Headquarters Report

By Kendra Ansley, NATM Executive Director

Fall is upon us, and while temperatures in much of the country still feel like summer, soon we’ll see cooler weather and the changing of leaves. It’s an exciting time at headquarters as registration for the 2022 NATM Convention & Trade Show opens. For 32 years, the light- and medium-duty trailer industry was able to mark the beginning of each year with the NATM Convention & Trade Show. While that tradition paused in 2021, we cannot wait to welcome back the industry in Tampa, Fla. Feb. 1-3, 2022! For the first time in history, we’ll welcome trailer dealers to the event—bringing together the entire industry under one roof! The NATM Convention Committee has put together a fantastic event with timely workshops, technical forums, and networking events. Plan to join the industry for top-tier education, see the latest products, and shake hands with your peers again! To learn more about the 2022 NATM Convention & Trade Show, see page 81.

2021 has been filled with progress on the current Strategic Plan, and NATM is excited to announce the launch of a new Quality Management System (QMS) Resource Guide geared specifically toward trailer manufacturing settings. NATM has long recommended trailer manufacturers have a QMS in place as part of its Compliance Verification Program (CVP), and now, we’ve created a guide for member companies to initiate or improve their own system, including templates and samples to make the process as simple as possible. More about the new Resource Guide can be found on page 40. NATM also launched a new online store for members, affiliates, and non-members alike, bringing trailer safety resources and product offerings into the digital age. Trailer manufacturer members can even purchase decals online now. Find out more about the online store and how to access membersonly products on page 42.

In June, NATM hosted its fourth annual Trailer Safety Week. This one-of-a-kind event aimed at improving trailer safety brought more than 300 allies together to share critical safety information with end-users, law enforcement, and other interested parties. A special thank you is owed to our first Trailer Safety Week Partner, Peerless Chain. Peerless worked with NATM creating content for www.TrailerSafetyWeek.com to educate users on proper cargo securement practices. Thank you, too, to our 2021 Trailer Safety Week Champion, Felling Trailers! There was a nearly 3,000 percent increase in our social media reach in 2021. While NATM has

many successes to speak to, it’s important to remember that the Association exists because of, and for, its members. With more than 70 industry volunteers serving on committees and the Board, and countless more helping NATM with special projects, we wouldn’t be where we are without the incredible industry we serve. In each issue of Tracks, we want to celebrate one of our members, and to kick off this new feature, we’re thrilled to celebrate the folks at Red Fern Dynamics. Charles and Pam Daugherty, co-owners of Red Fern Dynamics, Inc., bring experience, ingenuity, and a passion for safety to the industry! Learn more about the folks behind the custom mobile kitchens from Red Fern Dynamics on page 24.

The light- and medium-duty trailer industry is a testament to the American spirit. As an industry you have faced a global pandemic, workforce shortage, and potentially crippling supply chain disruptions and continued to thrive. As we look to 2022 and how we can help tackle workforce and supply chain issues, keep members abreast of technological advancements in the industry, and continue to grow the value of the NATM Decal, amongst other things, we want to hear from you about how we can better meet your needs. You can reach your NATM staff at (785) 272-4433 or at NATMHQ@natm.com.

With just under four months left in the year, there’s so much more in store! Make sure you’re signed up for the NATM Insider eNewsletter to make sure you know what’s going in with your Association. To sign up, contact NATM Marketing Director Savana Morrison at Savana.Morrison@natm.com.