliates which contains on-demand content such as technical and business management resources, archived educational articles and pre-recorded webinars. In addition, the online resource library contains useful information about how to use NATM compliance as a sales tool. NATM recognizes that communicating the importance and depth of the compliance program to end-users can be difficult, but the resources in the library will help dealers explain technically complicated, expansive regulations in a concise and simple way without overburdening the end-user. It is important to help consumers make informed decisions about purchasing a compliant, road-ready trailer. NATM is continuing to grow the resource library to ensure members and affiliates have the information they need at the touch of a button.

The Association’s efforts to grow consumer awareness about safe trailering and regulatory compliance doesn’t end with

manufacturers and dealers. NATM will be hosting the fourth annual Trailer Safety Week June 6-12, 2021. The Association has new Trailer Safety Week partnerships in the works to expand content curated by industry experts—more information to come! Engaging with the event is easy! NATM offers three levels of participation—Allies, Champions, and Partners. Allies sign up online and are provided a marketing kit with pre-crafted materials and resources for industry members to support Trailer Safety Week through social media posts and direct to customer communications. Champions take participation to the next level, committing to online posts and customer outreach, but are rewarded with brand promotion. Partners have the most intensive commitment to Trailer Safety Week, and this status is reserved for industry experts who curate content for Trailer Safety Week within their area of expertise. For a full participation guide, turn to page 16. I hope you’ll join our effort to make roadways safer and sign up at www.TrailerSafetyWeek.com/interest.

2021 is off to a strong start and the Association has much in store for members and dealer affiliates this year! New committees are well underway with goals that will continue to propel the industry forward and ensure the continued accomplishment of the NATM mission. While the Association continues to grow and expand, the staff works to educate our members and affiliates about all the resources available to them. Turn to page 20 for the latest on how to maximize your membership, but also, be sure to sign up for The NATM Insider eNews as we make timely announcements regarding evolving programming each month. You can sign up for the eNews by contacting NATM Marketing Director Savana Morrison at Savana.Morrison@natm.com.

- Patrick Jennissen, Felling Trailers