NATM Celebrates 30 Years of Advocacy, Education and Growth
Tracks
NATM Celebrates 30 Years of Advocacy, Education and Growth By Pam Trusdale, Executive Director
Sept. 22, 2017 will mark the 30th Anniversary of the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM). The following are highlights from the last 30 years:
1987 Five trailer manufacturers established the National
1988
Association of Livestock Trailer Manufacturers (NALTM) in Chickasha, Okla. Bill Bernhardt, President of Sooner Trailer, was elected as the first President of this new association. The group originally came together in an effort to get better rates for product liability insurance. Those in attendance decided to establish an association, and selected Professional Association Management (PAM) of Oklahoma City to manage the Association for 70 percent of its total income. The first Annual Membership Meeting was held in Kansas City, Mo. with 25 members in attendance. The initial nine-member Board of Directors was elected and dues were set at $400 for Regular Members (trailer manufacturers) and $500 for Associate Members (suppliers).
1989 Management of the Association was moved to
Association & Society Management, Inc., Austin, Texas for 40 percent of annual income plus office expenses.
1990 The Association was incorporated in Texas as
the National Association of Livestock Trailer Manufacturers (NALTM). The first NATM “Mark of Excellence” Decals were sold to members for one dollar per decal (below). The purpose of the decal was to promote pride in membership and to raise revenue for the Association.
1991 Work started on
manufacturing guidelines for livestock trailer manufacturers – initially published as The Guidelines for Recommended Minimum Manufacturing Practices for Trailers Under 26,000 lbs. GVWR.
1992 Revised Articles of
NALTM's Tracks black and white newsletter published in 1990.
Incorporation were filed in Texas changing the name of the Association to the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM). The Board of Directors determined that the issues they were facing were not specific to livestock trailer manufacturers and that the industry would be better served if all light- and medium-duty trailer manufacturers were unified in one association.
1993 Membership grew to 81 members and the annual meeting was held in Dallas, Texas.
1994 Membership reported at 117 with an annual budget of $85,800. Convention revenue was 30 percent of the anticipated annual revenue. Dues were $400 for both Regular and Associate members.
1995 Membership reported at 125 members. The convention was held in New Orleans, La. and discussion topics included compliance issues, business liabilities and the fluctuation in the steel and aluminum markets.
1996 Reports for the year noted improvements in The
Guidelines and Tracks, and completion of a trailer industry survey. Dick Klein, P.E., was hired as NATM’s Consulting Engineer to assist members with technical questions. Membership totaled 147 and the annual budget was $104,150.
The first NATM “Mark of Excellence” Decals were sold in 1990.
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May/June 2017
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