Tracks: March/April 2023

STAFF

Tracks Editor

Samantha Darling LaCount • Samantha.Darling@natm.com

Interim Executive Director

Alex Stowe • Alex.Stowe@natm.com

Assistant Director

Meghan Ryan • Meghan.Ryan@natm.com

Marketing Director

Savana Morrison • Savana.Morrison@natm.com

Compliance Manager

Scott Crimmins • Scott.Crimmins@natm.com

Senior Compliance Consultant

Sean Sloan • Sean.Sloan@natm.com

Compliance Consultant

Aaron Langer • Aaron.Langer@natm.com

Member Outreach Specialist

Scott Simons • Scott.Simons@natm.com

Membership & Events Coordinator

Catie Rutkowski • Catie.Rutkowski@natm.com

Administrative Services Coordinator

Abby Wiebler • Abby.Wiebler@natm.com

Bookkeeper

Sherry Palmeroni • Sherry.Palmeroni@natm.com

OFFICERS

President Marty Lorick • Triple Crown Trailers Inc.

Vice President

Josh Johnson • Big Tex Trailer Manufacturing, Inc.

Treasurer Marco Garcia • U-Haul International, Inc.

Associate Member Representative John Kerr • Marsh & McLennan

Past President Owen Shelton • BoatMate Trailers, Inc.

DIRECTORS FEB. 2021 - FEB. 2024

Leo Akins • Forest River, Inc.

Andy Derr • M.H. Eby, Inc.

Rick Huddleston • White River Marine Group

John Kerr • Marsh & McLennan Agency

DIRECTORS FEB. 2022 - FEB. 2025

Charles Daugherty • Red Fern Dynamics

Andy Gehman • MGS Incorporated

Daniel Luby • BoatMate Trailers, Inc.

Nathan Uphus • Felling Trailers

DIRECTORS FEB. 2023 - FEB. 2026

Bill O'Hara • Dexter

Jon Devitt • Midwest Industries, Inc.

Jeff Jones • Statistical Surveys, Inc.

Dustin Miller • Cross Trailers, Inc.

Mike Story • LOOK Trailers

Michael Etheridge • Wylie & Son, Inc.

About this publication: Tracks Volume 36, Issue 2 March/April 2023 is published six times a year (bi-monthly) for $50 per year by the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers, 2420 SW 17th St, Topeka, KS 66604. Periodicals postage paid at Topeka, KS. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NATM 2420 SW 17th St, Topeka, KS 66604.

DISCLAIMER: The inclusion in this magazine of advertising, logos, or website links, or reference to any products, services, trade names, or manufacturers is not an endorsement by NATM of any such advertisers, links, entities, products, services, or names. NATM through this magazine provides news and opinion articles as a service to its members and readers. Often these articles come from sources outside of its organization. Statements and opinions expressed in these articles are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers, its staff or management, or the official policies of NATM. Nor does NATM accept responsibility for any errors or omissions made in publishing or reproducing articles or advertising appearing in Tracks or for the return of unsolicited manuscripts sent to NATM.

1552-2415

Number: 022438

President’s Report

By Marty Lorick, Triple Crown Trailers, Inc.

I am proud to welcome you to this year’s Special Dealer Issue of Tracks magazine. In addition to our usual circulation of readers, this issue is sent out to thousands of trailer dealers across the United States in order to spotlight compliant trailer manufacturers, as well as educate dealers on industry issues and the importance of compliance.

It is important for trailer manufacturers, suppliers, and dealers alike to understand that the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) is a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit association that is dedicated to making roadways safer through compliance with applicable federal safety regulations and education on safe trailering practices.

The Association was founded in 1987 by five trailer manufacturers in Chickasha, Oklahoma. Their original intention for coming together was to get better rates for product liability insurance, but over the years, the mission and member benefits evolved. In 1991, NATM debuted trailer manufacturing guidelines and, by 2002, had established the NATM Compliance Verification Program (CVP). In 2012, participation in and successful completion of the CVP became a mandatory component of membership for all trailer manufacturers.

While this is an important Tracks issue for the Association, it is also my last as president. With my term ending in February, I would like to use this last President’s Report to reflect on my time spent on the NATM Executive Board and as president. The mission of NATM is to promote trailer safety and the success of the trailer manufacturing industry through education and advocacy, and I am proud to say that the current performance of our Association is meeting those goals. During the last two years as president, NATM has expanded the Dealer Affiliate Program, launched the online Resource Library, published the online job board on natm.com, made improvements to the Compliance Verification Program, launched a new website and database, and introduced both health and retirement plans to members of the Association.

I was appointed to the NATM Board of Directors in 2015. In addition, I have served on various committees such as the Finance, Government Affairs and Convention Committees, including serving as a treasurer and vice president, before being president. Volunteering on these committees was not only about what I could contribute but was also a learning experience for me in association management, strategic

planning, and regulatory issues. I believe in what NATM is trying to achieve and am honored to contribute to its mission.

I would like to note that I have had a gratifying experience personally serving as president. I found the Board and committee meetings interesting and engaging, and I look forward to continuing as past president and serving on the Executive and Government Affairs Committees. Working with such an impressive group of leaders has been a very rewarding experience. I spent enough time volunteering on the Board to become familiar with the Association, its mission, and its members that once it was my time to serve as president, I realized the position of president of NATM was not intimidating, but instead rewarding. I would like to encourage those that have reservations about getting involved to go ahead and join this great group of volunteers and serve on a committee or on the NATM Board. NATM staff and other Board members are more than willing to coach new volunteers and help them settle into their roles. I am proud to be a very small part of the accomplishments that the Association made during my tenure.

Those that took the step further to attend the 2023 Convention & Trade Show, volunteer on a committee, or attend the Regulatory Roundup also deserve recognition. It is only with your commitment and support that we will raise awareness of our industry and continue to improve trailer safety. I had the honor to work with great Board members that were willing to sacrifice their time to serve this industry, and I wish my successor and the next president the best of luck. Very little would be possible without a strong staff to keep the day-to-day operations running smoothly. Interim Executive Director Alex Stowe and the NATM staff have proven they are adaptable and determined to keep the Association upright, on course, and pointed in the right direction. The NATM staff has evolved into an extremely dedicated and dynamic unit that is ready to show the membership that they will provide the information, workshops, and publications that can benefit you. I encourage all of you to be active in this Association and to provide additional input to keep this Association strong and of value to you. The staff welcomes feedback to continuously improve. Thank you for a wonderful two years. ■

Marty Lorick

Headquarters REPORT

By

Spring is finally here at headquarters. I am thankful the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) was able to start another year with an amazing convention! Our 35th Annual Convention & Trade Show in Fort Worth, Texas, was our largest yet. I am thankful to both NATM staff and members of the Association for helping to bring our industry together to continue our mission of promoting trailer safety and the success of the trailer manufacturing industry. NATM welcomes in our new members of the Board (turn to Page 12 for more information), new committee members (turn to Page 13 for more information), and the introduction of NATM’s new strategic plan (turn to Page 17 for more information).

NATM staff is definitely looking forward to warmer weather and the usual boost in production and sales it brings to this great industry. Focusing on trailer safety will again be key as trailer users get back out on the road in full force. As the weather improves and the holiday season ends, NATM’s compliance team will begin traveling to visit members again and conduct our Compliance Verification Program (CVP) consultations throughout the rest of the year. These consultations aim to help ensure trailers are compliant with our program and meet minimum standards relating to trailer safety. This year also will see NATM creating more resources to provide to dealers in an attempt to better reach end-users and assist them with understanding how to safely use their trailers.

NATM has released several fantastic resources for dealers since they have been able to join NATM as affiliates, including the Dealer Compendium, which includes over 300 pages of federal and state regulatory information as well as consumer resources. The Association also launched a resource library, opening up access for members and dealer affiliates to technical and general business management resources, including archived educational articles and on-demand webinars. Importantly, the online Resource Library contains information about how to use NATM Compliance as a sales tool. Communicating the importance and depth of the CVP to end-users can be difficult, but helping to understand the rigorous standards manufacturers using the NATM Decal comply with without overburdening an end-user is important to help consumers make informed decisions about purchasing a compliant, road-

ready trailer. NATM is continuing to look for ways to regularly grow the Resource Library content 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 don’t end with manufacturers and dealers. NATM will be hosting the sixth annual Trailer Safety Week (TSW), June 4-10, 2023. The Association is always looking for new TSW partnerships and expanding content curated by industry experts. Finding an opportunity to engage 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, and are rewarded with brand promotion. The Partner level is the most intensive commitment to Trailer Safety Week and is reserved for industry experts who plan to curate content for TSW within their area of expertise. I hope you’ll join our effort to make roadways safer and sign up at TrailerSafetyWeek. com/interest. Read more on TSW on Page 34.

2023 is off to a strong start, and the Association has much in store for members and dealer affiliates this year! New committees are 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 work to educate our members and affiliates about all the resources available to them.

Stay up to date on NATM news by signing up for the NATM Insider eNewletter with the QR code to the left! ■

Alex Stowe, NATM Interim Executive Director

MARCH/APRIL 2023

Alex Stowe Interim NATM Executive Director

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Priorities in Implementing the Infrastructure Law

By Brody Garland, K&L Gates

In December 2021, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issued its Policy on Using Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Resources to Build a Better America, highlighting the agency’s preferred projects for funding within the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Released as a memo by Deputy Administrator Stephanie Pollack to FHWA members, the policy identified projects that would “Build a Better America,” such as promoting road safety and prioritizing climate-resistant infrastructure. In addition, the preferred FHWA investments would also:

› Improve the condition, resilience, and safety of road and bridge assets

› Make streets and other transportation facilities accessible to all users

› Address environmental impacts ranging from stormwater runoff to greenhouse gas emissions

› Future-proof transportation infrastructure by accommodating new and emerging technologies

› Reconnect communities and reflect the inclusion of disadvantaged and under-represented groups in the planning, project selection, and design process

The FHWA memo emphasized the need to update and modernize existing infrastructure, like highways, as opposed to expanding it, and noted the policy’s role in guiding state decisions on future infrastructure projects. This guidance is indicative of how the Administration intends to implement the funding priorities of the IIJA.

As a result of both the memo’s potential influence over state decisions and its dismissal of highway expansion, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, requested Government Accountability Office (GAO) intervention in February 2022. GAO’s involvement served to determine whether FHWA’s memo was subject to the Congressional Review Act, which would establish it as a rule to be reviewed by Congress before it takes effect.

In December 2022, GAO concluded the memo is a rule, allowing for congressional review, as it is an agency statement, provides guidance for projects to be funded by IIJA, and announces a preference for certain types of projects and instructs agency employees to encourage funding recipients to select these types of projects. As a result, the FHWA memo could potentially be overturned if a joint resolution is signed by the president. Shortly after GAO’s determination, Capito stated she would introduce a resolution of disapproval.

While it is unlikely that a joint resolution passes in a time of divided government and narrow majorities, it would serve stakeholders that intend to apply for federal IIJA grant funding to stay engaged throughout the process. As the industry grows in 2023 and continues to prioritize safety and sustainability in its production and operations, interested parties must be familiar with both the FHWA’s policy and the reasons for its disapproval. Ensuring lasting and effective changes are made to our infrastructure will depend on the input, interest, and involvement of all impacted industries.

For more information about NATM’s government affairs advocacy initiatives, contact NATM Interim Executive Director Alex Stowe at Alex.Stowe@natm.com. ■

Member Invitation to September Regulatory Roundup, Capital Hill Visits

By Meghan Ryan, NATM Assistant Director

The National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) will be hosting the Regulatory Roundup and Capitol Hill events in Washington in September and welcomes members across the nation to participate. Along with the Convention & Trade Show, this is one of NATM’s most important events of the year.

The NATM Regulatory Roundup and Capitol Hill Visits are hosted in person in Washington and play a pivotal role in improving legislators’ knowledge of the light- and medium-duty trailer industry. The event will be split into two separate days to allow participants to spend a full day on Capitol Hill to meet with members of Congress.

During the Capitol Hill Visits, teams disperse to visit with three to four congressional offices. Teams are comprised of three to four participants with an experienced team leader. Handout materials and talking points are provided to each participant, along with educational materials to share with the Senator, Representative, and/or their staff. This is a great opportunity for members to learn more about what is going on in the industry, as well as build positive relationships with those regulating the industry. NATM members in key districts will be contacted to attend in order to have a constituent present at the meetings.

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 are perhaps more important from NATM’s perspective. The Association has been successful on both counts. The current government relations program is strong, maintains a steady course, and will continue to provide tremendous value to NATM members. Expanding the participation at the Regulatory Roundup and Capitol Hill Visit will help build on that success and help NATM educate members of Congress about the trailer manufacturing industry.

The Regulatory Roundup will be held at the K&L Gates offices in Washington and feature expert speakers on the topics of trade, tariffs, and government affairs. During previous Regulatory Roundups, attendees have heard from Congressional staffers, officials from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and experts from the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM).

For more information about participating in the 2023 Regulatory Roundup and Capitol Hill Visits, contact NATM Assistant Director Meghan Ryan at Meghan.Ryan@natm.com or (785) 272-4433. ■

NATM Announces Board of Directors Updates

By Alex Stowe, NATM Interim Executive Director

For 35 years, the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) has been fortunate to be guided by committed, forward-thinking Boards of Directors. It is these visionary boards that pushed for the development of the Compliance Verification Program (CVP), determined the need for government affairs representation in Washington, pulled trailer dealers into the Association through the Dealer Affiliate Program, and developed fiscal policies that ensured NATM had the reserves to weather recessions and even the pandemic.

NATM’s Board of Directors is comprised of 16 to 17 individuals (this variance in size is related to Board terms as dictated by the Bylaws): 12-13 trailer manufacturers and four suppliers or service providers to the industry. These individuals are nominated by their peers and before advancing to the ballot, each nominee’s qualifications, including industry experience and participation in the Association, are reviewed by the nomination committee, and a slate of candidates is prepared for election by the membership.

Split into three classes with rolling term expirations, roughly one-third of Board seats are up for election each year. The 2023-2026 term of the NATM Board of Directors, as elected by the membership will include the return of Bill O’Hara (Dexter), Jon Devitt (Midwest Industries, Inc.), Jeff Jones (Statistical Surveys, Inc.), Dustin Miller (Cross Trailers, Inc.), and Mike Story (LOOK Trailers), as well as new Board member Michael Etheridge (Wylie & Son, Inc.).

These new Board members officially joined their peers on

Feb. 13, 2023. The Association is looking forward to continuing its work with these new and returning Board members! As always, the NATM Board of Directors is interested in and open to member feedback. While members are encouraged to reach out to staff with ideas about how to improve the Association, Board members are also available to the members to discuss!

These new Board members will join the rest of the NATM Board of Directors, broken down by term:

2021-2024 Term

› Leo Akins - Forest River, Inc.

› Andy Derr - M.H. Eby, Inc.

› John Kerr - Marsh & McLennan Agency

› Rick Huddleston - White River Marine Group, LLC

2022-2025 Term

› Charles Daugherty - Red Fern Dynamics, Inc.

› Andy Gehman - MGS Incorporated

› Daniel Luby - BoatMate Trailers LLC

› Nathan Uphus - Felling Trailers ■

NATM 2023 Committees Announced

By Alex Stowe, NATM Interim Executive Director

The National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) is a not-for-profit directed entirely by its membership base and their elected representatives. NATM’s Committees serve a vital function in guiding the work of the Association. Committee members support the adaptation and evolution of the Association while seeing to it that the strategic vision established by the Board of Directors is being carried out.

Committee volunteers signed up in record-breaking numbers to serve in 2023. With 115 individuals signing up to volunteer their time, nine committees with specific goals were established by the Executive Committee. These nine committees are Compliance, Convention, Trailer Dealers, Education, Finance, Government Affairs, Membership, Technical, and Technology.

Meeting from monthly to quarterly, these committees will tackle big goals in 2023. These include, but are not limited to:

• Updating NATM’s Generic Owner’s Manuals

• Reviewing and updating NATM’s Investment and Reserves policies to ensure the Association is both prepared for the future and reinvesting in members today

• Working with OEMs to try and find ways to involve trailer manufacturers in their processes

• Expanding Dealer Affiliate benefits

If you are interested in learning about NATM Committees or would like to get involved, please contact NATM Interim Executive Director Alex Stowe at Alex.Stowe@natm.com

Operations Executive

› Marco Garcia – U-Haul International, Inc.*

› Andy Derr – M.H. Eby, Inc.

› Nathan Uphus – Felling Trailers

› Marty Lorick – Triple Crown Trailers, Inc.

› John Kerr – Marsh & McLennan Agency

Finance

› Nathan Uphus – Felling Trailers*

› Haden Anderson – C3 Rentals LLC

› Charles Daugherty – Red Fern Dynamics, Inc.

› Andy Derr – M.H. Eby, Inc.

› Marco Garcia – U-Haul International, Inc.

› Josh Gurley – Truck and Trailer Makers

› Bob Harris – AmeraTrail, Inc

› John Kerr – Marsh & McLennan Agency

› Richard Lavanture – LaVanture Products Company

› Marty Lorick – Triple Crown Trailers, Inc.

› Don Taylor – BrakeQuip

› Kevin Ten Haken – Demco

Member Services Convention

› Doug Beaver – M.H. Eby, Inc.*

› Kyndal Clark – Marsh & McLennan Agency

› Angela Collins – Twister Trailer

› Brent Freel – Kampco Steel Products, Inc.

› Marco Garcia – U-Haul International, Inc.

› Melanie Gibson – Dexter

› Robert Roden – H.E. Parmer Company, Inc.

› Dustin Smith – Optronics International

› Ami Stombaugh – TASKMASTER COMPONENTS

› Paula Travis – WESCO Distribution

› Devlun Whiteing – Midwest Industries, Inc.

› Andrea Wolf – PPG

Continued on Page 14

NATM Committees Announced Continued

Education

› Andrew Caine – Bludot Manufacturing*

› Kevin Foust – ContainGo Transport Solutions

› Juan Hernandez – The Trailer Parts Outlet

› Eric Kazmierzak – Laclede Chain Mfg. Co.

› Tim Lamers – Chilton Trailers Mfg.

› Scott Smith – SIRCO Industries, Inc.

› Richard Walker – TASKMASTER COMPONENTS

Government Affairs

› Leo Akins – Forest River Inc.*

› Deborah Edwards – SteelPoint

› Andy Gehman – MGS Incorporated

› Patrick Jennissen – Felling Trailers

› Brett Johnson – Optronics International

› John Kerr – Marsh & McLennan Agency

› Justin Kurth – White River Marine Group, LLC

› Randy McMann – Dexter

› Dustin Miller – Cross Trailers, Inc.

› Eddie Rackleff – Lippert

› Ty Scott – Cargo Towing Solutions

› Mike Story – LOOK Trailers

› Conrad M. West – EZ Loader Boat Trailers

› Konrad Pilatowicz – U-Haul International, Inc.

› Marty Lorick – Triple Crown Trailers, Inc.

Membership

› Marcus Hester – Optronics International*

› Lisa Clark – Marsh & McLennan Agency

› Joshua Coster – Wil-Ro, Inc.

› Shane Feng – American Trailer Works (ATW) Corporate

› Doug Houlahan – Clicklease

› Kevin Janiak – Terran Axle

› Jeff Jones – Statistical Surveys, Inc.

› Mark Lysaght – Supply Technologies, LLC

› Bill O’Hara – Dexter

› Mike Trull – Peak Metals, Inc.

› Wen Zhang – Miller Auto Technology LLC

Trailer Dealer

› Greg Blaser - Trailer World of Oregon*

› Henry Boer - 1000 Islands RV Centre

› Rod Hathaway - Maine Trailer, Inc.

› Lisa Huntley - Trailers Plus Inc

› Nicholas Jameson - 51 Trailer Sales

› Royal Kropf - Diamond K Sales

› Mark Mayfield - Leonard Aluminum Utility Buildings, Inc.

› Charles Morrison - Truck’n America

› Josh Widdes - Widdes Trailer Sales

› Scott Yates - Smoky Mountain Trailers

Technical Compliance

› Rick Huddleston – White River Marine Group, LLC*

› Andrew Alger – TRP International, LLC

› Willie Bauer – CAR MATE Trailers, Inc.

› Mike Becker – Forest River, Inc.

› Michael Daly – Kenda/Americana Tire & Wheel Corporation

› John Dietz – Sewer Equipment

› Charles Lange – Legend Manufacturing, Inc.

› Bryce McIntyre – American Eagle Accessories Group - Division of Stellar Industries, Inc.

› Erica Matthews – Optronics International

› John Terrell – Big Tex Trailer Manufacturing, LLC

› Bob Harris – Ameratrail, Inc

› Shane Buckner – GPS Trailers

Technical

› Michael Etheridge – Wylie & Son, Inc.*

› Dave McKee – Bwise Manufacturing, LLC

› William Craig – U-Haul International, Inc.

› Nathan Dosmann – Dec-O-Art, Inc.

› Murat Gocay – TASKMASTER COMPONENTS

› Al Henderson – Kenda/Americana Tire & Wheel Corporation

› Taylor Jones – B & W Trailer Hitches

› Tom Kaufman – Hillsboro Industries

› Kevin Koyle – TecNiq

› Sam Lievore – Dexter

› Sam Loganathan – Triple Crown Trailers, Inc.

› Rod Ludwig – Midwest Industries, Inc.

› Bill Pharmer – Airgas, Inc.

› Owen Shelton – BoatMate Trailers LLC

› Iqbal Singh – Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation

› Brandon Starkey – EZ Loader Custom Boat Trailers

› Patrick Turley – Bludot Manufacturing

› Julia Poppe – 3M

Technology

› Jeff Gray – ASA Electronics*

› Steven Aiuto – General Motors

› Eric Bierwagen – LANE Trailer Mfg. Co.

› Michael Buckner – GPS Trailers

› Michael Burbey – Atotech USA LLC

› Matt Christian – KTI Hydraulics, Inc.

› Shaun Douglass – Optronics International

› Andrew Duggan – Hillsboro Industries

› Jonathan Gravell – Truck System Technologies

› Josh Jaspers – Demco

› Scott Kleman – Champion Hoist & Equipment

› Cary Kronebusch – Peerless Industrial Group

› Joe Livingston – Vitracoat America, Inc.

› Daniel P Luby – Boatmate Trailers LLC

› Mark Nave – Dexter

› Darren Opsahl – Galeo

› Christopher Rauch – Crystal Welding, Inc.

› Nathan Uphus – Felling Trailers

› Marco Garcia – U-Haul International, Inc.

› Mark Sawicki – American Trailer Works (ATW) Corporate

› Chris Skallerud – Ford Motor Company

* Indicates Committee Chair ■

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NATM Announces 2023-2026 Strategic Plan

By Alex Stowe, NATM Interim Executive Director

In July of 2022, the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) Board of Directors met in person to discuss the Association’s new strategic plan for 2023-2026. NATM staff, the Board, and Executive Committee quickly began to work on structuring committees and committee goals to ensure there would be alignment between committee goals and the newly developed strategic plan. The strategic plan sets out four areas of focus for the Association:

1. Advocacy and Partnerships

2. Education

3. Decal Awareness

4. Cohesive Industry

Advocacy and Partnerships

The goal of Advocacy and Partnerships for the Association is to promote and protect the light- and medium-duty trailer industry through key legislative and industry relationships.

Regulatory Roundup, Government Affairs, and NHTSA

NATM will continue working with legislators and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on gathering additional funding for Trailer Safety Week. Further, through lobbying efforts and the Regulatory Roundup, NATM will seek to gain advocates for our industry on key external committees in Congress. NATM will also work to collaborate with state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) on understanding the value of the NATM Decal and what it means for trailer safety and compliance.

To achieve these goals, the Association will work to increase member participation in grassroots efforts. NATM will explore legislative relationships in key states for our members with the assistance of K&L Gates. Further, NATM will work to establish a network of members in key states and actively work to build relationships between those members and their state-level legislators.

Industry Alignment

NATM will work to build relationships with organizations like the Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association (TTMA), the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the RV Industry Association (RVIA), and other relevant groups to identify current issues and determine opportunities where our Associations may be able to collaborate and

assist the industry as a whole. This will involve setting up standing meetings with these other organizations to ensure we are in regular contact and are able to assist as needed.

Education

NATM will provide the industry with access to educational resources and promote the production of safe trailers. In addition to this, NATM will work to increase dealer and end-user knowledge of NATM and provide those groups with accessible educational information about safely towing a trailer.

Industry Access to Educational Information

NATM will work to build more shared repositories of educational resources that can be shared with members to assist in building safe trailers. NATM will engage subject matter experts who can provide educational webinars or presentations to members on areas of interest to the industry. In addition to engaging with the subject matter experts, NATM will work to expand participation in webinars and forums taking place during our annual Convention & Trade Show.

NATM will hire an Education Director, whose job will be to focus on expanding educational content offerings and work to build out the NATM Academy. The NATM Academy will assist members with training their staff on identified best practices in the industry and offer a resource library that can be used to store this information for on-demand viewing.

Increasing Dealer, End-User Knowledge of NATM

NATM will work with staff and members to generate educational content that is intended to assist end-users in safely towing their trailers. To achieve this goal, NATM will continue to collaborate with our Dealer Affiliate members and work to grow this network. NATM will provide resources to our Dealer Affiliates that can be shared with end-users. End-users will be encouraged to visit TrailerSafetyWeek.com and view materials created by the Association that are intended to provide best practices while towing a trailer. NATM also will work to make sure Dealer Affiliates and end-users have a better understanding of our Association’s decal and what steps manufacturers must take in order to place the decal on members' trailers.

Continued on Page 18

Decal Awareness and Growth

NATM will work to expand our dealer network and provide education on what our decal stands for, along with the process manufacturers must complete in order to display it on their trailers. The Association will work to increase decal sales amongst the membership and seek to increase membership participation by providing more “value” in our decal. NATM will utilize compliance verification consultations to educate manufacturers and their interested employees on both NATM and the decal.

Through a collaboration with NATM’s Dealer Affiliates and members, dealers will seek out trailers featuring the decal as it will help ensure that the trailers they are selling have had a third party verify that the company has the processes in place to build trailers that meet the required Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. The NATM staff, and specifically the member outreach specialist, will work to grow our Dealer Affiliates and provide feedback on the value NATM is providing to the Dealer Affiliates. By increasing the understanding and awareness of the decal, NATM seeks to increase members participating in the decal program.

Cohesive Industry

NATM, with the assistance of the Board and Committees, will work to ensure we are the reputable resource of trailer information for consumers, trailer

manufacturers, component suppliers, trailer dealers, OEM vehicle manufacturers, and regulators.

Industry Participation Growth

By continuing to expand our educational offerings, trailer safety information, and compliance programs to the entire industry, including end-users, NATM will continue to grow our membership in all areas. NATM, the Board, and Committees will seek to engage non-members on the benefits of NATM and what we offer to the industry. NATM members will also work to bring their dealer networks into the Association’s Dealer Affiliate Program, this continued growth will assist in providing information to both dealers and end-users.

NATM’s membership increases engagement and participation in Trailer Safety Week. By having a cohesive and concerted message shared by members about the importance of trailer safety, brand awareness will grow, and NATM can continue to further its mission of promoting trailer safety and overall industry success.

Member companies can expect to see much more value in the coming years as the Association Board, Committees, and staff continue to put together additional programming and benefits in these four key areas. Members are also encouraged to provide feedback and participate in surveys so that NATM may better tailor these new opportunities to its members. ■

Priefert Steel Story to be Featured in 'The Rural Americans' Episode

By Samantha Darling LaCount, NATM Tracks Editor

The National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) member Priefert Steel is one facet of the Priefert family business. And that family business is slated to be featured on RFD-TV’s upcoming episode of “The Rural Americans.”

RFD-TV is a cable network dedicated to the rural community. “The Rural Americans” is in its second season and is described by the showrunners as, “A documentary-style show featuring the pioneers of business, entertainment, and agriculture. The legends of days past, and the architects of a bright future. The men and women who transformed their lives from humble beginnings in small town USA, to world-famous captains of industry. These are their stories, in their words, as only they can tell them.”

Christina Loren is a meteorologist and anchor for RFD-TV as well as the host of "The Rural Americans." She was part of the crew to visit Priefert and see more about how to company runs.

"Each family member plays an intricate role in the harmonious success of Priefert, and our team thoroughly enjoyed learning about the evolution of the company in Mount Pleasant, Texas," Loren said. "As the Priefert family upholds and passes down the teachings of Jesus Christ to their children and grandchildren, my confidence is restored in the next generation. The Prieferts are living proof that God, family, and country still reign supreme in rural America."

The RFD-TV crew visited the Priefert ranch in

(Left to right) Nate, Eddie, Travis, and Bill Priefert sit down for an interview with Christina Loren to be featured in an upcoming episode of "The Rural Americans." Photo submitted by RFD-TV.

RIGHT: Host of "The Rural Americans," Christina Loren (left), sits down with Travis Priefert for an interview on the family property in Mount Pleasant, Texas.

BELOW: Eddie Priefert (left) walks the shop floor with Christina Loren, the host of "The Rural Americans," when her and the RFD-TV crew visited the facility in late October 2022.

October 2022 to film an episode highlighting the family business that started with one invention in the backyard.

“I think really the core of it is the American dream and American manufacturing,” said Courtney Dyer, Marketing Director for Priefert. “Not a lot of manufacturing happens in the U.S. anymore. Us being a family-owned manufacturing company that’s in its third generation of family leadership, I think it’s something really cool and unique.”

Priefert founder Marvin Priefert was a farm kid from Nebraska. He didn’t have a lot of experience with livestock, but he did have several patents and inventions under his belt. He moved his family to Texas, and his innovative mind found a new target in cattle headgates.

“A headgate you use when you're doctoring cattle. At the time, the predominant style of headgate back in the early '60s was what they called a guillotine-style headgate. It's very much like what it sounds like,” Dyer said. “It would close over the top of the head and underneath the chin. You have to back them back out of it before you can bring the next one in. It wasn't super efficient for working cattle.”

“Not a lot of manufacturing happens in the U.S. anymore. Us being a family-owned manufacturing company that’s in its third generation of family leadership, I think it’s something really cool and unique.”

Priefert was helping a neighbor with their cattle. The innovator in him couldn’t help but think there must be a better way. He went home and welded together a new prototype.

“His concept was the headgate should close around the sides of the animal’s neck, so imagine walking into sliding glass doors that open and close to the side,” Dyer said. “It closes around the side of the animal’s neck once she sticks her head through, then you're not choking them down. You don't have anything underneath their chin or under their neck to choke them on. Then when you get done, Marvin’s

Continued on Page 24

Courtney Dyer

Photo submitted by RFD-TV.

Photo submitted by RFD-TV

concept was it should open up wide as a barn door, let one animal walk right out the front, and entice the next one in line to come in behind her, assembly line style.”

The neighbor loved the idea, so Priefert got to work on a real, working model. It was 1964, and the Priefert family business was born.

“He would sign that vet up as a dealer and leave him three headgates to sell to different customers, so that was kind of how our dealer network got started,” Dyer said. “Today, on the ranch equipment side, we’ve got over 1,200 dealers, and we export ranch equipment to 27 different countries internationally.”

The company has grown a lot over the last almost 60 years. Bill Priefert was 14 when his father started the company. Marvin passed away in 1988, and Bill took over and oversaw the company's rapid expansion in the ‘90s and early 2000s.

“That was the headgate he created, and he believed in it. He actually showed it to a couple other manufacturers and they were like, ‘Yeah, that’s too different. That's not how it's done.’ He believed in it enough that he was like, ‘You know what? I'm going to go into manufacturing. I’m going to make this and sell it,” Dyer said. “He recruited his brother to help. They welded one of those headgates onto the back bumper of a 1967 Mustang.”

The brothers drove that Mustang and headgate to veterinary offices, where they would back it up to the front door and show the local vet.

“A lot of (the show’s) interview is going to focus on Bill and the changes he saw and what it was like seeing his dad start a company basically with one product that he made in a dirt floor shop out in the backyard at the time, then, watching that grow into one of the largest ranch equipment companies in the world, then, seeing the sons come and become part of the family business, and then, expanding into steel and all of the things that that has brought with it,” Dyer said.

Bill has three sons: Eddie, Nate, and Travis. It is very much a family business, and all four Prieferts have their roles to play.

“Bill is our CEO. He is very involved in the growth aspect, the future planning of the site. We've got 30 acres right now that are under development. Bill’s usually here in the mornings and makes the big, important meetings, and then he spends his afternoons on a piece of heavy equipment doing dirt work on the land that's being developed because that's Bill’s happy place,”

“At the end of the day, yes, we’re a company, but it's their name on our products. If it's going out with their name, that means something to them and to their family legacy.”

(Left to right) Nate, Bill, Eddie, and Travis Priefert gather for a company family photo. Photo submitted by Priefert.

Dyer said. “Eddie is our president, and Bill handed the reins over to him a few years ago for more of the day-to-day. He's very heavily involved in all things administration, all things sales. He has a real passion on the rodeo side of the business because his kids are all involved in junior rodeo. He does a fair amount of inventing on those products and that product category, but he's the one that runs our weekly leadership meetings and things like that. He's very much entrenched in the day-to-day.”

“Nate is very involved in engineering and logistics. Those are his passions. He's the production-minded guy. He's literally the guy that walks around with a pair of calipers in his pocket at all times because that’s just the way he’s wired. If you saw him at the shop, you wouldn’t think, ‘Oh, that’s a Priefert.’ He’s literally in dirty jeans and a dirty t-shirt from being out in the shop with the engineers or out in the machine shop tinkering on stuff. He's very involved in that side of the business,” Dyer said. “Travis has been more involved on the ranching side, the cattle operation. The family — they are ranchers. They live the lifestyle. It's not just, ‘Oh we're going to build ranch equipment and sell it to people.’ They actually have a cowcalf herd. They’ve got horses. Nate raises horses. Eddie's kids rodeo. Travis breeds dogs. They live the lifestyle. They are part of rural America — the Western lifestyle. They do still have a family ranch, hay operation, cattle operation, all of those things, and that's what Travis is more involved in.”

The second and third generations of Priefert got into steel almost by accident. What started as

lending a helping hand during the 2008 recession turned into a major facet of the business.

“We're located in Northeast Texas. It's kind of the heart of trailer manufacturing country, lots of trailer manufacturers in the area, three or four here just in town, so it was actually one of the other trailer companies that called us during that time,” Dyer said. “They were having trouble getting the steel that they needed.”

Priefert wanted to help out and gave the other manufacturer a quote. The company came back and said the price was so low it had to be wrong. Priefert confirmed that it wasn’t. That’s when they realized they were processing such a large volume of steel, they were getting a better price than other companies.

“We started selling some steel just to fill in the gaps during those harder times during the recession,” Dyer said. “As we came out of the recession, I think it was 2012, when we officially created a division called Priefert Steel. It came from this side hobby and taking care of some folks here in town, helping out some friends.”

Once Priefert’s own manufacturing operation had to wait for

steel because they were selling so much to other companies, they knew it was time to make it a separate division. Priefert Steel was created in 2012, and Dyer says it took off.

Throughout all this growth, they’ve stayed true to their roots. One of their most popular products is still the headgate and another early product.

“The first product was a headgate. He moved on to eventually doing a full squeeze chute. The headgate is just the part that catches them around the head,” Dyer

Continued on Page 27

A young Bill Priefert examines a cow held in the headgate designed by his father, Marvin.

Photo submitted by Priefert.

Marvin Priefert poses with the headgate he designed. This design revolutionized the industry and is now the most common design of headgate. Photo submitted by Priefert.

said. “The squeeze chute is where the animal walks into it, the whole thing, and it actually squeezes them gently around the sides to hold still so that you can access them for vaccination, for branding, for worming, for checking hooves, anything that you need to do to treat that animal.”

The concept of the side-to-side headgate changed the industry. Dyer says most headgates follow that model now instead of the old guillotine style. It’s still how their headgates operate to this day. Unsurprisingly with this family, there have been innovations along the way.

“There's definitely a lot more bells and whistles, but at the core, the idea that it needs to fit comfortably around the animal's neck and not tug them down and then open up let them walk through, that’s pretty much how most headgates are today,” Dyer said. “The squeeze chute today has a ton more features to make it more animal safe, more user-friendly, make it more efficient so the animal spends less time in the chute. It’s got contoured sides to match the shape of cattle. You can adjust the floor in and out, so if you're working young calves, all the way up to your great big bull. You can change the fit of the shoe, so to speak, pretty quickly so it fits the animal that you're working. Lots of additional access points, so if you need to get to a hoof, you need to get to a hip, there are safe ways to access all the different parts of the animal. Just lots of little innovations and tweaks along the way.”

Bill takes after his father and is always thinking of ways to improve their products.

“Very much like his dad, Bill has that inventor gene,” Dyer said. “You'll see him standing out the shop just staring at a piece of equipment for long stretches of time, and you're like, I don't want to go up and interrupt because you know he's building something in his head or he's figuring out how to change that or how do we tweak that.”

All the Prieferts are that hands-on. The family ranch and the company manufacturing facility are all on the same plot of land.

“These guys, if they wanted to, could just hop on their fourwheeler or on their side by side and drive to the office. It's all one big campus, which is great for the ranch equipment side of the business because they live the lifestyle. They have the livestock. It's a great idea factory,” Dyer said. “After it goes through R&D, we send it right back out to the ranch. It's kind of our proving ground. We'll get to go test stuff and break it, figure out what worked and what didn't work.”

Dyer has been with the company since 2008 and has gotten to witness the growth and expansion firsthand. She started out as the company’s event coordinator.

“At the time, we had two Guinness World Record holders for tallest living horse, and they still traveled and toured. We had a draft horse hitch, kind of similar to the Budweiser Clydesdales that traveled and toured, and I handled booking all of their

Continued on Page 28

Nate (left) and Bill Priefert do a walk through of one of the company's shops. Photo submitted by Priefert.

events,” Dyer said. “That was my first job here at Priefert.”

After 14 years at the Priefert family business, Dyer says she sees their values trickle down through all employees and that they strive to make sure the entire company feels like part of the family.

“The Priefert family is fantastic. I have an amazing team in the marketing department that I get to work with,” Dyer said. “We're a big family and that sounds very like, oh sweet, we're a big family, but we literally mean that. You spend a lot of time with these folks because you work with them, and it's just a real pleasure to spend time with these people. They become part of your life outside of eight to five, Monday through Friday. Definitely good people at every level in the company.”

Dyer says the Prieferts are humble people who would never seek out recognition for themselves. That makes the TV show reaching out to feature them even more special to the company and all its employees.

“At the end of the day, yes, we’re a company, but it's their name on our products. If it's going out with their name, that means something to them and to their family legacy,” Dyer said. “We're just really thrilled anytime we get to see their story being told because it's an amazing family, and they deserve that recognition.”

Priefert Steel has been an NATM member since 2012. To learn more about them, visit www.priefertsteel.com.

Watch the Priefert family episode of “The Rural Americans” on Sunday, Feb. 26, at 8 p.m. CST, on RFD-TV. Check your local cable provider for channel information. The episode also will be available to stream at www.watchrfdtv.com.

To submit article ideas or your own membership stories, contact Tracks Editor Samantha Darling LaCount at Samantha.Darling@natm.com. ■

Eddie (left) and Bill Priefert sit for an interview with the RFD-TV crew. The Priefert company, how it got it's start, and how it has grown since will be the focus of an upcoming episode of "The Rural Americans" that is set to air on Feb. 26.

Photo submitted by RFD-TV

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Statistically Speaking

By Jeff Jones, Statistical Surveys, Inc.

Registration for the light- and medium-duty trailer industry was down 20.9% in October 2022. Below are the details of the market’s performance for the five trailer segments as reported by Statistical Surveys:

The following are the top five states in sales growth for all trailer segments in the first 10 months of 2022.

Percent of Growth

Industry registrations for the first 10 months in 2022 are down 19.7% over 2021.

If there are any questions, or if Statistical Surveys, Inc. can help, please contact Jeff Jones at (254) 715-1314 or jjones@statisticalsurveys.com. ■

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Celebrating Trailer Safety Week as Dealerships

By Savana Morrison, NATM Marketing Director

Trailer Safety Week (TSW) is an annual nationwide awareness campaign launched by the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) aimed at increasing awareness of the importance of trailer safety, educating end-users about proper trailer maintenance and usage, and creating a stronger alliance between stakeholders of the industry, including trailer dealers, manufacturers, and end-users. Last year alone, TSW reached hundreds of thousands of individuals.

First launched in 2018, TSW sought to help bridge the gap of communication between trailer manufacturers and end-users. Talking about the importance of trailers built to meet required Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) can be daunting as end-users do not understand the complex regulations governing compliant trailer manufacturing. They recognize that they would not purchase a car without seat belts, but they do not understand that buying a trailer without key safety features can be just as dangerous. End-users are vastly under-educated on the proper use of trailers, and it is crucial to utilize the connections that dealers and manufacturers have with consumers in order to raise awareness of proper towing techniques and maintenance.

Getting involved in this important industry campaign shows potential customers that the dealership is a leader in the industry and truly committed to trailer safety. By joining this trailer safety movement, impress customers and instill confidence in the company’s dedication to safety. Participating in TSW is easy!

Becoming an Official Trailer Safety Week Ally is a wonderful opportunity for companies who want to be involved in the safety movement but don't have significant time to invest.

The TSW team provides Allies with the official Trailer Safety Communications Kit to promote their involvement in Trailer Safety Week and to share information about safe trailering practices. This digital kit includes:

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Promoting the dealership’s involvement with Trailer Safety Week is a breeze with this jam-packed kit. The content can even be customized to include content specific to the dealership’s typical customer.

TrailerSafetyWeek.com also houses a free towing safely guide to ensure trailer users have readily accessible safety information at their fingertips. Wow your customers by highlighting this free safety resource that reminds them your dealership is looking out for them and their wellbeing long after they leave the lot. Topics include:

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Now especially, safe trailering practices are important. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is cracking down on compliance violations, and two recent accidents have brought to light the importance of safe trailering practices. One accident, previously covered in an article on behalf of NHTSA, resulted in a fatality due to inappropriately connected safety chains between the tow vehicle and towed unit which led to disconnection on a highway. More recently, safety chains saved a couple dangling nearly 100 feet above a river.

Safe trailering practices save lives, and with millions of trailers — used by businesses, local governments, and individuals — traversing the nation’s roadways every day, it is crucial to ensure that trailers are being towed safely for the sake of everyone on the roads. NATM calls upon trailer dealers to join the movement in making roadways safer one trailer at a time.

Learn more at www.TrailerSafetyWeek.com/interest, email TrailerSafetyWeek@natm.com, or scan the QR code to the left. ■

National Association of Manufacturers Addresses Diversity, Inclusion in Summit

By Samantha Darling LaCount, NATM Tracks Editor

The Manufacturing Institute (MI) hosted its third annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) Summit on Dec. 16, 2022. The Manufacturing Institute is the workforce and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), of which, the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) is a member.

DE&I encompasses many different approaches to improving the representation and participation of diverse groups, including people who are of varied genders, ages, and backgrounds in the workplace.

The focus of the first summit discussion was on the deficit in workers the manufacturing industry is facing and how attracting a more diverse workforce will help fill that void.

“There are 2.1 million jobs expected to go unfilled in the industry by 2030,” said Marisa Brown, Manager of Diversity & Inclusion for MI. “Manufacturers need to find new populations of potential employees. Recruiting more women, racial and ethnic minorities, and neuro-diverse workers can expand companies’ talent pools and strengthen their workforces.”

The current manufacturing workforce is 29% women. According to a recent study by MI and Colonial Life, if that percentage was raised to 35% females in manufacturing, that alone would fill the current 746,000 open jobs in the industry.

“The manufacturing industry is facing a labor shortage, and we have been for quite some time. One of the industry's biggest opportunities is broadening the talent pipeline and prioritizing actions that recruit and retain a diverse workforce,” said Carolyn Lee, President of MI. “Frankly, we are a little bit behind on this. There are steps that we can take … that can accelerate the creation of more inclusive environments and make our industry a more attractive place for people to come to work and stay and build a career.”

Keybridge Research and MI teamed up and conducted a survey of over 160 participants that represented more than 15 manufacturing sectors and firms of varying sizes. The findings of this survey were presented during the summit.

There are 10.3 million job openings in the U.S., and only 6.1 million Americans are unemployed, says Chad Moutray, Director for the Center of Manufacturing Research at MI. The current demographic breakdown of the manufacturing industry shows 29.2% female, 17.5% Hispanic or Latino, 10.3% Black or African American, and 7.1% Asian.

“We’ve made strides over the last few decades, but we

still have overwhelming male, overwhelmingly white populations, as far as the overall sector,” Moutray said. “That phenomenon is something, at least in my view, is structural. We’re going to continue to have this issue of where we are going to find workers over the next decade. I think part of that conversation of where we are going to find those workers has to include diversity and inclusion.”

“One way that companies can do so is by partnering with more diverse pipelines,” said Megan Yeh, an Associate with Keybridge Research. “If we recruit from talent pools that might not have traditionally been a part of the manufacturing workforce that can go a really long way in terms of filling the gap.”

According to the survey, 72% agreed that improving and/ or maintaining DE&I is a key focus for their business with 27% disagreeing or remaining neutral.

“Culture matters as well. Having a culture that embraces diversity, that embraces inclusion, you can bring your whole self to work, is something that is attractive not just for attracting workers but also helps keep them on board once they're there,” Moutray said.

Yeh explained that 52% of respondents said they struggle with hiring diverse candidates and 37% said they struggle with retaining diverse candidates.

“Making the workplace more inclusive and more equitable can help with retention,” Yeh said. “For example, offering things such as training, mentorship, clear onboarding guidance — these are all ways employees can be retained. Everyone benefits from an equitable and inclusive workplace.”

The President of The Manufacturing Institute Carolyn Lee gives the opening remarks for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Summit. Screen grab from summit.

The survey showed an increase in flexible work policies, the most popular being hybrid work, flexible work hours, and remote work.

“We’ve seen a lot of great strides in policies that impact the broader employee base,” Yeh said. “Companies are able to pull from talent pools that might not live locally to their company because they offer things like remote work.”

Policies that affect broad workforces were on the rise. But policies aimed at specific workforce groups were not as strong. For example, only 25% of companies surveyed offer gradual retirement, which is a benefit specifically for older workers.

“Adoption of policies that are targeted toward specific groups can help make companies more attractive, particularly for younger workers, who are more often noting that DE&I is something that they really value,” Yeh said.

Another facet the survey looked into is what roles diverse hires are filling. Respondents showed that 65% of women are concentrated in administrative or HR roles.

“This does align with the larger reality of women’s typical roles in the workplace with 75% of workers in the HR sector being women,” Yeh said. “This is not unique by any means for the manufacturing sector, but this is something that we do want to address. We would love to see more women on the fabrication floor, or in engineering, or in other positions.”

Yeh says it was promising that over 60% of companies reported that their female demographics have

increased, including in leadership roles.

The next round table of the summit was with Jennifer McMillion, Senior Manager of Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with McCormick and Company; Oather Taylor, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager with Pella Corporation; and was moderated by Erica Singleton, Associate Director of Human Resources and DE&I with the National Association of Manufacturers.

They discussed Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), which are employee-led groups whose goal is to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace for their demographic and offer support to under-represented populations. They’re usually formed by employees who share a common characteristic whether it be gender, race, religion, etc., and allies of those parties.

Taylor shared that at Pella, there were 18 months of initial planning work done with an outside consultant before starting any ERGs, including developing a DE&I council within the company to help drive and establish the ERGs.

“The ERGs that will get started as pilots will come from a small group of options that were based on the consultant feedback and employee feedback as to where the group will start,” Taylor said. “Those will include the classic categories of racial and ethnic diverse groups, women in the industry, those living with disabilities or having folks around them with disabilities. One that I've injected and that I'm

Continued on Page 42

Chad Moutray (left), Director for the Center of Manufacturing Research at MI, and Megan Yeh, an Associate with Keybridge Research, hold the first session of the summit. Screen grab from summit.

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Diversity, Inclusion Summit Continued

passionate about into the process is focused on veterans.”

McMillion stressed her company’s focus on getting senior management involved in the ERGs to help ensure they are successful.

“We’re at a point where they’re starting to realize where we need to move the needle with regard to DE&I,” McMillion said. “We have senior leaders who are starting to buy in a little bit more. We have groups within the organization that are wanting to work with our Employee Resource Groups to help drive change, to help see a difference, and to really be a place in which people feel that they can bring their authentic selves to work.”

Taylor, whose company refers to ERGs as Business Resource Groups (BRGs), thinks there are ways for companies to better utilize the employee groups they already have.

“I think leadership could be getting more out of BRGs,” Taylor said. “Leadership will still sit back a little bit and let the groups move forward. I understand why, but the reality is more guidance from leadership to these groups (asking), 'Can you do this? This is our challenge. We’re talking about this in the boardroom or in the corporate leadership room. How can you help us here?' That’s something I promote aggressively. Use these groups more than you are now.”

McMillion shared an example of just that. Her company developed a Pride month special edition of Old Bay Hot Sauce that reflected Pride colors and graphics with the help of an ERG.

“It was an opportunity to think outside of the box, to take a product that was already out in the market but to partner with one of our employee ambassador groups and to really think differently, to think about ways in which we can connect back,” McMillion said. “Not only was it a profitable partnership for the organization, but then we were also able to make a contribution and a donation to an organization that supports employees within the LGBTQ+ community.”

Taylor says at the end of the day, it’s about ensuring that these groups are doing what they’re supposed to do, which is benefiting employees as well as the company.

The final panel of the summit was the executive panel with Salena Coachman, Vice President of Talent Sustainability, Diversity, and Inclusion at Armstrong World Industries; David Johnson, Vice President and General Manager of Honeywell Federal Solutions; Dennis Jones, Vice President of Global Biologics and Sterile Operations Quality at Merck; and AJ Jorgenson, Vice President of Strategic Engagement and Inclusion at MI as moderator.

Johnson says working toward a diverse and inclusive workplace is a moving target.

“We first started talking about diversity and inclusion and probably about a year into it, we switched that around and said no, we ought to switch that around and talk about inclusion and diversity because language matters, and the order of that matters,” Johnson said. “Where we were driving was towards diversity but the piece that we felt that we were missing was the inclusivity portion of that and what that looks like to us is voices at the table that are equally heard and respected. We may not always agree with those points of view. We may not always agree with the different perspective, but unless you get those perspectives out on the table, it really stifles your innovation.”

“Also being a company where innovation is very strong, that is the key thing, making sure that the diversity of thought is top of the table,” Coachman said. “We also want to make sure that it’s who’s at that table matters.”

“It’s just never stationary. The world is changing around us. As we think we have hit a mark, new things happen,” Jones said.

The executives shared best practices they’ve seen while working on DE&I. Jones says that being DE&I focused and having those conversations made the company more attractive and competitive when attracting employees. Coachman says having strong core values but being adaptable plant to plant as to how those ideas are incorporated has been key for Armstrong. Johnson said at Honeywell it is all about policy and trackable measures.

“I think what has been important for us at Honeywell is policy. You can have a lot of well intentions … but one of the conversations we had with our CEO about three years ago was that policy is really what changes a culture,” Johnson said. “When you put policies in place that drive the kind of culture that you want, I think that that becomes really important within an organization. The second part of that is metrics and measuring outcomes. At Honeywell,

Session two was moderated by Erica Singleton (from left), Associate Director of Human Resources and DE&I with the National Association of Manufacturers and included Jennifer McMillion, Senior Manager of Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with McCormick and Company; and Oather Taylor, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager with Pella Corporation. Screen grab from summit.

Session three was moderated by AJ Jorgenson (from left) Vice President of Strategic Engagement and Inclusion at MI and included Dennis Jones, Vice President of Global Biologics and Sterile Operations Quality at Merck; David Johnson, Vice President and General Manager of Honeywell Federal Solutions; and Salena Coachman, Vice President of Talent Sustainability, Diversity, and Inclusion at Armstrong World Industries. Screen grab from summit.

we say if you can measure it, then you can achieve it.”

Measuring DE&I progress can be challenging. The panelists shared that their companies focus on having diverse candidate pools, diverse interview panels, diverse succession plans, and using online analytics to track the diversity of their reach.

One of the biggest challenges with DE&I is getting people comfortable with these topics and getting everyone on the same page.

“Anytime I've worked on any type of culture engagement, getting it to the shop floor is the hardest part. They don't sit at a computer all day. We don't want them to sit at a computer all day. They're actually manufacturing drugs, so they don't have time,” Jones said. “How do we make it part of their daily work? We are really looking at how do we ingrain this as part of our daily work. We do things every day around safety. We do things every day around quality. We want to make D&I a daily kind of huddle discussion on the shop floor.”

Johnson says he had a white male engineer approach him and say he wanted to participate in the Honeywell Black Employee Network, of which Johnson is a leader, but he wasn’t sure he could.

“My answer to him was, ‘Of course, you can.’ Because it’s not that it’s for Black employees. It’s for Black employees

and people who are allies of what we are trying to do as a company for under-represented organizations,” Johnson said. “He’s been one of our strongest volunteers.”

Not everyone feels comfortable having conversations about race and inequality. That also has been a challenge with DE&I implementation. Jones says training current employees and giving them the language and the tools to have, “bold and courageous conversations” is the employer's responsibility.

“We also have to recognize in the U.S., there's like a hangover in the world,” Jones said. “I'm from a generation where you didn't talk about the things we’re asking people to talk about in the workplace. You were frowned upon to do that.”

The panelists agreed DE&I work is never done. They agreed that listening to employees and constantly evolving were key to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace.

“You have to be current. Staying current with what’s happening is extremely important, whether it’s through your peers and colleagues, seeing what’s happening at other companies … you have to stay ahead versus behind,” Coachman said. “If we have to curve into something else, then let's go another direction. Listening to the people is a huge piece of that. What do they want? What is the ask? What do you see organically changing within your organization that you actually need to flow with versus having an agenda that's D&I and it’s not exactly working at your company?”

For more information about The Manufacturing Institute’s programming and efforts to address the workforce shortage, visit www.themanufacturinginstitute.org. ■

Breakaway Battery Setup May Cause Charging Concern

By Alex Stowe, NATM Interim Executive Director

The National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) Compliance Team has been made aware of an issue impacting breakaway battery systems and how they are being charged. NATM has received feedback from a member of the Association that certain battery setups for electric and electric over hydraulic brakes may lead to issues in a breakaway situation.

The NATM Compliance Team was informed of a situation where some manufacturers may add a 12V DC battery to operate added accessories on a trailer (e.g., hydraulic pump, air compressors, winches) and use this 12V DC battery also to engage the breakaway switch in place of a dedicated breakaway battery system. There is a concern that the 12V DC battery will not have an onboard DC to DC charger, and will only feature an AC to DC charger that will be plugged into the AC power of the towing vehicle to charge the battery. The tow vehicle battery may not supply enough power to the 12V DC battery to charge it after use. Meaning an end-user may use the 12V DC battery to operate different accessories on the trailer during a job, and on their return trip, the trailer’s 12V DC battery will have no remaining charge. This causes a safety concern as this 12V

DC battery will not be able to engage the trailer brakes in the event of a disconnect between the tow vehicle and the trailer. Without the battery being charged, this will prevent the battery from engaging the brakes for 15 minutes as required by 49 CFR §393.43 Breakaway and emergency braking. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) do not provide guidance on which battery to use in the event of a breakaway, but as this could cause a safety concern while on the roads, NATM did want to bring this potential issue to the attention of the membership.

The NATM Compliance Verification Program does not cover breakaway battery charging requirements, so long as the member can certify that their breakaway system can engage their electronic brakes during a breakaway for 15 minutes as required by 49 CFR §393.43. This information is being shared with the membership in an attempt to assist with awareness of a potential safety issue that may impact some members.

If you have compliance questions or a concern to report, please contact the Compliance Team at Compliance@natm.com. ■

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Comes in 10000lb, 14500lb, and 22000lb capacities.

Shining a Spotlight on Compliant Lighting

By NATM Staff

Compliance with trailer lamp and reflector requirements is required for National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) Members to pass their Compliance Verification Program (CVP) consultations. Two commonly missed items during NATM compliance consultations are clearance lamps and conspicuity tape on the trailers that require them.

On the overall list of most common failures on CVP consultations for 2022, Front Clearance Lamps present and Rear Clearance Lamps present were numbers eight and 10, respectively.

Ten Most Common CVP Failures in 2022

Thirty-five percent of consultations were flagged with lighting failures and 21% were flagged with reflector failures.

For these reasons, it is important to periodically review the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulations for trailer lamp and reflector requirements. The lighting charts provided on the following pages are to help members not only achieve and maintain NATM and NHTSA compliance but also to further the Association’s mission of making trailers safer on the roadways. ■

1. Manufacturer provides tire warranty/registration cards/forms for each trailer sold

2. NHTSA notification statement is provided to each owner (10 point type minimum)

3. Owner's manual includes required tire information

4. Decals have been purchased within the last two years

5. Maintains and retains tire identification record of new tires provided to first purchaser (other than for resale) of each new unit

6. Tire Placard is applied on all trailers 10,000 lbs. GVWR or less AND correctly completed and the information is verified

7. VIN label is uniformly placed and is protected from wear and tear and a secondary identifier is available on the trailer

8. Front Clearance Lamps present

9. Manufacturer’s 566 form (551 for foreign manufacturers) and 565 form is included on NHTSA database & accurate

10. Rear Clearance Lamps present

Trade Actions Impacting US Business

By Samantha Darling LaCount, NATM Tracks Editor

The National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) hosted Stacy Ettinger, a partner at K&L Gates law firm, which serves as NATM’s government affairs representative, for a webinar covering trade actions and how those actions can affect U.S. businesses in 2023.

China 301 Tariffs

The first topic discussed was China 301 tariffs. These are a set of tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump in 2018 and 2019 against four lists of products imported from China. Products on lists 1, 2, and 3 were assigned a 25% tariff, and products on list 4a were given a 7.5% tariff.

“The China 301 tariffs were imposed in the previous administration based on an investigation that looked at whether China’s intellectual property rights practices and policies were problematic,” Ettinger said. “The investigation determined that, in fact, they were, and as a result, thenPresident Trump imposed tariffs on a series of products on four different lists covering almost all imports from China.”

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) is conducting a required four-year review of the tariffs. Individuals could file comments from Nov. 15, 2022, to Jan. 17, 2023. As a result of the review, the USTR could decide to eliminate all or some of the tariffs, make no change at all, or land somewhere in between.

There also is ongoing litigation with the China 301 tariffs. Over 6,000 companies have filed suit against the imposition of tariffs for lists 3 and 4a, claiming those sanctions were unlawful. If the Court of International Trade agrees, this could result in retroactive refunds of the tariffs. A ruling is expected in early 2023. Ettinger says it’s something K&L Gates will be keeping an eye on.

Antidumping and Countervailing Duty

Antidumping (AD) laws deal with unfair pricing and countervailing duty (CVD) laws deal with foreign government subsidization. Dumping involves the actions of companies, and countervailing duty involves the actions of governments.

“If a domestic company or domestic industry is being economically harmed because of unfairly treated imports, either dumped or subsidized, they can request that the Commerce Department and the U.S. International Trade Commission conduct an investigation,” Ettinger said.

Commerce determines whether dumping or foreign government subsidization is occurring. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) determines whether the U.S. industry is economically harmed. If both Commerce and the ITC reach affirmative final determinations, Commerce will instruct Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to assess duties against imports of that product into the U.S.

“There are a number of antidumping and countervailing orders that may be relevant to many of you,” Ettinger said. “There is an order on chassis and subassemblies. There’s orders on tires, and then certainly orders on various types of aluminum.”

Circumvention is a subset of antidumping and countervailing duty, Ettinger says. She explains that in July 2022, Commerce self-initiated a country-wide circumvention inquiry to determine whether imports of certain aluminum foil, completed in Korea and Thailand using inputs manufactured in China, are circumventing the AD/CVD orders on aluminum foil from China.

The same happened with solar module imports from Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia. Commerce is investigating whether those imports were circumventing the tariffs involving solar modules from China.

Section 232 Tariffs

Trump imposed section 232 tariffs on steel at 25% and aluminum at 10% beginning in 2018.

“Economic security equals national security,” Ettinger said. “That was the basis for the decision.”

Prices on steel and aluminum went up and made it harder to get those products. A number of regular U.S. trade partners imposed retaliatory tariffs on a wide range of U.S. exports.

Korea negotiated with the Trump administration to exempt steel imports from South Korea. Canada and Mexico also were exempt under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Most recently, the administration of President Joe Biden has negotiated with the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Japan to eliminate the 232 tariffs on steel.

“There’s less of an issue with 232 tariffs on steel than there was,” Ettinger said. “But it still certainly is an issue.”

Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) went into effect on June 21, 2022. This law bans the importation of goods mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region unless the importer establishes by “clear and convincing evidence” that those goods were not produced by forced labor.

“Everyone agrees forced labor is bad,” Ettinger said. “The implementation of this law has been very problematic.”

Ettinger explains that at the time of the presentation, no company that has had its goods detained has successfully been able to provide clear and convincing evidence that they didn’t use forced labor.

“No shipments detained under this law have been released into the U.S. market since June,” Ettinger said.

There are two scenarios where detained shipments can be released. The first is if the importer can prove no part of the product has touched the Xinjiang region of China. The second is if a product or some part of the product at any point in production does come from Xinjiang, the importer must then prove that nothing that came from Xinjiang was made with forced labor.

“You have to provide extensive documentation and trace your supply chain of the product,” Ettinger said. “Literally to the rocks that come out of the ground.”

“You have to demonstrate to CBP affirmatively that nothing in your supply chain at any stage of production touches Xinjiang or derives from Xinjiang. Or if it derives from Xinjiang, that nothing was produced using forced labor,” Ettinger said. “No one’s overcome this hurdle. It is very difficult. The Chinese Government and Chinese companies are not cooperating. Because China’s official position is there is no use of forced labor in Xinjiang. And in fact, China passed a couple laws that penalize Chinese companies if they deign to provide this information to their buyers.”

Ettinger says in some cases Chinese suppliers are simply choosing to not work with U.S. buyers for this reason.

National Security

After the midterms, expect a new Executive Order or directive from the president establishing an outbound review mechanism, which is the initial requirement to require reporting investments in China in specific sectors.

An Executive Order was given on Sept. 5, 2022, directing the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to review five factors of particular sensitivity to U.S. national security: impact on supply chains; impact on U.S. technological leadership (e.g., AI, quantum, biotech, advanced clean energy); consider foreign investment trends, not individual, isolated transaction; cybersecurity risks; and risks to U.S. persons’ sensitive personal data.

On Oct. 13, 2022, the Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) faced new export control restrictions on exports of advanced computing integrated circuits (ICs), computer commodities that contain such ICs, certain semiconductor manufacturing items, and supercomputers.

The U.S. also can implement sanctions for national security reasons. It currently holds sanctions against Russia, Venezuela, and Iran for various political reasons.

Trade Relations

Ettinger reports that American firms are increasingly worried about doing business in China. This has U.S. manufacturers shifting product manufacturing to other southeast Asia countries.

The U.S. is considering a trade agreement with Taiwan as part of this shift. Congress is considering

authorizing defense funding for the country as well.

Ettinger explains that the U.S. is trying to re-establish itself in the Indo-Pacific region, as it withdrew and turned in on itself during the previous administration. Because of that, China was able to gain more influence and prominence in the area.

“This is an attempt by the United States to reinsert itself in the region and become relevant again,” Ettinger said.

Part of this effort includes the Indo-Pacific Economic Forum, which is a trade discussion between the U.S., Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Canada was not part of the original discussion, but they have since asked to join.

Encouraging Domestic Manufacturing

This set of laws focuses on ensuring the U.S. has a resilient supply chain. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is legislation that provides funding for transportation and other critical infrastructure, including roads and bridges, water infrastructure, resilience, and internet. Domestic content procurement preferences apply to all of the iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used for infrastructure projects.

The CHIPS Act provides $52 billion toward renewing the U.S. semiconductor manufacturing sector and bolstering U.S. chip research and development activities, as well as investing in workforce development. The application process should go live in February, Ettinger says. Companies receiving CHIPS Act funding are prohibited from doing business with Chinese companies for 10 years.

The Inflation Reduction Act is another action to try to encourage domestic manufacturing and focuses on energy and tax incentives, Ettinger says.

“It covers electric vehicles,” Ettinger said. “It does again focus on trying to encourage domestic manufacturing by requiring that electric vehicles be assembled in the United States if the buyer wants to take a tax credit.”

This provision also requires the sourcing of batteries and battery components domestically or from U.S. partners. New energy facilities may receive a 10% bump in tax credits if they meet domestic content requirements.

Stacy J. Ettinger is a partner in the Washington office of K&L Gates, and co-leads the firm’s international trade practice. She can be reached at Stacy.Ettinger@klgates.com.

To see the schedule of upcoming webinars and other NATM events, visit www.natm.com/events.

To see past webinars, visit NATM’s Member Benefits page* at www.natm.com/member-benefits.

*Must be a NATM Member in good-standing with an updated NATM.com member profile to access this benefit. ■

How to Take Your Profit First

By Sara Hey, Bob Clements International

I’m sure the horror on my face was evident before the words even came out of my mouth. I composed myself before I said, “So, if I understand you correctly, you are saying that you have never taken a salary from your business, and at the end of the day, you only have 1% net profit?” Yes, I had seen other dealerships in this situation before, but none that were like this dealer. He was the number one dealer for his main line manufacturer and that manufacturer had no idea that, in an instant, that could vanish. Then, I mentioned that he could get a better return on his money in a child’s saving account at his local credit union, which his manufacturer did not appreciate as much as I did.

When you started your dealership, I’m sure you had a very specific vision in your head. One of profitability, with a life outside of the business, and a lifetime supply of chocolate chip cookies (Maybe not that last one, I don’t know what success looks like for you, but it’s on my list, so let me live my life!). My guess is that you never envisioned being the number one employee AND the one who takes home the least, so let’s fix that.

When we work with our dealers in our Dealer Success Groups, one of our ultimate rallying cries is that as an owner of a dealership, you must take your profit first. Understandably, this goes against everything, like seriously everything, that has been ingrained in your entrepreneur's brain since you started your business. So, how do you do it? Let me walk you through this step-by-baby-step.

1. Decide how much the business is going to pay you

In case no one has ever told you before, as an owner, you should be taking a salary. Now, how you take this money is between you and your accountant. They know way more about your tax situation than I do. Are you an LLC (I hope not!), an S-Corp, a C-Corp, or some other mythical business model that allows you to avoid taxes like the plague? As a rule of thumb, at a minimum, you should be paid in line with your highest-earning employee, and that is the minimum!

2. Determine your net profit percentage

No, the answer is not 1% (unless you are taking out 0%, then let’s start with 1%. That’s why we call these baby steps). For most of our dealers, I would encourage them to take out between 7-10% as net profit in their business, above and beyond their salary. This comes out before you pay any of your expenses inside of your dealership. Literally, off the top. This money is the money that you get to decide what you want to do with

as an owner because you have put all risk into the business. Seriously, no one else in the dealership is tapping into their savings when it’s payday and there isn’t enough money to cover payroll. Now, this doesn’t have to be set aside to buy a multimillion-dollar yacht (but it could be, no judgment here), but set aside for you to do whatever you want. Looking to buy a new house, go on a vacation, or expand your current location? This money can be set aside for any of those things and more! In the trailer industry, many of our dealers are taking out 15-20% net profit. No, that’s not a typo, and we see you over-achievers!

3. Set up a separate account for your profit

This is non-negotiable because I know what will happen inside your dealership. Money gets tight and you say, “Well, I have this money over here (which, as a reminder, is the money you earned because you took a risk with the business) and I’ll just throw it back in. No big deal.” No big deal? It’s a huge deal because this is what got you to where you are in the first place. So, put your profit in a separate account (ideally, at a separate bank, you impulsive entrepreneurs) so that you must actually work to get it, especially for your business.

I can hear some of you asking, “But, Sara, what if I do this and my business can’t handle it?” I want you to think about taking your profit first in the same way that you think about a tube of toothpaste. In the beginning, when you open a new tube of toothpaste, you are generous with it and your pearly whites are feeling extra pearly and extra white. However, when you get down to the last of the tube, you become much more careful with the amount you use and you squeeze as much out as you can until you can get to the next tube. If we take the net profit off the top and then require the dealership to live on what is left over in an almost magical way, it will. Of course, there may be times you need to adjust your percentage to hit your goals, but then that is a choice you are making for your business, not your business making it for you.

For more information, contact Sara Hey at sara@ bobclements. com. ■

Dealer Problems Solved with NATM’s Dealer Affiliate Resources

By Scott Simons, NATM Membership Outreach Specialist

The last two years have provided challenging for everyone, but the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) knows it has been especially challenging for small- to medium-sized trailer dealers.

One of the many challenges faced by dealers today is having a full staff and successful hiring. The country is facing high turnover rates and difficulty filling positions. This hits small dealerships especially hard, and staffing troubles don’t stop there. Frequent staff changes can lead to brain drain – when you finally get that promising associate trained up, and they find other employment, taking all that knowledge right out the door. This makes having a fully trained, fully staffed dealership extremely difficult to achieve.

This is when dealerships are vulnerable to mistakes. If things are repeatedly left unchecked and need to be corrected, it becomes a huge safety concern. Not to mention it’s also a drain on the productivity of employees and is likely to cause low customer satisfaction.

Take the guesswork out of quality checks with NATM’s Dealer Affiliate Program checklists. The Customer Checklist and Pre-Delivery Checklist are simple and thorough. Anyone can step in to assist with the process with the applicable NATM checklist.

Through the NATM Dealer Affiliate Program, you will receive the NATM Dealer Compendium, which will provide you with the relevant laws and regulations, including towing laws, braking laws, safety chain laws, license plate laws, CDL laws, and federal and state dealer registration and licensing regulations. These resources are compiled and ready for you to use to train new employees or give a refresher to existing ones getting them all ready to provide top-notch service. Customers leave satisfied and safe. Your employees are time efficient and confident in a job well done.

Customer satisfaction is a huge concern for dealers. An unhappy customer won’t be back and won’t attract any new customers for you either. Dealers want to ensure their customers are well-informed and properly educated on towing. You want to ensure the trailer they’re buying is compatible with their tow vehicle. This is a lot of information to give customers in one conversation.

NATM has a checklist for that! With the Dealer Affiliate Program, you’re provided with all the safety and educational material NATM has compiled. They’re ready and waiting for you to disperse to your customers.

Dealerships should be able to focus on their goals: selling trailers and growing the business. Most dealerships don’t have the staffing power to create and vet their own resources, whether they’re for employee training purposes or to educate their customers. NATM has an entire technical committee, technical director, and legal counsel to ensure the resources provided to Association members are accurate and upto-date with all federal and state rules and regulations.

Dealerships also may not be able to employ a full marketing team to brand their products. Use NATM instead! The Dealer Affiliate Program provides marketing materials that are editable and can be branded with your dealership logos and information. This will allow your dealership to provide high-end resources with your specific branding to end-users. Pre-made social media materials are available to you at the click of a mouse.

With your membership, you will gain access to the bimonthly Tracks magazine. Tracks covers the latest industry news to keep you in the loop. You also can access educational webinars tailored to the trailer industry given by leaders in their respective fields. These sources of information are beneficial to dealer owners and employees alike.

The NATM Dealer Affiliate Program was made to help trailer dealers reach their full potential. Let NATM and the Dealer Affiliate Program go to work for you.

More details about the program can be found at www.natm. com/dealers. For more information regarding affiliation, contact NATM Membership & Events Coordinator Catie Rutkowski at Catie.Rutkowski@natm.com or call (785) 2724433. Or contact NATM Membership Outreach Specialist Scott Simons at Scott.Simons@natm.com or call (785) 496-8325. ■

NATM Dealer Affiliate Customer Checklist

CUSTOMER CHECKLIST

CHECKLIST

 Completed visual inspection

 Received service instructions, including lug-nut torque chart

 Shown all fuse locations & junction boxes

 Warranty fully explained

 Received owner’s manual and warranty

 Verified proper size ball (for coupler) on tow vehicle

 Coupler attached properly and latched; safety pin inserted

 Breakaway switch and safety chains explained and properly attached and crossed

 Breakaway cable and battery attached

 Brake controller functioning

 Tongue jack retracted

 Checked lug nuts on wheels for proper torque (per manufacturer’s specifications)

 Proper wiring connector – lights & electrical checked, completed visual inspection

 Verify operation of all lights

 Verify proper operation of brakes

 Verify any doors or other applicable features are properly functioning

 Review of warning labels/decals and pinch points – including capacity labeling for trailer and component parts

 Review of tire placard and cargo capacity (only required on trailers under 10,000 lbs. GVWR)

 My dealer demonstrated all living quarter systems, if applicable

 Trailer towed level

 Received keys-record key numbers below: # #

 Dealer explained importance of NATM compliant trailers

 Dealer explained www.TrailerSafetyWeek.com resources

 Dealer explained the importance of the following:

• Loading heavier towards the front with a 60/40 split over the axle, and weight evenly distributed side to side (if applicable)

• Checking lug nuts after 25 miles

• Checking bearings every 12,000 miles or 12 months and re-torquing lug nuts

 Dealer provided or completed TIN (tire identification) cards Tire DOT Numbers

 Title/MCO Transfer if applicable (state dependent)

I have visually inspected the trailer unit and found no defects, have reviewed & understand the warranty policy, and understand how to tow the trailer safely. By signing this, I understand the information on this paper and have taken the opportunity to ask questions if I do not understand.

Customer Name (printed): Customer Signature: Date:

Salesperson: Accounting:

Y/N____ VIN Matches Sales Last 6 of VIN #______________

NATM Dealer Affiliate Sales Checklist

folder the date this was done.

 Notice of sale completed

 MSO signed over

 MSO held & and signed over after payment if a A/R sale.

 Copy of driver's license (if applicable)

 Title paperwork filled out and signed by customer if applicable

o Need a date of birth for a customer & also give blue copy of title application to customer (they need this to register the trailer.)

 Copy of bill of sale for trade-in; MSO or title signed over to us (if applicable)

NATM Dealer Affiliate Pre-Delivery Checklist

 Check lug nuts for proper torque

• torqued ____ foot/lbs. by ____________________ (staff name)

 Test operation of breakaway switch

 Inspect chains for proper operation and no wear

 Verify battery terminal cables have been tightened (if applicable)

 Verify proper operation of coupler

 Verify proper operation of brakes

 Verify any doors, roll ups, or other applicable features are properly functioning

 Verify cleanup of trailer

 Verify Owner’s Manual is attached/available

 Verify TIN (tire identification numbers) cards with VIN and TIN numbers is complete for customer registration TIN #s , , ,

 Install dealer decals/branding to signify completion of process

 Trailer initialed and dated on tongue. Name: ___________ Date: ________

NHTSA Cautions Buyers, Trailers Must Meet Federal Regulations

By Savana Morrison, NATM Marketing Director

Earlier this year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued an important warning regarding compliant trailers to consumers, importers, and trailer manufacturers. According to the official NHTSA statement, “… noncompliant trailers that may pose a safety risk are increasingly marketed and sold to small businesses throughout the United States … Trailers that do not comply with Federal regulations may not be safe and are not allowed to enter the United States.”

The National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) has long recognized the importance of building safe, compliant trailers as demonstrated by the Compliance Verification Program (CVP). NATM has compiled the applicable federal regulations and industry best practices, and every two years, NATM Compliance Consultants visit member facilities to ensure they have the manufacturing processes in place to build trailers in accordance with these standards.

Through the CVP, it is the mission of NATM to educate member manufacturers on those requirements set forth by governing bodies. With this free flow of information and open lines of communication, NATM members are provided with access to resources and information that can often be time-consuming and difficult to compile on their own.

The consumer warning further cautioned trailer purchasers to, “Please be aware that trailers must comply with Federal standards to ensure that they are equipped with appropriate critical safety components, such as lighting, tires and wheels … use caution when shopping for these trailers, especially if you are considering online listings for trailers that must be imported into the United States.”

As a consumer, it is nearly impossible to fully understand the hundreds of safety-related regulations NHTSA refers to in its statement. NATM has made it easier for consumers by creating the NATM Decal. Trailers featuring this decal are built by manufacturers who have verified compliance through NATM’s CVP. Participation in this program is mandatory for all NATM trailer manufacturing members and only NATM members who have successfully completed the CVP are allowed to place NATM Decals on their trailers. To learn more about the program, please visit www.natm.com/cvp.

Consumers interested in purchasing from a NATMcompliant manufacturer can visit www.natm.com/trailermanufacturer-directory to find a local manufacturer.

Read the full NHTSA Statement here: www.nhtsa.gov/ press-releases/trailers-federal-safety-regulations. ■

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Know Your Association; Know Your Decal

By Meghan Ryan, NATM Assistant Director

Know Your Association

The National Association of Livestock Trailer Manufacturers (NALTM) was founded in 1987 when a group of horse and livestock trailer manufacturers met in Chickasha, Oklahoma. The Association was incorporated in Texas in 1990. By 1992, this young Association realized that all manufacturers of light- and medium-duty trailers faced the same business, regulatory, and legislative issues. So, the Association dropped the “Livestock” from its name and became the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM).

NATM is a trade association, a membership organization governed by its members for the benefit of its members and the industry in general. Trade associations that meet the requirements of Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(6) are entitled to be exempt from federal income tax as “business leagues,” thus qualifying as not-for-profit organizations.

NATM filed for and was granted 501(c)(6) tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on April 1, 1991.

IRS Exemption requirements:

The IRS defines a “business league” as an association of persons having some common business interest, the purpose of which is to promote that common interest and not to engage in a regular business of a kind ordinarily carried on for profit.

To be exempt as a business league, an organization's activities must be devoted to improving business conditions of one or more lines of business (as distinguished from performing particular services for individual persons). It must be shown that the conditions of a particular trade or the interests of the community will be advanced. Merely indicating the name of the organization or the object of the local statute under which it is created is not enough to demonstrate the required general purpose.

No part of a business league's net earnings may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual and it may not be organized for profit to engage in an activity ordinarily carried on for profit (even if the business is operated on a cooperative basis or produces only enough income to be self-sustaining).

To be exempt, a section 501(c)(6) organization must receive meaningful membership support.

Trade associations and professional associations are business leagues.

NATM is a not-for-profit 501(c)(6) trade association. It is governed by a set of bylaws investing governing power in an elected board of directors. The Board owes a fiduciary duty to the Association’s members. The Board hires the Executive Director to manage the day-to-day affairs of the Association and instructs the Executive Director through written Board-adopted policies that prescribe the organizational goals to be achieved. The Board also develops policies instructing the Executive Director to achieve Board specified results, for specified recipients, at a specified cost.

The Board also appoints a Finance Committee. Each year, the Finance Committee prepares a balanced budget for the Association to ensure the Association has adequate resources to fund programs and remain financially sound. If revenues exceed expenses, the excess revenue is allocated to “reserves” with the goal of accumulating sufficient funds to cover a number of months’ operating expenses – in NATM’s case, six to 12 months of operating expenses – to ensure the Association remains financially sound through economic downturns. Reserves are also used to fund special projects when technical, regulatory, or legislative issues impacting the industry that must be addressed by the Association. All excess revenue not placed in reserves is rolled back into Association-run programs to benefit members and to keep dues and convention registrations at an affordable rate.

Nonprofit organizations must maintain complete transparency, and their 990’s filed annually with the IRS. These forms may be viewed online and are on file for public inspection at the Association headquarters office. If you want to check whether an organization you belong to is a nonprofit, you

The current NATM Decal with QR code allows end-users to scan for additional information about the importance of compliant trailers.

can check at www.guidestar.org. This is also a good resource to check on 501(c)(3) (charitable) organizations to verify if donations to the organization are tax-deductible. Dues to trade associations – a 501(c)(6) – are deductible as a business expense, less any amount dedicated to lobbying. This non-deductible amount must be disclosed on membership renewal forms.

Know Your Decal

In 1990, the first “Mark of Excellence” gold decals from NATM were sold to members for one dollar per decal to be placed on members’ trailers. The purpose of the decal was to promote pride in membership and to raise revenue for the Association.

With the establishment of the Compliance Verification Program in 2002, NATM created a new red, white and blue circular decal to draw attention to members who had voluntarily participated in and passed a compliance consultation. The sales of these serialized compliance decals were also used to underwrite the cost of the program.

As participation in the Compliance Verification Program grew, the NATM Board of Directors decided to do away with the original gold decal, focusing Association efforts on marketing the value in the red, white, and blue decal.

While compliance with federal regulations is the law, the commitment to having a third party verify compliance is no small undertaking. NATM members must regularly undergo compliance consultations and when noncompliances are found, members are given 60 days to make and provide proof of necessary corrections. When companies fail consultations and do not make the necessary corrections as required by program policies or refuse a consultation, their membership is terminated.

The choice to join NATM and expend resources to verify compliance deserves recognition and communicating that level of commitment to dealers and end-users can be one tool for increasing the marketability of trailers. An easy way to communicate this dedication is through the purchase and application of the NATM Decal. Purchase of the NATM Decal is only available to members who have completed and passed their Compliance Verification Program consultation.

The NATM Decal is an outward symbol of safety and its recognition continues to grow. With the launch of the Dealer Affiliate Program, trailer safety education continues to expand and with it so does knowledge of the importance of the red, white, and blue NATM Decal. That small circle allows dealers and consumers the peace of mind of not needing to be experts on regulatory compliance but instead allows them to simply focus on selecting the right trailer for their needs and hitting the road.

The NATM Decal also holds value beyond its symbolism for dealers and end-users. NATM regularly works with law enforcement on stolen trailer issues. As thieves tend to scratch off labeling and VIN numbers that would identify a trailer, they often leave the NATM Decal attached. NATM has been able to connect law enforcement agencies all across North America with the manufacturer of the trailer to resolve these crimes because of the serialized decal. Further, the decal allows small and large businesses alike to access the resources made available through NATM via the scannable QR code found on each NATM Decal.

To purchase decals or marketing materials about the importance of the NATM Decal, contact NATM at (785) 272-4433 or at NATMHQ@natm.com. ■

The 1990 gold 'Mark of Excellence' NATM Decal.

The 2002 serialized red, white, and blue NATM Decal.

High School Marketing Intern Impresses at LOOK Trailers

By Samantha Darling LaCount, NATM Tracks Editor

National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) member LOOK Trailers offers internships to students in various areas of its organization. This year, Alex Eby, a marketing intern and senior at Northridge High School in Middlebury, Indiana, has really impressed the LOOK staff.

“Alex Eby has drive,” said Tommy Taylor, Digital Marketing Manager at LOOK Trailers and Eby’s supervisor. “From day one, Alex has been eager to jump in and learn. He shows up early every day and always brings a positive attitude.”

The internship program coincides with the school year. Eby started in August 2022 and will finish out in May 2023 when he graduates, where he plans to continue in this line of work.

“I am going to be studying advertising and marketing

at Grand Canyon University. I will also be minoring in Entrepreneurship,” Eby said. “This internship has made me want to go study this field even more.”

That is like music to Taylor’s ears. He’s been using the school year to challenge Eby to really think about his future and dream big.

“Ultimately, my personal passion is being an entrepreneur/ self-starter. I strongly believe that you can’t truly know exactly what you want to do unless you have had first-hand experience to make sure that it truly is what you want to do,” Taylor said. “Alex has expressed interest that he would someday like to work for an advertising agency. I think that is a great goal. However, I want to push his goal thinking into something deeper. Why not strive to start your own advertising

LOOK Trailers' marketing intern and high school senior Alex Eby poses for a photo with one of the company's trailers. Photo submitted by LOOK Trailers.

agency or company? Why not be an innovator and come up with a new, nontraditional, form of advertising marketing that revolutionizes how companies market altogether?”

The investment the team is making in him is not something Eby takes for granted.

“My favorite part is the people I work with and the environment of LOOK. Tommy Taylor, my boss, is very helpful in teaching me almost everything I have learned and putting me ahead of the game for my age,” Eby said. “The marketing team here makes coming into work every day fun and enjoyable.”

Taylor and the team at LOOK have been working to ensure Eby tries all aspects of the marketing process: photo, video, social media, and a variety of industry computer programs.

“Most recently, I have had him sit alongside our videographer to learn about Adobe Premier Video Editing and Adobe After Effects Video Effects,” Taylor said. “Additionally, he has been sitting alongside our graphic artist to learn more about Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Lightroom, and Adobe Photoshop.”

“What has surprised me the most is the different skills you need to have for this job,” Eby said. “Also, how important the work we do is and how much it can impact and make a difference in a company.”

The projects LOOK assigns Eby are not some throwaway school assignments. They’re having him work on projects the company needs and uses.

“I am currently working on taking photos of the options for all of our trailers, then uploading those photos into Photoshop,” Eby said. “I crop those photos to make the option I took a picture of stand out. Once I have done that step, I put the cropped images into a file that later will be uploaded onto our site.”

“We are the nation's largest cargo trailer manufacturer. That being said, we have several different cargo trailer models. Notably, our cargo trailers are always evolving, meaning the options that come with the cargo trailers are also evolving,” Taylor said. “We have been behind on updating all of our old option photos, so in the last couple weeks, we have provided a nice DSLR camera for Alex to go through our factory and trailers in the yard to capture all new/updated options of our trailers, where he will then photoshop out the background and place them into a specific internal server folder where we can then update our website with the photos, as well as use them for social posting.”

Social media is a particular area where Eby is excelling.

“The kid is quite the rockstar with social media, and his presence has allowed us to get ahead of the social game by pre-scheduling social posts a couple weeks in advance,” Taylor said. “This has been a huge help for our fulltime staff to be able to focus on more consumer-facing marketing strategies.”

Eby says he appreciated the variety of skills he’s gaining through the program.

“I am always learning something new every day. That's what I really enjoy about working here is that I come into work every day knowing that it is going to be different every time,” Eby said. “Like today, I was working on those pictures, then I was asked to edit a video. After that, I helped my boss make vinyl stickers for a company.”

“In general, Alex is a senior in high school; I remember being a senior in high school and I had no clue what I truly wanted to do,” Taylor said. “Knowing that, and taking a page out of Elon Musk’s strategy, my main goal for Alex is to provide him an opportunity to experience all aspects of traditional marketing, digital marketing, SEO, marketing automation, web development, and advertising. I want Alex to be able to have some advanced knowledge and skillsets before he jets off to college so he can make a better-educated guess on the types of courses that interest him the most that can help prepare him for his future.”

Marketing is just one department where LOOK employs interns. They have also had research and development, engineering, sales, and purchasing interns.

“We always encourage interns to apply,” said Corporate Director of Creative Services Doug Moats. “We do currently have openings for the summer and fall. We have six manufacturing facilities in five states, that include Arizona, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Utah. In addition, LOOK Trailers is a part of Novae, LLC. Novae manages trailer manufacturing locations all over the United States.”

The company takes pride in setting students up for success. The program has proven to be beneficial.

“We have had several interns at LOOK Trailers. I have had three interns in the last two years work in the marketing department,” Moats said. “Our previous marketing intern, Madeleine Newberry, was just hired by Whirlpool Corporation and will be working in marketing and sales.”

The team likes to brag about Newberry. And the same goes for Eby.

“We are excited for Alex’s future and look forward to all of the amazing accomplishments he will achieve,” Taylor said. “Personally, I am proud of Alex's maturity and growth during his internship. It’s been a nice refresher to get back to the basics and see the amount of progress Alex has made.”

“Alex has been a great intern for us. He is very eager to learn marketing principles and strategy that drive a company’s marketing efforts,” Moats said. “We appreciate all the great work he has done for LOOK Trailers and Novae, LLC. I am excited to see where his professional career takes him after college.”

LOOK Trailers has been a NATM member since 2010. You can find more about them at www.looktrailers.com.

To submit article ideas or your own membership stories, contact Tracks Editor Samantha Darling LaCount at Samantha.Darling@natm.com. ■

EnhancEd cargo Floor & Wall panEl

paKtite® is a moisture-resistant, performance engineered oriented strand board floor and ramp panel with greatly enhanced physical properties.

TExTurEd hdpE cargo Floor

T r E d -e x treme ® is an engineered and structurally rated floor and ramp panel with a high-density polyethylene overlay laminated to one or both sides.

aqua SEal TrEaTEd plyWood cargo Floor

aqua ply pluS® is a specialty plywood floor and ramp panel that is pressure-treated with aqua SE al ® preservatives and kiln-dried after treatment.

hardWood plyWood cargo Wall panEl

d yna c ore ® is an appearance grade hardwood plywood wall and ceiling panel comprised of multiple layers of straight-grained Meranti veneer.

Vinyl-FacEd plyWood cargo Wall panEl

d yna c ore ® lV is a hardwood plywood wall and ceiling panel with a polyvinyl chloride protective film face.

NATM Looks Forward to Serving You in 2023!

By Meghan Ryan, NATM Assistant Director

Thank you for renewing your membership with the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) for 2023! Membership dues are critical in supporting the actions, services, and educational programming NATM provides for its members and the light- and mediumduty trailer industry. NATM is constantly evaluating costs and benefits to ensure your annual membership investment is being met with valuable returns and is proud to have been able to keep dues at their previous level when everything is facing drastic inflation.

In 2022, membership dues allowed NATM to:

› Continue to expand the reach and scope of NATM’s Convention & Trade Show

› Launch the Association’s 2023-2025 Strategic Plan focusing on industry growth, increasing brand awareness, and continuously improving the NATM Compliance Verification Program (CVP)

› Host numerous educational webinars and presentations with industry leaders

› Grow the reach of the fifth annual Trailer Safety Week, including the growth of strategic partnerships and access to additional resources

› Devote resources to marketing the NATM Compliance Verification Program and benefits of the Association to the industry as well as endusers to grow the value of the NATM Decal

› Educate members of Congress during the annual

Regulatory Roundup and Capitol Hill Visits

› Update the 2022 Guidelines for Recommended Minimum Manufacturing Practices for Light- andMedium Duty Trailers, also known as Guidelines

› Adapt the NATM CVP to navigate travel restrictions and protect the health and safety of members and staff while also continuing to help member companies ensure their compliance with applicable federal regulations and industry standards

› Continue offering the Association Health Plan (AHP) for most NATM member companies

› Continue offering the NATM Association Retirement Plan for member companies to offer their employees

› Launch a newly designed website and membership database to improve member access to billing and resources

NATM’s commitment is to its members and ultimately to trailer safety. Supporting NATM members’ ability to grow and prosper, while also contributing to the safety of the nation’s roadways, is what drives the Association’s work. Your support of this mission and your integral feedback along the way are vital to NATM’s success. NATM looks forward to continuing this important work in the coming year!

Thank you for your continued support of the Association. Please don’t hesitate to contact Meghan Ryan, NATM Assistant Director, at (785) 272-4433 Meghan.Ryan@ natm.com if you have any questions or concerns. ■

Get to Know Affiliated Resources

Submitted by Affiliated Resources

Affiliated Resources is a manufacturing, marketing, sales, and distribution company that has been a member of the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) for 15 years.

Gregg Rice, Affiliated Resource’s National Sales Manager of Cargo Trailer Products Division, and Nick Colasurdo, the AQUA TECH Program Director of the Marine Products Division and National Sales Executive of the Cargo Trailer Products Division, took some time to share more about their company.

For those who may not be familiar, can you give a quick summary of your company?

Gregg: Here at Affiliated Resources, we build strategic, collaborative partnerships between our large primary resource manufacturers. We do this by taking possession of raw materials and further developing, manufacturing, and selling them as industry-specific proprietary products in high-quality processing plants. In short, we produce custom finished products that are built to specific customer end-use requirements. Most importantly, we build and maintain long-term affiliations with our suppliers, our processors, and our customers.

Nick: We also offer a wide variety of multi-step composite and plastic products too. These can include various plastic overlays and PVC film facings. We are very good at laminating.

How do you keep track of it all?

Gregg: First, we keep all our proprietary product development and testing in-house. Once we have an existing, or new product tested and ready to go to market, we seek out the very best raw material manufacturers. Then we line up secondary processors that specialize in the production steps required to make our high-quality finished products.

Nick: As I mentioned, we take great pride in our laminated products. High-quality machinery, hands-on quality control, and a long track record of quality contribute to our lamination success. The same is true for treating, kiln-drying, coating, and wrapping. We contract with the best to do what they do best.

Gregg: It takes a lot of coordination, and we have a great staff. People are often surprised when we tell them that we oversee 29 different processing plants and distribution warehouses throughout North America.

What Affiliated Resources products do NATM members use?

Gregg: Affiliated is a leading panel product supplier to the cargo trailer industry and we are best known for our PAKtite®

cargo panels. PAKtite is a performance-engineered oriented strand board panel with greatly enhanced physical properties that is specifically engineered and manufactured to be used for floors, walls, and ramp doors in enclosed cargo trailers.

PAKtite is manufactured in four thicknesses – 3/8”, 1/2", 19/32”, and 23/32”. This variety helps the manufacturer optimize cost, weight, and performance by matching the thickness to the application.

Nick: We also produce specialty panels like our TRED-eXtreme® for cargo trailers. TRED-eXtreme is a structurally rated floor and ramp panel with a textured high-density polyethylene (HDPE) overlay laminated on one or both sides. The HDPE surface is a 100% moisture barrier that is resistant to fuel, solvents, and most chemicals.

Another specialty panel is our AQUA PLY PLUS® for cargo trailers. AQUA PLY PLUS was originally developed for the marine industry, and its strict product specifications turned out to be a perfect fit for cargo trailers.

This panel is a structurally rated plywood floor and ramp panel, pressure-treated with Aqua Seal® oxide formulated preservatives, and then kiln-dried after treatment. It is strong, flat, dimensionally stable, and guaranteed under our AQUA TECH® warranty.

Gregg: Of course, we have always been competitive in delivering imported hardwood plywood for walls and ceilings. Our Dyna Core® brand of Luan & Meranti plywood has very specific grading criteria regarding wood species, veneer quality, and CARB-compliant Type II adhesives.

Back to what Nick said earlier, we often laminate very durable PVC films to our Dyna Core substrate with EVA glues. Our bright white Dyna Core LV is hugely popular and comes with color-coordinated trim battens to match.

How long has the company been involved in the cargo trailer industry?

Gregg: Affiliated Resources has been servicing the cargo trailer industry for over 20 years. We are proud to say that we’ve been members of the NATM since 2008.

Gregg Rice

Nick Colasurdo

Where NATM membership has been especially helpful to Affiliated Resources?

Nick: We love exhibiting at the NATM Trade Show. The opportunity to network with attendees and build long-term relationships is what we love to do. Being an NATM member reinforces to our customers that we not only support them but also the NATM organizational causes and goals.

Gregg: The overall mission of the NATM is focused on safety and compliance. This aligns closely with our mission of specifying, manufacturing, and recommending the right products for the right end-use applications. Specifying anything short of the right product could negatively affect the trailer’s safety and compliance.

What keeps you motivated?

Gregg: Providing a high level of customer service is our true mission. It is in our DNA. It is what keeps us going. Visiting customers across North America gives us the opportunity to see first-hand how they build their trailers and discuss different ways we can help them. It is rare for us to visit a plant and not see an area where we can suggest a better component part that will help speed their production line.

Nick: Our goal with every plant visit is to find ways to make our customers’ lives easier. Working with our customers to solve problems is extremely gratifying. If we can help make our customers successful, then we will also be successful. It’s fun for us to all win together.

Any last bits of information you’d like to pass along to the readers?

Nick: We’d like NATM members to know that our Affiliated Resources sales department is fully supported by a professional administrative staff and a highly efficient logistics group. They work hard to get our customer’s products to them on time.

Affiliated Resources was fortunate to join forces with the Forest City Trading Group (FCTG) in September 2021. They are a much larger wood products-based company that has already provided us with a lot of resources and support. We are more committed than ever to the cargo trailer industry and future growth.

Gregg: Affiliated Resources is bigger now and still growing, but we still pride ourselves on providing the same great individualized, personal service.

We offer free distribution of literature, marketing brochures, dealer displays, and product samples to our customers. Most of our products are warranted. Printed product warranties are available on request and can be included as part of the end-use owner’s registration package. Please be sure to check us out on our website at www.affiliatedresources/cargotrailer.net.

To submit article ideas or your own member feature, contact Tracks Editor Samantha Darling LaCount at Samantha.Darling@natm.com. ■

State Officials Visit Round House Industries New Facility

By Samantha Darling LaCount, NATM Tracks Editor

Missouri Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe, Missouri State Representative Don Mayhew, and Missouri Farm Bureau President Garret Hawkins visited National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) member Round House Industries in Dixon, Missouri, on Oct. 13, 2022.

“Our lieutenant governor is a big promoter of ‘made in Missouri’,” said Brad Slone, owner of Round House Industries. “On a bigger note, that means it was made in the U.S. It just so happened that that was the week that he was touring the state visiting facilities that make Missouri products.”

The visit coincided with the state’s Buy Missouri Week, where citizens are encouraged to support Missouri-made products.

“During my visit to Round House Industries, I was able to see firsthand the passion that Brad

and his team have for building high-quality, Missouri-made trailers,” Kehoe said. “We are proud to have Round House Industries as a valued partner in the Buy Missouri program, along with over 500 additional Missouri manufacturers.”

“He was very interested in where we got a lot of our components from. Really, due to the nature of the week, he was more attuned to any products we get in state. He was interested in hearing about supply chain issues and how that’s impacted things,” Slone said. “It meant a lot to me that they would take the time out of their very busy schedules. For them to take their time to come out and see what we had going on, it meant a whole lot.”

Round House specializes in manufacturing custom agricultural and utility trailers. Slone says Kehoe, Mayhew, and Hawkins toured the full facility and checked out the products housed on-site.

(Left to right) Round House Industries Owner Brad Slone, Mike Kehoe, Don Mayhew, and Garret Hawkins pose for a photo during their facility tour. Photo submitted by Brad Slone.

“Specifically, I wanted to show them the stock trailers and the flatbeds — some of the bigger iron,” Slone said. “They were all excited about the quality of our products and the potential economic development in a rural, underserved area.”

Slone moved Round House to its current 70,000 sq ft facility in Dixon, Missouri, in July 2022. Dixon is a town of roughly 1,100 people located in the center of the state, 130 miles southwest of St. Louis and 85 miles straight south of Columbia, Missouri.

“The community was very excited that we were moving in and reenergizing a facility that had long been silent,” Slone said.

Taking the business to Dixon was an easy and personal decision for Slone.

“That’s kind of the neat thing. I grew up in Dixon. The building was originally built in the late ‘50s early ‘60s, and it was originally a Brown’s Shoe factory,” he said. “It actually employed 200 or 300 people at one time ... It was a hat factory briefly, but there hadn’t been any action in there for the last 10-15 years of any consequence, so as you can imagine, the community was really excited to have something back in.”

Slone started Round House in 2019 in a small, rented space in St. Robert, Missouri.

“We started with three employees and the first year I think we build 100 trailers. The next year we doubled it,” Slone said. “Two years on, we had outgrown where we were at, and by three years, we were on top of each other.”

Slone closed on the Dixon property on July 1, 2022, a day he says he’ll never forget. He currently employs a dozen people with hopes to grow and bring on more.

“Thirty or 40 employees would be a huge thing for (the community),” he said.

It seems it already is a huge thing. Slone says one of his employees stopped at a convenience store in his company uniform and was inundated with questions.

“I was swamped with people asking if we were hiring, what we were doing, and when we were going to get started,” he said. “I thought I was a celebrity for a minute.”

“There were so many people that worked in the place during the lifetime of the businesses before us,” Slone said. “We have so many people wanting to come in and see what it looks like now so we had an open house (in September) and really had a lot of interest.”

The open house brought around 100 people by Slone’s estimation. The community is energized, but it wasn’t as easy to bring energy back to the building itself.

“The electrical has been unique. I compare it to this, it’s like puzzles,” Slone said. “You got a 1,000-piece puzzle that represents when it was built. You got another

1,000-piece puzzle that represents everything that was added because nothing was ever removed. You dump those two in a bucket, and you mix them up. And then you take four or five handfuls, and you throw them out. That represents what the thieves have stripped out. And now you have to go in and try to make sense of it and put the puzzles back together without a picture to look at. That's been a pretty big challenge with the building.”

Once the building is squared away, Slone is excited to focus on growing the company even more in the coming years.

“I'm still trying to expand my dealer network,” he said. “Being the new kid on the block, it’s kind of tough.”

Slone says the community's excitement and support help get them through the tough days, and he knows there’s a market for him to expand into.

“People see trailers going up and down the road, and I don't feel like the general public really realizes what a sizable and substantial industry the trailer business really is — whether it be from fabricating small components all the way to the finished product,” Slone said. “It’s a pretty substantial industry when you include everything.”

Round House Industries joined NATM in 2022. To learn more about them, visit www.roundhousetrailers.com.

To submit article ideas or your own membership stories, contact Tracks Editor Samantha Darling LaCount at Samantha.Darling@natm.com. ■

Round House Industries Owner Brad Slone (left) speaks with Missouri Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe during his visit to the company's facility in Dixon, Missouri.

Photo submitted by Brad Slone.

Welcome New Members

Supplier/Service Provider

Advanced Aluminum 2941 Parkway St

Lakeland, FL 33811

• Aluminum-Extrusions, Aluminum-Sheet, Doors/Ramps, Roll Forming, Roofing

Advanced Cylinders, LLC

8966 Benson Ave Ste C Montclair, CA 91763

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Alubond USA INC.

616 E 500 S Lafayette, IN 47909

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American International Forest Products 5560 SW 107th Ave

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Boss Trailer Products, LLC

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PassTime

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Probity Tax Recovery

675 Bering Dr Houston, TX 77057

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Schupan Industrial Recycling

2619 Miller Rd Kalamazoo, MI 49001 www.schupan.com

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Southeastern Commercial Fabricators, LLC

291 Gist Industrial Dr Russellville, AL 35654

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SURETRAC INC.

1301 Hwy 701 N Loris, SC 29569

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Sutong Tire Resources 33402 Hwy 290 Ste A Hockley, TX 77447

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Wire Wizard Welding Products 5750 Marathon Dr Jackson, MI 49201

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American Pride Trailers Corp 1084 SH 75 N

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Clegg Industries, Inc 16400 NW Zac Lentz Pkwy

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Dorset, OH 44032

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Castle, OK 74833

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Shreveport, LA 71129

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8000 Powell Rd #110

Hopkins, MN 55343

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TKB Manufacturing

7730 Pinemont Dr Houston, TX 77040

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Trackabout Off Road Campers

27 Moss St

Slacks Creek, QLD 4127, Australia

www.trackabout.com.au

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Trail Maxx Trailers LLC 15500 US 271 Talco, TX 75487

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• JHB Group, Inc. 8545 Pyott Rd Lake In The Hills, IL 60156

• Trailer Sales

Mirsberger Sales & Service Inc. 1246 W Main St Hilbert, WI 54129

• Trailer Sales, Trailer Service/Repair

NY-NJ Trailer Supply 1401 Rte 23 Butler, NJ 7405

• Trailer Sales, Trailer Service/Repair

Smouse Trucks, Vans & Trailers, Inc 207 Smouse Rd Mt Pleasant, PA 15666

www.smouse.com

• Trailer Sales

South Texas Tractor 3202 Miori Ln, Ste 200 Victoria, TX 77901

www.southtexastractor.com

• Trailer Service/Repair

Press Releases

Simpson Strong-Tie Releases New Wood-to-Steel Trailer Floor Fastening Solution for OEMs and Truck Bed Manufacturers

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Simpson Strong-Tie, the leader in engineered structural connectors and building solutions, announced the debut of the Simpson Strong-Tie® Quik Drive® PROHSD Wood-to-Steel solution, a faster, more reliable, more ergonomic fastening system designed to boost efficiency and performance for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and truck bed manufacturers as they produce trailer floor and truck bed assemblies.

The Quik Drive PROHSD solution consists of a family of auto-feed screw driving systems and wood-to-steel fasteners. To the existing PROHSD60 and PROHSD75 Wood-to-Steel products and Strong-Drive® TB Wood-to-Steel screws, Simpson Strong-Tie is adding enhanced variations: the PROHSD60M and PROHSD75M tools, and a new highperforming Strong-Drive TF Wood-to-Steel screw.

The Quik Drive PROHSD60M and PROHSD75M tools have been modified with a new nosepiece that provides greater stability when driving the robust Strong-Drive TB and TF Wood-to-Steel fasteners.

The PROHSD60M drives the 1 ¾″ (45mm) and 2 3/8″ (60mm) Strong-Drive TB Wood-to-Steel screws and is an ideal solution for applications where wood is installed over steel up to 1/4″ thick. For heavier-duty applications where steel member thickness is 1/4″ to 15/32”, the PROHSD75M and 3″ (75mm) 6-lobe-drive Strong-Drive TF Wood-to-Steel screws are recommended.

To enhance the performance of these PROHSD solutions, Simpson Strong-Tie provides a variety of extensions to allow for more ergonomic stand-up driving. A new optional Foot Step accessory is being introduced that attaches to the extension and allows for additional pressure to be applied while driving through the steel member.

These load-rated TB and TF screws are designed for performance and productivity, and install 26% faster than traditional methods while eliminating the need to predrill. The screws also have been designed with a self-drilling point and wings for boring through wood, self-tapping threads that securely fasten into steel, and a flat head with nibs that provides pull-through resistance while easily countersinking into wood surfaces.

Combining the Quik Drive PROHSD60M and PROHSD75M auto-feed tools with Strong-Drive TF and TB Wood-toSteel fasteners, these solutions provide truck bed and trailer floor assemblers with the perfect combination of speed and ease. These Quik Drive systems yield a double productivity punch of improved handling and accuracy with significant reduction of user fatigue.

“When it comes to fastening wood to steel, our Quik Drive PROHSD solutions offer builders and manufacturers high quality, high performance and reliability,” says Simpson Strong-Tie product manager Brandon Ward. “Designed for user comfort, speed and ease, these unique solutions eliminate the need for predrilling and improves productivity to help streamline and economize manufacturing processes and strengthen the end product.”

Ideal for any job that requires attaching wood to steel in most any high-paced manufacturing environment, the Quik Drive Wood-to-Steel solution includes:

• PROHSD60M and PROHSD75M tools with a re-designed

Pictured above is the Simpson Strong-Tie® Quik Drive® PROHSD Wood-to-Steel solution. Photo submitted by Simpson Strong-Tie.

nosepiece for greater stability and more accurate driving

• Optional integrated foot step for applying additional pressure when driving through steel

• Heavy-duty, load-rated Strong-Drive TB and TF Wood-to-Steel screws with self-drilling points and self-tapping threads

• Stand-up driving extensions that relieve stress on knees, back and shoulders

• Optional driver motors equipped with Quik Drive adapters are also available

• Download image

• All components are sold separately.

• To learn more about how the versatile and innovative Simpson Strong-Tie Quik Drive Wood-to-Steel solution can make your next job easier, visit strongtie.com/prohsd. ■

About Simpson Strong-Tie

Simpson Strong-Tie is the world leader in structural solutions — products and technology that help people design and build safer, stronger homes, buildings, and communities. As a pioneer in the building industry, we have an unmatched passion for problem solving through skillful engineering and thoughtful innovation. Our structural systems research and rigorous testing enable us to design code-listed, value-engineered solutions for a multitude of applications in wood, steel, and concrete structures. Our dedication to pursuing ever-better construction products and technology and to surrounding our customers with exceptional service and support has been core to our mission since 1956. For more information, visit strongtie.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Felling Trailers Appoints Klimek as Quality Assurance Manager

SAUK CENTRE, Minn. — Felling Trailers Inc., a national leader in industrial and commercial trailers, recently appointed Dan Klimek to the role of Quality Assurance Manager over both production facilities (Sauk Centre and Litchfield, MN). Along with Quality Management, he will oversee weld production for the Litchfield manufacturing facility as the Production Manager. As the Quality Assurance Manager, Dan will continue developing, directing, controlling, and managing the installation and maintenance of the company's quality assurance programs. Felling Trailers, Inc. originally obtained its ISO 9001 Certification for Quality Management in 2017 and continues to maintain certification. Dan and his team of Quality Assurance Inspectors work diligently to ensure that all stages of the build process meet company quality standards to provide a final product that will exceed the customers' expectations. In the role of Litchfield Production Manager, he will work with the production team to implement new processes and technologies to reduce lead time and increase team productivity.

Klimek brings over 30 years of manufacturing, quality control systems, and processes to his position. Before accepting the Quality Assurance and Production Manager positions with Felling Trailers, Dan held a similar collection of roles with Polar Tank Trailers, LLC (Ople, MN) for over a decade. Most recently, he was the General Manager for Polar Tank Trailers’ Minnesota Trailer Operations (Production Manager and Quality Manager) for the last six years. “Dan brings an extensive background in quality control and lean manufacturing. We are excited to have him as part of the Felling Trailers’ team and to see the positive impact he will bring to our production and quality assurance processes,” said Brenda Jennissen, CEO/Co-Owner Felling Trailers. “To be able to add an individual of Dan’s class and expertise is a huge win for Felling Trailers, I look forward to working with him,” said Paul Radjenovich, VP of Operations. “I am glad to be a part of the company in production and quality assurance capacities. I look forward to the journey ahead along with the challenges and successes it will bring,” said Dan. ■

About Felling Trailers, Inc.

Felling Trailers is a family-owned and operated Full Line Trailer Manufacturer located in Central Minnesota. Started in 1974, Felling Trailers, Inc. has grown from a small shop to a factory and office complex that today covers over 349,000 square feet. Felling's pride and differentiation is its customized trailer division. Its engineers

utilize the latest industry-leading design techniques, and its experienced metal craftspeople use cutting-edge technology to turn its customers' conceptual trailer needs into tangible products. Felling has been providing innovative trailer solutions to the transportation industry for over 45 years. Felling Trailers' current capabilities allow them to provide a high-quality product that is distributed across North America and internationally. Felling Trailers, Inc. is an ISO 9001 Certified Quality Management System Company, WBENC-Certified WBE, and an Equal Opportunity Employer.

For more information, contact (800) 245.2809, sales@felling.com, or visit them on the web at www.felling.com. Follow them on Twitter (@FellingTrailers), Facebook (Felling Trailers, Inc.), and Instagram.

Felling Trailers' new Quality Assurance Manager, Dan Klimek. Photo submitted by Felling Trailers.

Austin Hardware & Supply, Inc. Launches Safe Assist Concealed, Cable-less Ramp Door Assist

LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. — SAFE ASSIST is a new product designed by engineers at Austin Hardware and Supply, Inc. that renders heavy trailer ramp doors virtually weightless and eliminates the need for potentially dangerous cables and torsion springs, unlike traditional ramp assists.

When ramp door cables fail, injuries are possible. Safe Assist eliminates the danger and liability of a snapping cable and the weight of the ramp door at the moment of failure. It also reduces the vehicle's downtime while the ramp door is being repaired.

Safe Assist has a standard operating range from just under 300 foot-pounds to 900 foot-pounds of torque, which is equivalent to a 6-foot tall ramp weighing 300 pounds. A maximum of only approximately 30 force pounds is required to lift and lower the ramp at that size. Unlike torsion springs, which make opening and closing ramp doors extremely difficult due to the initial force needed, Safe Assist allows for uniform weight distribution throughout the range of motion. The feel provided by Safe Assist can be compared to the action of opening and closing a laptop computer, which can be stopped at any position throughout the opening/closing range.

Additional hazards eliminated by Safe Assist include the inherent tripping risk created by cables, damage to cargo that may contact the cables, and injuries

to animals, such as horses, caused by scraping against the cables. Horse, automobile, and heavy equipment trailers are just a few of many ramp door applications on which Safe Assist can be used.

Trailer manufacturers and dealers are made safer by no longer having to adjust and wind dangerous cables during assembly.

If the ramp door starts to feel too heavy at any point during the product's life, Safe Assist can be easily adjusted. Safe Assist is 100% concealed within a lightweight yet heavy-duty extruded aluminum casing providing corrosion prevention and great aesthetics.

For more information, please visit info.austinhardware. com/safeassist#-_key_benefits or contact your nearest Austin Hardware location. ■

About Austin Hardware & Supply, Inc.

Austin Hardware & Supply, Inc. is a wholesale distributor of specialty industrial and vehicular hardware. The company has nine locations throughout the U.S. Serving industry since 1960, Austin Hardware provides innovative hardware solutions with an extensive inventory of top-quality parts, shipped quickly, accurately, and at competitive prices, supported by experienced, professional customer service dedicated to each customer's success.

Simpson Strong-Tie Releases 2022 Year-in-Review List Highlighting Best New Products, Innovations, and Building Solutions

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Simpson Strong-Tie, the leader in engineered structural connectors and building solutions, today released its annual Year-in-Review List, highlighting major new product launches, structural engineering solutions, and other industry innovations introduced over the past twelve months.

New Simpson Strong-Tie building solutions in 2022 included product innovations for a variety of construction materials and applications ranging from light-frame and mass timber to asphalt and pavement reinforcement to structural and cold-formed steel — all developed to help engineers, architects, installers, and homeowners design and build safer, stronger residential and commercial structures.

› Home Improvement

Fence Planner Software™: Featuring 3D software, design guides, and an in-app user tutorial, the free web-based design software joins Deck Planner Software™ and Pergola Planner Software™ as a full suite of intuitive tools and resources for designing and building stronger, more beautiful pergolas, dream backyards, and outdoor spaces.

Outdoor Accents® 2" Screw: Ideal as a decorative structural fastener for use with either the Mission Collection® or Avant Collection™ within the Outdoor Accents line, the new 2" structural wood screw can also be used separately to add flair to any outdoor project. With this new addition, the Outdoor Accents structural wood screw is now available in three sizes: 2", 3½", and 5½".

› Building with CLT and Other Mass Timber Products

Mass Timber Connectors and Fasteners: An expanded collection of versatile, high-performance products includes the newly launched ACBH aluminum concealed beam hanger, the LDSS steel spline, a 10 mm screw, a tension strap, and an angle bracket. Backed by a robust inventory and distribution system, along with first-rate service, support, and training, the solutions will enable mass timber projects to be built stronger, faster, and more easily than ever.

› Fasteners and Cordless Driving Systems

Quik Drive® PROHSD Wood-to-Steel Solution: Winner of a 2022 Pro Tool Innovation Award, the PROHSD provides a faster, more reliable, more ergonomic fastening system designed to boost efficiency and performance for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and truck bed manufacturers as they produce trailer floor and truck bed assemblies.

Quik Drive® Cordless PROCCS+: Designed to improve speed, reliability, and user comfort for a wide variety of subflooring, underlayment, and decking applications, the PROCCS+ MultiPurpose Combo System is a lightweight, cordless version of the popular Quik Drive auto-feed screw driving system for collated fasteners, designed to help increase speed while eliminating tripping and electrical shock hazards on the jobsite.

› Asphalt Pavement Reinforcement Technologies

New Simpson Strong-Tie building solutions in 2022 included product innovations for a variety of construction materials and applications. Photo submitted by Simpson Strong-Tie.

Carbophalt™ and Glasphalt™ Reinforcement Grids: Proven to limit water penetration and crack reflection in road surfaces caused by heavy traffic, weather, and structural fatigue, the new asphalt reinforcement grids increase the service life of roadbeds and eliminate the need for spot interventions like crack bridging and road patching, significantly improving the sustainability and longevity of asphalt-paved road surfaces in North America.

› Systems for Structural Steel

Edge-Tie™ Cladding to Steel System: Designed to replace field-welded bent plate pour stops with a high-strength, straight-edge, channeled steel beam that accepts bolted connections to facilitate easy cladding installations without the need for welding, the Edge-Tie system provides building owners and contractors with an innovative, easy-to-install cladding connection to reduce overall construction time and costs while providing built-in resiliency and fast repair after natural disasters.

› Cold-Formed Steel Construction

Strong-Drive® PPHD Sheathing-to-CFS Screw: Designed as an update to the existing PPSD Sheathing-to-CFS screw, the PPHD features a larger #5 pilot point with a longer flute and

comes in popular #8 sizes. A multipurpose, self-drilling, pilot-point screw suitable for attaching sheathing, drywall, or subflooring to cold-formed steel framing, the PPHD has buttress threads and a new dog-eared point for improved drilling performance through sheathing and metal.

For more information on Simpson Strong-Tie building solutions, including product photography as well as news releases detailing 2022 contributions to charitable causes and industry growth, visit news.strongtie.com. ■

About Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc.

Simpson Strong-Tie is the world leader in structural solutions — products and technology that help people design and build safer, stronger homes, buildings, and communities. As a pioneer in the building industry, we have an unmatched passion for problem solving through skillful engineering and thoughtful innovation. Our structural systems research and rigorous testing enable us to design code-listed, value-engineered solutions for a multitude of applications in wood, steel, and concrete structures. Our dedication to pursuing ever-better construction products and technology and to surrounding our customers with exceptional service and support has been core to our mission since 1956. For more information, visit strongtie. com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Pacific Rim International, LLC / Pacific Trailer Products, Inc Releases New Website

VANCOUVER, Wash. — Pacific Rim International, LLC/ Pacific Trailer Products, Inc is pleased to announce the release of a new website: ramtrailerproducts.com.

This new site includes information, features and benefits, etc covering our RAM trailer jacks, RAM trailer couplers, our RAM-Premium hydraulic products as well as accessory items. As you review the site and have any questions, feel free to reach out to us through the website or email us at info@ramtrailerproducts.com.

■

About Pacific Rim International, LLC/ Pacific Trailer Products

Pacific Rim International, LLC / Pacific Trailer Products, Inc markets products manufactured at our family owned facilities in Ningbo, China.

We are a manufacturer that specializes in a large variety

of high precision shafts, gears, auto parts as well as trailer jacks, trailer couplers and hydraulic trailer components.

We started in 1992 manufacturing gears and shafts. In 2004 we began manufacturing trailer jacks and couplers. In recent years we have expanded into trailer hydraulic products. The majority of our various products are sold in the US, Canada, Europe and multinational corporations within China.

We offer value priced – high quality products and brand these products under RAM and RAM – Premium Series.

We bring these products direct from our facilities and combine them with fully insured United States companies. This allows our customers access to value-cost manufacturing that is backed by US companies. We stock products at four US warehouse locations or we can deliver mixed products in container loads direct to a customer’s location.

Pacific Rim International, LLC/ Pacific Trailer Products, Inc launched a new website, ramtrailerproducts.com.

Photo is a screen grab of ramtrailerproducts.com.

Hauling Solution for Wide Undercarriage Construction Equipment, Felling's LP HD Tags

SAUK CENTRE, Minn. — Felling Trailers, Inc. adds the Low Pro Heavy Duty (LP HD) models to its deck-over tag line. Wideset heavy construction equipment like mid-size crawler excavators and dozers can be challenging for any seasoned equipment hauler. The equipment is typically oversized, particularly heavy, and unique in shape (length, height, and width). The LP HD has been designed and engineered for transporting heavy (near 50-60K load capacities) wideset loads, like excavators, dozers, and other construction equipment. "As equipment continues to get bigger and wider, how weight is distributed can make or break a trailer. Our LP HD series tag has been designed and engineered to accommodate equipment that has an 8’-8.5’ wide track gauge (center to center of tracks), which will concentrate the machines weight directly over the side rails, typically 10’+ overall width machines (some examples: Deere 200/210, CAT 320/323, Komatsu PC210). This has been accomplished along with incorporating the standard features an operator wants and needs," said Felling's Sales Manager Nathan Uphus. The LP HD series currently consists of two models; the FT-50-3 LP HD triple axle 25-ton and the FT-60-4 LP HD quad axle 30ton (4 axle legality varies by state/providence). The available deck lengths for the triple axle are 24’, 26’, 28’, and 30’. The available deck lengths for the quad-axle are 28’, 30’, and 32’.

The Low Pro Heavy Duty (LP HD) series is constructed with a 10” structural channel full-length side rail (flanges out), Jr. I-Beam crossmembers 12” on center pierced through the heavy-duty, engineered, and fabricated 16” tall mainframe beams, and is standard with 1-3/8" apitong decking. The LP HD design was driven by the needs of wide-set heavy loads, with the flange-out side rail construction it allows for optional outriggers to provide additional support and load distribution. Apitong decking is an extremely durable wood, making it ideal for construction equipment applications. The LP HDs are standard with a 6’ long double incline

beavertail providing 12-degree and 6-degree load angles, respectively. The double incline feature eliminates the sharp break-over point, which substantially helps load/unload tracked equipment safely. The 6' double incline beavertail is constructed with 5" x 3" self-cleaning angles. The 6' x 20" ramps, like the beavertail, are built with a 5" x 3" self-cleaning angle, spring-assist construction, or optional air ramp configurations depending on the equipment/operator's needs.

Low Pro Heavy Duty Standard Specifications (triple & quad axle)

• 16” tall, fabricated Grade 80 main frame beams (stepped down in trunnion area)

• .5” thick main frame beam flange material

• 6” high tensile Jr I-beams Grade 80, spaced 12” on center

• 10” channel side rail (full length) rails turned out

• Standard 1 3/8” thick apitong decking (white oak optional)

• Standard 1” bent D-Rings – 16 on Triple, 20 on quad axle

• 235/75R17.5 J Tires and 25K heavy duty 3 leaf spring suspension

• 6’ Double incline beavertail with 6’ x 20” spring assist ramps (self-cleaning or wood inlaid)

• Optional 38” wide x 7’ long air powered ramps (self-cleaning or wood inlaid) ■

Continued on Page 88

Shown above: FT-60-4 LP HD with optional 7’ x 38” air ramps and air ride 1st axle. Photo submitted by Felling Trailers.

About Felling Trailers, Inc.

Felling Trailers is a family-owned and operated Full Line Trailer Manufacturer located in Central Minnesota. Started in 1974, Felling Trailers, Inc. has grown from a small shop to a factory and office complex that today covers over 349,000 square feet. Felling's pride and differentiation is its customized trailer division. Its engineers utilize the latest Industry-leading design techniques, and its experienced metal craftspeople use cutting-edge technology to turn its customers' conceptual trailer needs into tangible products. Felling has been providing

innovative trailer solutions to the transportation industry for over 45 years. Felling Trailers' current capabilities allow them to provide a high-quality product that is distributed across North America and internationally. Felling Trailers, Inc. is an ISO 9001 Certified Quality Management System Company, WBENC-Certified WBE, and an Equal Opportunity Employer.

For more information, contact 1.800.245.2809, sales@ felling.com, or visit them on the web at www.felling.com. You can also follow them on Twitter (@FellingTrailers), Facebook (Felling Trailers, Inc.), and Instagram.

TecNiq Inc. Announces New Heavy-Duty Scene Light

TecNiq Develops Two Versions of All New D18, Heavy-Duty Scene Light

GALESBURG, Mich. — TecNiq Inc. announces the release of their newest offering for scene/task lighting needs for trailers and more. The All New, D18 Heavy-Duty Scene Light has been designed to reduce costs for manufacturers seeking a bright, consistently performing task light with a completely sealed circuit board for water resistant functionality. Each circuit board is printed on highquality FR-4 boards and utilize high end LEDs giving users over 50,000 hours of reliable performance.

The D18 features an aluminum body with 297 high intensity LEDs and is available in either the standard 5000 lumen output model, or the premium 8000 lumen version. The D18 is approximately 24” wide, 3.5” in height, and has a depth of 1.6”. The D18 runs on a voltage range from 9-14V DC and uses 3.4A (standard) or 5.7A (premium) at 12V of power. The current design comes with a 9” pigtail connector, and mounts with (4) #10 screws.

The D18 also provides users with a 30o tilt for increased ground illumination and is perfect for inside or outside of trailers, work trucks and more where increased lighting is needed. The new lamp features TecNiq’s industry leading Lifetime Warranty and is ready to order today.

With 20 years of designing LED lamps in various configurations, TecNiq’s thermal, optical, and electronics technologies position TecNiq to provide world class solutions. TecNiq’s new heavy-duty scene light is designed to provide increased visibility in work areas, walk ways around vehicles, and more. At 5000 or 8000 lumens per lamp, these lights create valuable illumination just where you need it.

For more information regarding the new D18 from TecNiq, or any of their industry leading trailer, work truck, transit,

emergency, or marine LED solutions contact a Business Development Representative, or visit www.TecNiqInc.com.

TecNiq Inc. is an engineer owned & operated company with a strong commitment to excellence. We begin with a simple belief in offering the greatest value, the highest quality lighting solutions, and great customer care. We use the highest quality LEDs, materials, and offer market leading technologically advanced lighting solutions. From emergency response vehicles, fleet vehicles, construction trailers, boats, heavy or light duty equipment, you can expect your lights to work every time. Our goal is to exceed your product quality expectations. We feel so strongly about our commitment to quality, that we back every one of our products with a no-nonsense Lifetime Warranty.

D18 Features:

• Lamp output of 5000 (standard) or 8000 (premium) lumens

• Water resistant design

• Black Heavy Duty Aluminum extruded body with 30o tilt for increased ground illumination

• TecNiq Lifetime Warranty ■

About TecNiq

TecNiq Inc is an engineer owned and operated company with a strong commitment to excellence.

We begin with a simple belief of offering the greatest value, the highest quality lighting solutions, and great customer care.

This is the commitment that drives every aspect of our business.

The all new, D18 Heavy-Duty Scene Light from TecNiq is pictured above. Photo submitted by TecNiq.