Tracks: September/October 2023

STAFF

Tracks Editor

Samantha Darling LaCount • Samantha.Darling@natm.com

Executive Director

Alex Stowe • Alex.Stowe@natm.com

Assistant Director

Meghan Ryan • Meghan.Ryan@natm.com

Marketing Director

Savana Morrison • Savana.Morrison@natm.com

Technical Director

Scott Crimmins • Scott.Crimmins@natm.com

Education Director Ginger Baker-Sanhueza • Ginger.BakerSanhueza@natm.com

Events Director

Alieen Valido • Aileen.Valido@natm.com

Quality Director

Abby Wiebler • Abby.Wiebler@natm.com

Compliance Manager

Sean Sloan • Sean.Sloan@natm.com

Member Outreach Specialist

Scott Simons • Scott.Simons@natm.com

Dealer Programming Specialist

Andrea Boetticher • Andrea.Boetticher@natm.com

Compliance Consultant

Aaron Langer • Aaron.Langer@natm.com

Membership & Events Coordinator

Catie Rutkowski • Catie.Rutkowski@natm.com

Marketing Coordinator

Mary Klaire Perez • Mary.KlairePerez@natm.com

Bookkeeper

Sherry Palmeroni • Sherry.Palmeroni@natm.com

OFFICERS

President

Marco Garcia • U-Haul International, Inc.

Vice President

Andy Derr • M.H. Eby, Inc.

Treasurer Nathan Uphus • Felling Trailers

Associate Member Representative John Kerr • Marsh & McLennan

Past President Marty Lorick • Triple Crown 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.

Steve Courreges • Taskmaster Components

About this publication: Tracks Volume 36, Issue 5 September/October 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.

President’s Report

By Marco Garcia, U-Haul International, Inc.

Summer has come to a close and so has the busiest season for trailer manufacturers and trailer users alike. We made it through!

While that is behind us for this year, the work of the Association is never done. The mission of NATM is to “promote trailer safety and the success of the trailer manufacturing industry through education and advocacy,” and reaching out to trailer dealers with a Dealer Affiliate Program is a natural next step in the progression of the Association’s efforts to improve the safety of the nation’s roadways. Providing education to consumers can be difficult and time-consuming, especially with an already demanding to-do list. It can be difficult for a trailer to stand out against the competition, as uneducated consumers tend to make decisions based on price alone. Consumers erroneously assume that all trailers are manufactured in accordance with the law and don’t understand that getting the best deal can sometimes come at a higher cost when they purchase a trailer that is not compliant.

Seatbelts are mandatory in cars, and the same applies to safety chains and conspicuity tape on trailers. The difference lies in the historically limited enforcement of safety requirements in the trailer industry compared to the more regulated automotive industry. However, the trailer industry is now under increased scrutiny, with authorities actively monitoring compliance. The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA) has imposed record fines, and the industry will remain a focus for the foreseeable future. Department of Transportation officials are inspecting trailers regularly on the highways, and drivers can receive tickets for non-compliance or improper usage.

In an effort to better educate the industry, NATM's Trailer Safety Week has continued to advocate for education of end users about best trailering practices. Our 2023 Trailer Safety Week this summer was a huge success in furthering NATM’s efforts to educate end-users of how to safely tow a trailer. Advocating for the interests of the light- and medium-duty trailer industry in Washington is another ongoing endeavor of the Association. The upcoming Regulatory Roundup & Capitol Hill Visits, scheduled for Sept. 19-20, are rapidly approaching.

NATM Staff and Members will be personally visiting representatives, senators and their staffers to present industry interests and concerns while also fostering positive relationships with those involved in regulating the industry. One key factor the 2024 visits will focus on is the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking by NHTSA on side underride guards. While this proposed ruling was originally proposed to impact trailers over 26,000 GVWR, NATM is working to inform lawmakers that our Association’s medium-duty

trailers should not be included in the rule making.

I look forward to reporting back in future issues on the trip’s successes and all the wonderful work the Association is continuing to do for this membership base.

The Association is only successful thanks to the hardworking trailer manufacturers, suppliers, and dealers that are committed to safety and compliance. If you are interested in becoming more involved or interested in learning more about becoming a member, do not hesitate to contact the Association at NATMHQ@natm.com or by calling (785) 272-4433. ■

Marco Garcia

Headquarters REPORT

By Alex Stowe, NATM Executive Director

Fall is finally approaching at NATM HQ, but regardless of the cooler temperatures, staff are still working incredibly hard to close out another great year for the Association. Registration for NATM’s 2024 Convention & Trade Show is open for all member types. Under the bright lights of Las Vegas, the 2024 show promises to be another recordbreaking year in this hub of entertainment. For industry suppliers and trailer manufacturers looking to maximize their exposure, there are still booths and sponsorship opportunities available. To learn more, contact Aileen. Valido@natm.com or visit www.NATM.com/Convention.

NATM staff also are continuing the work to institute our 20232026 Strategic Plan. Of note – NATM is hard at work to get state Departments of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to participate in and provide funding for Trailer Safety Week content. As Advocacy & Partnerships are a core goal of our 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, this is an enormous step for the Association, and I am lucky to work with such a great staff to see these efforts come to fruition. Further, with relation to our goal of education, staff are creating and generating content for the NATM Academy. The NATM Academy is an online training program for the light- and medium-duty trailer industry. The program will be offered on-demand, allowing students to learn when it's most convenient for them. The Academy has been established to support the growing workforce training needs of the industry. Finally, to push towards a more cohesive industry, another core goal, staff are looking for new and improved ways to provide benefits to all member types. It is pivotal to the success of the light- and medium-duty trailer industry that all members feel there is value in their membership and that they are aware of all benefits offered to their member type.

While NATM continues to grow and expand its support of members, we are still driven today by our mission – to improve trailer safety and the success of the trailer manufacturing industry through education and advocacy. Trailer safety may start with manufacturing, and through NATM’s Compliance Verification Program, industry members verify they have the processes in place to meet applicable federal regulations. However, a safe trailer can still be used in incredibly unsafe ways. It takes the entire industry working together to

improve trailer safety with end-users. We’re proud to have just celebrated our 6th annual Trailer Safety Week event. With over 540 allies educating end-users and customers about sage trailering practices, the momentum continues to grow. NATM worked with industry members, peer organizations, state Departments of Transportation, NHTSA, and state governors to promote this vital highway safety initiative. The work continues as we look forward to 2024.

NATM’s annual Regulatory Roundup & Capitol Hill Visits are taking place Sept. 19-20, in Washington. This is a great opportunity to bring together members from across the Association to meet with Congress and other groups whose guidance impacts our membership at large. After discussions with our Government Affairs Committee and Board of Directors, NATM is focusing in on the importance of explaining who NATM is, what we do, and how our membership contributes to the economy broadly and employment numbers for each state our members represent. We also are stressing the importance of Congress to review the proposed new regulation relating to side underride guards. This proposed regulation would have a drastic impact on our industry and lacks evidence demonstrating light- and medium-duty trailers are involved in side underride collisions that the proposed standard intends to prevent. NATM will also be discussing the importance of the Trailer Safety Act with members of Congress and pushing to ensure we can get additional funding for Trailer Safety Week programming.

The industry continues to overcome challenges and deliver, even as demand has fallen off of where it was in 2021 and 2022. NATM appreciates your continued support and participation in our programming, as a member-based not-for-profit Association, we exist solely to support our membership. While members focus on the day-to-day needs of their businesses, NATM continues to achieve goals set by the strategic plan, advocate for your needs, and look for ways to make your job just a little easier. If there is anything that NATM can do to better serve you, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Alex Stowe NATM Executive Director

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House Funding Bill Cuts Safety Programs, Encourages Collaboration

By Brody Garland, K&L Gates

In July 2023, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) released the text of their federal funding bill for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24). In line with the Republican majority’s focus on reduced federal spending, the draft bill proposed a discretionary total of $21.6 billion for programs within the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), which represents $7.2 billion below spending levels enacted in the previous fiscal year.

The allocation provides $891.3 million for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), as well as $1.3 billion for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to fund critical highway safety programs.

With the release of each year’s federal funding bills, the Committee also provides bill report language suggesting specific areas of interest that the agencies should be addressing when making their spending priorities for the year. This year, in addition to discussions of automatic emergency braking, autonomous vehicle technology, and crashworthiness research, the Committee encouraged NHTSA to work in collaboration with individual states and safety-focused non-profit organizations to educate consumers on safe usage of light- and medium-duty trailers.

fiscal year in each of its 12 spending accounts.

In the Senate, the THUD Appropriations Subcommittee spending bill provides some $28.4 billion in funding for the Department of Transportation for FY24, setting a clear contrast with the House in terms of overall funding levels and programmatic priorities.

The Senate’s allocation provides for $1.08 billion for FMCSA’s efforts to promote the safe operation of commercial motor vehicles, as well as nearly $1.56 billion for NHTSA’s highway traffic safety initiatives.

Similarly to the House’s FY24 spending bill, the Senate also included report language highlighting the importance of trailer safety programs, and encouraging NHTSA to work with the states to fund efforts that educate dealers and end users of light- and medium-duty trailers on safety protocols.

The Committee report language showcases the importance of trailer safety initiatives and encourages federal agencies to work within their current authority to fund programs that will prioritize advocacy of these critical safety programs.

Regular congressional procedure dictates that both chambers (the House and the Senate) will produce an appropriations bill for the upcoming

With both funding bills released and the priorities of each chamber set, discussions on how to reconcile the differences in the two bills will begin, culminating in year-end negotiations on all 12 FY24 appropriations bills. Regardless of the outcome of the spending levels for NHTSA at the end of the discussions, the report language urging agencies to work on trailer safety funding will remain (absent any language specifically removing it from the final THUD bill).

The end result will be a codified reminder to NHTSA and other safety authorities that educating consumers on best practices for the safe operation of light- and medium-duty trailers on the nation’s roadways is a real priority, and that collaboration with safety organizations is critical. ■

Shaping the Future of Trailers: Show Off Your New Components at 2024 Display

By Aileen Valido, NATM Events Director

Innovation knows no bounds, and in the world of trailers, it's the components that drive the industry forward. For the 2024 Convention & Trade Show, the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) will work to highlight the newest and hottest in the light- and mediumduty industry in its New Product Display showcase. This showcase offers NATM Trade Show exhibitors an additional opportunity to get in front of prospective customers outside of the confines of their booth space.

Have a new product that will improve trailer safety or manufacturing and production? Have an exciting component to share with prospective customers? A new service that will save trailer manufacturers thousands? For just $500 a product, you’ll have the opportunity to introduce your new products to key industry leaders at the 2024 show in Las Vegas.

Recognition

Not only will the new product showcase highlight your cutting-edge components, your peers and customers will be able to participate in democracy on the show floor by voting for awards in multiple categories. From advanced suspension systems and smart braking technologies to energy-efficient lighting and state-of-the-art cargo securing mechanisms, components are the unsung heroes that elevate the trailer experience and the recognition and awards gained from participation in this showcase will assist in raising market awareness of your innovative or new product.

During the course of the NATM Convention & Trade Show, attendees will have the chance to vote on their favorite products on the Convention Mobile App. Once the voting process closes, the winners are presented with awards for the inaugural event. The winning awards will be announced at the New Products Display Awards on Thursday, February 15 at 10:00 am. Winners will also be featured in NATM’S Tracks Magazine and will have the opportunity to be considered for a product special feature article.

Criteria and Display

The New Product Display is only open to vendor exhibitors at the 2024 Convention & Trade Show and the submission must be a physical product that can be on display at the event. The product release date must be any time after January 1, 2021.

Participating exhibitors must bring their product to the show floor on Tuesday, February 13, between 1:00 - 4:00 pm or ship the product to the warehouse addressed to NATM Show Management. The deadline to submit your product application is December 8, 2023. Scan the QR Code for the online application and to find the additional requirements to participate. Please note that NATM will be unable to accept late or onsite submissions.

Raffle

Innovation is best experienced firsthand, which is why NATM is excited to offer the New Product Display showcase raffle, an exceptional opportunity for trailer manufacturer and dealer attendees to engage with the showcased products in a unique way. By participating in the raffle, attendees get a chance not only to witness the innovation of your products, but to even take it home! The raffle will take place at 11 am on Thursday, February 15. Exhibitors in the New Product Display are able to choose to participate in the raffle during the application process as it is optional to participate.

Participation in the New Product Display is $500 per product. As NATM is the only 501(c)(6) trade organization in the light- and medium-duty trailer industry, this participation fee directly supports the not-for-profit programming and funding that has a positive and lasting impact on trailer safety nationwide.

When your company contributes to NATM through exhibiting, sponsorships, and advertising, you are directly supporting initiatives that empower and improve the lightand medium- duty trailer industry at all key stakeholder levels including end-users, suppliers, trailer manufacturers, dealers, law enforcement and traffic safety organizations. From educational outreach on trailer maintenance and safe towing practices to end-users, to improving access to reputable resources for trailer manufacturers, your involvement creates a multiplier effect of positive impact by supporting the only not-for-profit trade organization dedicated to improving light- and medium-duty trailer safety.

For more information about the developing schedule, go to Page 19.

If you have any questions about the 2024 NATM Convention & Trade Show New Product Display, contact Aileen Valido at Aileen.Valido@natm.com or call (785) 272-4433. ■

Destination Las Vegas: Unite with Trailer Industry at Convention

By Meghan Ryan, NATM Assistant Director

The National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) is looking forward to returning to the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa in Las Vegas, Feb. 13-15, 2024. The Convention & Trade Show hosted in Fort Worth in February 2023 saw a record-breaking number of trailer manufacturers in attendance, and NATM is looking forward to upping the ante in Las Vegas!

Registration for the 2024 NATM Convention & Trade Show opened May 17, 2023. To register to attend, simply scan the QR Code.

Booth Selection

The NATM member rate for a 10’ x 10’ booth is $1,785. Booth spaces for non-members are $3,570. Trade Show space opened to 2023 sponsors starting May 17, and as of Sept. 5 all companies are now eligible to purchase booths. For more information about the booth selection process, turn to Page 18.

Sponsorships

As always, the NATM Convention & Trade Show would not be possible without the support of its generous sponsors. There are sponsorship opportunities available from $250 to $50,000 to fit any budget. Being a sponsor allows you to select your booth before previous exhibitors and the general membership, and provides a wide range of exposure, both electronically on NATM’s website and mobile app and in print on signage and branded events. This creates name recognition which helps drive customers to your booth. For more information about how sponsorships support NATM as a not-for-profit, turn to Page 16.

New Attendee Promotion

Are you a new member trailer manufacturer? Are you a trailer manufacturer whose company has not attended in the last five years? Are you a Dealer Affiliate? You

may qualify for NATM’s New Attendee Promotion!

The New Attendee Promotion includes two complimentary full registrations, two spouse/partner registrations, and up to two complimentary hotel room nights per company at the host hotel for the Convention. Those interested in participating should contact NATM Membership & Events Coordinator Catie Rutkowski at Catie. Rutkowski@natm.com soon. Complimentary hotel rooms are provided on a first come, first served basis and will go fast. Deadline for the New Member Promotion is Dec. 29, 2023.

To sign up for NATM Convention & Trade Show emails, visit www.NATM.com/convention.

Hotel Information

NATM is thrilled to be once again returning to The South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa! The discounted NATM rate for the South Point Hotel is $80 per night including resort fees (Feb. 12-16) and $135 per night including resort fees (Feb. 16-17). Located in the heart of the Las Vegas valley, the South Point provides dual views of the surrounding valley and the serenity of the mountains that border it. Hotel accommodations can be made by visiting www.NATM.com or calling (866) 791-7627 and mentioning the NATM room block. For more information about the host hotel, turn to Page 14.

Please remember, the only way to guarantee a room at the special NATM rate is to book directly from the NATM website. Please note, NATM has not authorized any group hotel room services to call you or to solicit your business! These third parties also use the NATM logo in their communications, so please ensure to book with those with emails ending in @natm.com.

Questions about the show sponsorship opportunities or exhibit space? Contact Events Director Contact Aileen Valido at Aileen.Valido@natm.com or call (785) 272-4433. ■

South Point Hotel Offers Unbeatable Value as Host Hotel for 2024 Convention

By Meghan Ryan, NATM Assistant Director

The National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) is returning to The South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa, and the room block reservation link is now live! The discounted NATM rate for the South Point Hotel is $80 per night including resort fees (Feb. 12-16) and $135 per night including resort fees (Feb. 16-17). Located in the heart of the Las Vegas valley, the South Point provides dual views of the surrounding valley and the serenity of the mountains that border it. Hotel accommodations can be made by visiting www.NATM.com or calling (866) 791-7627 and mentioning the NATM room block.

NOTE: Rooms are unavailable in NATM’s room block before Feb. 12, 2024. Contact the South Point directly for questions regarding booking a room outside of the block at (702) 797-8901.

Standard rooms measure among the largest in town and boast all the amenities expected from a first-class Las Vegas property including complimentary Wi-Fi, coffee makers, safes, plush sleeper beds, and plasma televisions. Eleven dining options are offered on site ranging from 24/7 room service to a traditional deli, 24-hour coffee shop, fine-dining steak house, and Italian, Mexican, Sushi, buffet, and gourmet restaurants. Spend time by the sprawling lagoon style pool, enjoy a 16-screen movie theater, 64-lane bowling center, spa and fitness center, and casino complete with the full spectrum of Las Vegas attractions.

Planning to stay in Vegas following the NATM Convention? Spend some extra time with your valentine while taking advantage of the affordable NATM room rates at the South

Point! Enjoy all that Vegas has to offer over the weekend!

Please remember, the only way to guarantee a room at the special NATM rate is to book directly from the NATM website. Please note, NATM has not authorized any group hotel room services to call you or to solicit your business! These third parties also use the NATM logo in their communications, so please ensure to book with those with emails ending in @natm.com. ■

The South Point Hotel in Las Vegas offers several dining options. Photo provided by South Point Hotel.

The South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa will serve as the host hotel for the 2024 Convention & Trade Show. Photo provided by The South Point Hotel.

Supporting a Greater Cause: Booth Sales, Sponsorships Fuel Growth for NATM as Not-for-Profit 501(c)(6)

By Meghan Ryan, NATM Assistant Director

As a not-for-profit 501(c)(6), the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) stands firmly in its commitment to advancing the light- and medium-duty trailer industry through educational and compliance efforts across the nation. At the heart of NATM’s programming and benefits lies the cornerstone of the Association’s funding: the annual NATM Convention & Trade Show.

The NATM Convention & Trade Show has evolved into an unparalleled showcase that unites trailer manufacturers, trailer dealers, suppliers, service providers, OEM automotive manufacturers, industry leaders, and key stakeholders from across the nation and abroad. The proceeds generated from the NATM Convention directly contribute to NATM’s robust portfolio of programming and initiatives to improve trailer safety at multiple levels. These include the NATM Compliance Verification Program, the newly launching NATM Academy, Trailer Safety Week, publications and educational programming for our members.

NATM vigorously advocates for the interests of its members on legislative and regulatory matters at multiple levels. The Association saw great success in federal recognition of Trailer Safety Week this year and the passing of doubles towaway legislation previously. The annual Regulatory Roundup & Capitol Hill Visits serve as essential platforms, not only to raise awareness about pertinent industry issues but also to bolster the Association's advocacy efforts. The funds generated from sponsorships, booth sales, and registration at convention directly support NATM's endeavors in lobbying for policies that protect the interests of its membership. The support NATM members provide through sponsorship participation is directly funneled back to investing in the needs of member companies.

The money generated from the annual Convention & Trade Show is used to improve trailer safety across the nation, and it is thanks to the support of sponsors that NATM is able to offset costs for the Association, attendees, and ultimately the industry at large. Not only does sponsoring provide excellent brand exposure and visibility within the light- and medium-duty trailer manufacturing realm, it also demonstrates your commitment to the industry. If you are looking to reach the decision makers in the industry, this is the event to make a splash!

Sponsorships are still available for the 2024 NATM Convention & Trade Show. The success of the NATM Convention is directly tied to the support of its generous sponsors. There are marketing and general sponsorship opportunities available

from $250 to $50,000 to fit any budget and strategy, including networking receptions, the Topgolf Tee-Off event, Trade Show lounges, and more! Being a sponsor allows your company early access to booth selection for the 2025 show and provides a wide range of exposure, both electronically on NATM’s website and mobile app, and repeatedly printed in Tracks magazine. This name recognition will help drive customers to your booth and provide unique opportunities for your team to make meaningful connections with attendees. Check out a few of NATM’s most popular sponsorship opportunities left available:

Ribbon Wall — $5,000 — ATTENDEE FAVORITE!

› Provide attendees with a little flare on their name badges with a sponsored ribbon wall near registration. From NATM credentials such as committee work and company anniversaries to fun characteristics, attendees are sure to flaunt their ribbons with pride. Sponsors may provide ribbons of their choosing to be included on the wall pending NATM approval.

Hotel Keycard — $9,500

› This sponsorship opportunity will go fast! Don’t delay, have your company’s logo on NATM Convention & Trade Show attendee’s room keycards.

Hole-In-One Competition Sponsor — $5,500

› Sponsor 200 shots, one for each attendee, to attempt to win $10,000 cash (not yours of course!) with a holein-one competition. A sponsor sign and dedicated Topgolf bay will be supplied for the competition.

NATM will work with you to find the sponsorship opportunity that best fits your company’s goals. You can find the full 2024 Sponsorship Brochure at www.natm.com/sponsor.

For all Trade Show or sponsorship questions, please contact NATM Events Director Aileen Valido for more information by calling (785) 272-4433 or Aileen.Valido@natm.com. NATM looks forward to seeing you in Las Vegas! ■

Booth Selection Process for the 2024 Trade Show

By Meghan Ryan, NATM Assistant Director

The National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) is again using Map Your Show’s online booth sales software for the NATM Convention & Trade Show at the South Point Hotel Casino & Spa in Las Vegas, Feb. 13-15, 2024. This program allows real-time booth selection and significant time savings for exhibitors.

The NATM Convention Committee updated the booth costs for 2024 at the end of March. The cost for NATM Members for a 10’x 10’ booth is $1,785. Booth spaces for non-members of NATM are $3,570. The booth cost includes two complimentary booth worker registrations, carpeting of the booth, a 6-foot table, two chairs, a wastebasket, and new for 2024 — complimentary Wi-Fi for exhibitors.

The opportunity to select exhibitor space at the 2024 trade show will be made available to suppliers and service providers in the following phases:

› Phase 1: 2023 sponsors chose their booths first in the order of their sponsorship levels during the following dates:

› $30,000 and higher –May 17-21

› $10,000 – $29,999 –May 22-30

› $7,500 – $9,999 –May 31-June 5

› $5,500 – $7,499 –June 6-11

› $2,500 – $5,499 – June 12-18

› $1,000 – $2,499 – June 19-25

› $250 – $999 – June 26-July 4

› Phase 2: 2023 non-sponsor exhibitors selected their booths July 5 – Aug 7, 2023

› Phase 3: The general membership is able to choose booth space as of Aug. 8, 2023

› Phase 4: Non-members are allowed to choose booth space as of Sept. 5, 2023

On the day your booth selection window opens, you will receive an email from NATM notifying you that the booth sales application is now available online for your company. The email contains a unique code that when entered, pre-populates the online booth sales application. Once logged in, exhibitors can view the 2024 Trade Show floor plan and select the desired booth(s).

During the completion of the online application, exhibitors pay for their booth(s) with a credit card. Once NATM approves the application, an email containing login credentials to the exhibitor dashboard is sent. The dashboard allows exhibitors to update their company profile and contact information and view other important information relevant to the upcoming show.

As always, the sign-up for booth space is first come, first served. You can sign up at any time after your group’s window begins. If you miss the window for your group, the privilege of choosing during your group’s time is lost. Be sure to mark your calendar to remember to sign up as soon as you receive your email from NATM!

If you have any questions regarding how to book your exhibit space at the 2024 NATM Convention & Trade Show, contact NATM Events Director Aileen Valido at Aileen.Valido@natm.com or (785) 272-4433. ■

Members mingle at the 2023 Convention & Trade Show in Fort Worth, Texas. Photo by Samantha Darling LaCount.

2024 NATM Convention & Trade Show Developing Schedule

South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa, Las Vegas

Monday, February 12

4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.

South Point Hotel Entrance

Tee-Off Convention Topgolf Check-In

6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Tee-Off Convention Topgolf

Tuesday, February 13

8:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Registration

9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Room: TBD

Workshop Session 1: Government Affairs Update

9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Room: TBD

Technical Forum Session 1: A Comparison of Cargo Trailer Assembly Methods

11:15 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Room: TBD

Awards Lunch & Keynote Speaker

Noon – 6:00 p.m.

Exhibit Hall

Exhibitor Move In

2:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Room: TBD

Workshop Session 2: Beyond

Compliance: Turbocharge Your Sales with the NATM Decal Advantage

2:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Room: TBD

Technical Forum Session 2:

Welding and Cutting Automation

3:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Room: TBD

NATM PAC Reception**

4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Room: TBD

Newcomer Orientation & Reception

6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Room: TBD

President’s Reception

Wednesday, February 14

7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Registration

7:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Exhibit Hall

Exhibitor Move In

8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Room: TBD

Workshop Session 3: HR Insights

Unveiled: Empowering Your Workforce

8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Room: TBD

Technical Forum Session 3: The Power of Innovation: Powder Coating and Towing Technologies Unveiled

9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Coffee Break

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Room: TBD

Workshop Session 4: Seeing The Forest For The Trees: Investing For The Future

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 am

Room: TBD

Technical Forum Session 4: VIN Calculations Made Easy

11:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Exhibit Hall

Trade Show Open

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Exhibit Hall

Lunch with Exhibitors

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Exhibit Hall

Trade Show Reception

Thursday, February 15

9:00 a.m. – Noon

Registration

9:00 a.m. – Noon

Exhibit Hall

Trade Show Open

10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Exhibit Hall

New Product Display Awards

11:00 a.m.

Exhibit Hall

New Product Display Raffle

Noon – 5:00 p.m.

Exhibit Hall

Exhibitor Move Out

**The PAC Reception may only be attended by NATM's "Restricted Class," which includes certain NATM employees, individual and other noncorporate NATM Members, and certain employees of corporate members with pre-approval.

2024 Convention & Trade Show Sponsors

Act Fast: 90% of Booths Filled for 2024 NATM Trade Show

By Meghan Ryan, NATM Assistant Director

The enthusiasm gathering for the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers’ (NATM) 2024 Convention & Trade Show in Las Vegas, Feb. 13-15, 2024, has been unprecedented, with industry players eager to connect, showcase innovations on the Trade Show floor, and network. The response has been so overwhelming that the Trade Show floor is already 90% sold out six months in advance! This demand highlights the significance of this event in the light- and medium-duty trailer industry and underscores the value of participating as an exhibitor to showcase components, parts, and services to trailer manufacturers.

The NATM Convention Committee determined the booth prices for the 2024 event, ensuring that it remains accessible to all members. A 10'x10' booth can be reserved for the exclusive NATM Member rate of $1,785. It's important to note that booth spaces for non-members will be available at a rate of $3,570 – so make sure to join NATM to cut those fees in half. For more information about joining NATM, contact Scott Simons at Scott.Simons@natm.com or call (785) 272-4433.

As a valued exhibitor, your booth cost includes several amenities to enhance your exhibiting experience. Each booth comes with two complimentary booth worker registrations, allowing you to have adequate staff to engage

with attendees. Additionally, you’ll have access to free lead retrieval on your phone through NATM’s mobile app, your booth will come fully carpeted, and you'll receive a 6' table, two chairs, and a wastebasket to create a professional and inviting space. New this year: Wi-Fi will be provided to exhibitors to ensure that you can run business smoothly while meeting with new customers on the Trade Show floor.

The NATM Convention & Trade Show is known for its high demand, and with 90% of the Trade Show floor already sold out, it's crucial to act swiftly. Booth sales opened to all starting Sept. 5 and the sign-up process is first-come, first-served and requires payment with credit card online at the time of selection.

To participate in the booth sales, contact NATM Events Director Aileen at Aileen.Valido@natm.com or by calling (785) 272-4433.

The NATM Convention & Trade Show offers an unparalleled opportunity to connect with industry leaders, forge valuable partnerships, and showcase your brand to a highly engaged audience. It is an event that can propel your success in the trailer manufacturing industry. NATM looks forward to seeing you at the South Point Hotel Casino & Spa in Las Vegas this February! ■

Members mingle at the 2023 Convention & Trade Show in Fort Worth, Texas. Photo by Samantha Darling LaCount.

Free Registrations for Dealer Affiliates, New Trailer Manufacturer Attendees at 2024 Convention

By Meghan Ryan, NATM Assistant Director

The National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) is excited to welcome new trailer manufacturing members and NATM Trailer Dealer Affiliates to the 2024 NATM Convention & Trade Show at the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa in Las Vegas, Feb. 13-15, 2024. Make sure to take advantage of the promotion and hit up this fantastic industry event for suppliers and service providers.

NATM Trailer Manufacturer Members and Dealer Affiliates who have never attended the NATM Convention & Trade Show, or who have not attended in the last five years, are eligible for two complimentary full registrations and two complimentary spouse/partner registrations per company as part of the New Attendee Promotion. Full registration includes access to all events (excluding Topgolf) outlined in the show schedule.

The deadline to apply for the New Member/Dealer Promo is Dec. 29, 2023. Please submit your application to receive the two free hotel room nights per company to NATM Membership & Events Coordinator Catie Rutkowski at Catie.Rutkowski@natm.com.

The NATM Convention & Trade Show is the annual trade show for the light- and medium-duty trailer industry. With more than 1,400 trailer manufacturer and supplier attendees per year and growing, this “must attend” event provides education, networking, and communication for those in the industry.

To take advantage of the New Attendee Promotion, contact NATM Membership & Events Coordinator Catie Rutkowski at Catie.Rutkowski@natm.com or call (785) 272-4433! ■

Statistically Speaking

By Jeff Jones, Statistical Surveys, Inc.

Registration for the light- and medium-duty trailer industry was down 5.7% in May 2023. 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 five months of 2023.

Percent of Growth

Industry registrations for the first five months of 2023 are down 11.3% over 2022.

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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From Likes to Leads Webinar: Harnessing Social Media for Trailer Industry Success

By Ginger Baker-Sanhueza, NATM Education Director

The National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) is excited to introduce a three-part webinar series designed exclusively for trailer manufacturers, dealers, suppliers, and service providers. "From Likes to Leads: Harnessing Social Media for Trailer Industry Success" is a dynamic series aimed at empowering businesses within the trailer industry to revolutionize their online presence and achieve remarkable growth through strategic social media marketing.

Webinar 1: Establishing Your Digital Foundation

› Date: Sept. 14, 2023

› Time: 10 a.m. CST

In this first installment, the stage will be set for your social media success. Join an industry panel of trailblazing marketing directors, social media creators, and NATM members as they share their invaluable insights on establishing a solid digital foundation. This webinar will delve into selecting the right platforms, identifying key branding elements, and harnessing content creation software to captivate your target audience.

Discover the social media secrets that will amplify your trailer business and drive unrivaled engagement. Don't miss out on this opportunity to lay the groundwork for your social media journey.

Webinar 2: Crafting Compelling Content for Social Media

› Date: Oct. 19, 2023

› Time: 10 a.m. CST

In the second webinar of the series, you will dive deep into the art of creating captivating content that converts. The esteemed panel will share their expertise on developing a content strategy that resonates with your audience and

aligns with your trailer business objectives. Explore diverse content formats, storytelling techniques, and visual elements that will elevate your brand above the competition.

Join in to discover how to ignite conversations, spark curiosity, and craft a remarkable online presence that leaves a lasting impact on your audience.

Webinar 3: Nurturing a Thriving Online Community

› Date: Nov. 16, 2023

› Time: 10 a.m. CST

In this final webinar, be prepared to uncover the social media do's and don'ts for trailer industry businesses. Panelists will divulge their top strategies for cultivating a thriving online community. Learn how to identify and nurture brand ambassadors who will champion your trailer business. Uncover the art of fostering authentic customer relationships that lead to long-term loyalty and success.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn from industry experts who have already harnessed the power of social media to transform their trailer businesses into global leaders.

These webinars are part of NATM’s educational programming and are available to all NATM members. The Association is committed to equipping members with the latest tools and knowledge to thrive in today's digital landscape.

Scan the QR Code to NATM's Events page, where you can find the official registration link and secure your spot in this exclusive webinar series. Prepare to unlock the untapped potential of social media and propel your trailer business to unprecedented heights!

Join in for "From Likes to Leads: Harnessing Social Media for Trailer Industry Success," and take your business on a journey of exponential growth. For questions, contact NATMHQ@natm.com. ■

Trailer Manufacturers: Are Your 565 & 566 Forms Up To Date with NHTSA?

By Scott Crimmins, NATM Technical Director

Up-to-date information on your 566 (551 for foreign manufacturers) and 565 forms on file with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are part of the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers’ (NATM) Compliance Verification Program (CVP) checklist. A 566 form tells NHTSA (and the world) about your company, and the 565 is a template for your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) deciphering scheme.

NATM's Compliance Consultants often work with new members to complete them before the first consultation to avoid unnecessary delays with the certification process. NATM’s Compliance Team has even created documents members can use to assist with completing these processes. The consultants find that over time when changes get made, they do not carry over to the 566/565's. Some of the more common changes are moving to a new plant location, key personnel leaving, or adding new models. For this reason, we encourage members to review them annually to keep them updated. To request the documents related to completing forms 565 and 566, contact Technical Director Scott Crimmins at Scott.Crimmins@natm.com.

1. How Can I Tell if My 565 and 566 Forms Are Complete and Accurate?

Go to: vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/mid. Click on the following boxes to enter them into the search query:

• Under Organization - Name: enter the name of your company

• Select the following checkboxes: Part 565, Part 566, and World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)

• Click the blue search box in the lower left-hand corner of the screen.

If it says “no results found” under the search criteria, your company needs to resubmit your information.

Your company’s results should appear as follows.

To verify that your company is registered with accurate information, click on your company name and make sure your information is correct and current. If your address, phone number, email address, and/or contact personnel have changed, you can update the information accordingly to Section 4.

To verify your VIN Deciphering Scheme as part of the 565 Form criteria, click on the “Org Name” associated with your company in the 565 results box to download your registration. For the WMI search criteria, a green check mark will appear in the left-hand column if your company has registered according to NHTSA’s 565 process.

If your WMI criteria are not current, a yellow exclamation point will come up on the left-hand column. If you discover the yellow exclamation point, members may contact Scott Crimmins at Scott.Crimmins@natm.com to receive a copy of NATM’s 565 and 566 fact sheet to make submitting your VIN Deciphering Scheme a less time-consuming process.

Continued from Page 29

2. What Do I Do If “No Results Found” Comes Up When I Search My Company?

There are three steps you need to verify or complete if you got “no results found” from Section 1 above:

› Step 1: Get World Manufacturer Identifier # (WMI#) from the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), if you have not already done so at www.sae.org/ standardsdev/groundvehicle/wmi/application.

› Step 2: Fill out and enter your company’s 566 Form information through NHTSA’s manufacturer portal. Entering the 566 information requires entering your company’s contact information.

› Step 3: After submission of your 566 information, wait for NHTSA’s reply that states that the data has been accepted. Only then, should you move on to completing the 565 Form.

As mentioned above, NATM’s Compliance staff has created documents that can assist members in completing this process.

If you have further questions about 565 and 566 forms or any other aspect of the CVP, please contact the NATM Compliance Team at (785) 272-4433 or compliance@natm.com. ■

Compliance Consultant Aaron Langer inspects a trailer.

Photo by NATM staff.

Ensure You're Using Proper Tiedowns, Securement System with Peerless

By Samantha Darling LaCount, NATM Tracks Editor

Peerless Industrial Group is a chain manufacturer and supplier that provides proactive resources and high-quality solutions for safety-driven chain consumers. Peerless has been helping hardworking people in demanding industries live and work securely since 1854. The company has been a member of the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) since 2004 and were a 2023 Trailer Safety Week Partner. They weighed in to share their knowledge on properly securing cargo for NATM members. This information is based on the North American Cargo Securement Standard.

When moving cargo or any other object, it must not obscure the driver’s view ahead or to the right or left sides (except for drivers of self-steer dollies), interfere with the free movement of the driver’s arms or legs, prevent the driver’s free and ready access to accessories required for emergencies, or prevent the free and ready exit of any person from the commercial motor vehicle’s cab or driver’s compartment.

To properly secure your shipment, you can utilize a securement system — a securement method that uses one or a combination of the following elements: vehicle structure, securing devices, and blocking and bracing equipment. A tiedown for your trailer is a combination of securing devices that forms an assembly that either attaches cargo to or restrains cargo on a vehicle or trailer or is attached to anchor points.

What qualifies as a securing device? The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) states that a securing device is any device specifically manufactured to attach or secure cargo to a vehicle or trailer, including synthetic webbing, chain, wire rope, manila rope, synthetic rope, steel strapping, clamps and latches, blocking, front-end structure, grab hooks, binders, shackles, winches, stake pockets, d-rings, pocket, webbing ratchet, bracing or friction mats.

Peerless explains that there are three ways to transport cargo. All types of cargo must meet one of three conditions.

Condition 1 is that cargo is fully contained by structures of adequate strength. The cargo cannot shift or tip. Cargo also must be restrained against horizontal movement by the trailer structure or by other cargo. Horizontal movement includes forward, rearward, and side-to-side movement. Condition 2 is that cargo is immobilized by structures of adequate strength or a combination of structure, blocking, and bracing to prevent shifting or tipping. Condition 3 says that to prevent shifting or tipping, cargo must be immobilized or secured on or within a vehicle by tiedowns along with blocking, bracing, friction mats, other cargo, void fillers, or a combination of these.

Next, you need to ensure you load your cargo properly. For articles of cargo placed beside each other and secured by side-to-side tiedowns either place them in direct contact with each other or prevent them from shifting towards each other in transit by using blocking or filling the space with other cargo. Some articles have a tendency to roll. To prevent rolling, provide more than one point of contact. You can lift the cargo off the deck and/or place chocks, wedges, a cradle, or other equivalent means that prevent rolling. These must be secured to the deck.

The method used to secure cargo must be able to withstand those forces with respect to driving habits, road conditions, weather, and any unforeseen possibilities. To avoid the complexity of G-force calculations, the industry distinguishes the type of cargo, cargo weight, and tiedown system working load limit to determine the number of tiedowns. The length of your cargo determines the number of tiedowns:

› 5 feet or less, 1,100 pounds or less – 1 tiedown

› Over 1,100 pounds but 5 feet or less – 2 tiedowns

› 5-10 feet – 2 tiedowns

› Longer than 10 feet – 2 tiedowns + 1 for every additional 10 feet or fraction thereof

When cargo is prevented from forward movement (for example, by the headboard, bulkhead, other cargo, or tiedown), all cargo requires 1 tiedown for every 3.04 m (10 ft), or part thereof.

Tiedowns can either be attached to the cargo itself or it can pass over the cargo. If you opt to attach the tiedowns to the cargo, the tiedowns must be attached to the trailer as well as the cargo or the tiedowns can be attached to the trailer and then pass through or around an article of the cargo and then be attached to the trailer again. If you opt to have the tiedowns pass over the cargo, the tiedowns must be attached to the trailer, passed over the cargo, and then attached to the trailer again. A tis from Peerless: position the tiedowns as symmetrically as possible over the full length and to best preserve the integrity of the cargo.

How do you ensure your securing devices are adequate?

You’ll need to work out the Working Load Limit (WLL). The WLL is the maximum load that may be applied to a component of a cargo securement system during normal service. The WLL is usually assigned by the component manufacturer. The WLL for a tiedown is the lowest WLL of any of its parts or the WLL of the anchor points it is attached to, whichever is less. Every device contributes to the WLL of the securement system. The minimum WLL requirement for the securement system is 50% of the weight of the cargo.

The sum of the working load limits of each device used to secure an article on a vehicle is called the Aggregate Working Load Limit. To calculate the Aggregate Working Load Limit, add together 50% of the WLL of each end section of a tiedown that is attached to an anchor point and 50% of the WLL of each end section that is attached to the cargo. The Aggregate Working Load Limit of any securement system must be at least 50% of the weight of the cargo being secured.

The Standard sets forth specific securement requirements for certain loads. You must use the specific requirements for that commodity when transporting logs; dressed lumber and similar building products; metal coils; paper rolls; concrete pipe loaded crosswise on a platform vehicle, intermodal containers; automobiles, light trucks, and vans; heavy vehicles, equipment, and machinery; flattened or crushed vehicles; roll-on/roll-off and hook-lift containers; and large boulders.

The intricacies of securing your cargo on your trailer are complex. Peerless Industrial Group offers product support, literature, and training. You can learn more about them at www.peerlesschain.com.

If you have technical information to share or have a topic you’d like covered, please contact the NATM Education Director Ginger Baker-Sanhueza at (785) 272-4433 or Ginger.BakerSanhueza@natm.com. ■

What Matters to Your Workforce?

By Samantha Darling LaCount, NATM Tracks Editor

The webinar “What Matters to Your Workforce? Are Manufacturing Leaders Missing the Mark?” was presented earlier this year by UKG, a multinational technology company that provides workforce management and human resource management services. The webinar presenters were Brent Robertson, Co-founder of Fathom; Kylene Zenk, Director of Manufacturing Practice with UKG; and John Frehse, Senior Managing Director of Ankura.

The findings discussed in the webinar are based on the results of a survey conducted by UKG. Respondent companies ranged in size from companies with less than 500 employees up to companies with over 5,000 employees. They had a range of production facilities from one facility to more than 10 and cover a wide range of industries in manufacturing. Respondents are broken down into three categories: those in human resources (HR) roles, those in operations roles, and those that work the production line.

The most common challenge reported by the surveyed companies had to do with their people. For both HR and operations, the biggest internal challenges to growth were “employee turnover” at number one, with “lack of properly trained or skilled workforce” coming in at number two. Also high on this list was “low employee engagement” for both camps.

“I don't think it was a massive surprise that people-related challenges were number one,” Zenk said. “We’ve been hearing for years now that manufacturers are struggling to attract and retain talent and there are a number of reasons for that. I think it was great to see the synergy between HR and operations really both feeling like talent is a massive challenge.”

“What’s interesting also is the top two relate to each other,” Frehse said. “When you have high amounts of employee turnover, you’re not going to have a properly trained and skilled workforce because they just got there.”

So what are companies doing to combat these struggles? The survey asked respondents what their company was most likely to do to attract talent. The top four answers for those in operations roles were:

› 56% “advancement opportunities”

› 55% “positive work culture”

› 54% “retirement and financial”

› 53% “competitive salary”

For HR roles, the respondents said their companies were most likely to provide:

› 52% “advancement opportunities”

› 52% “attractive PTO”

› 51% “retirement & financial”

› 50% “positive work culture”

“If you think about the fact that culture is on both lists, I think that’s a really good thing,” Zenk said. “I think the fact that companies are now thinking about the impact of their culture on their employees is important, and manufacturing hasn’t always done a great job with this, so this is a dynamic that is long overdue.”

The highlights for Frehse were that both categories discussed money in some way and money is important to employees. He says the tricky part about including work culture is how subjective that is person to person.

Looking at the results from the production line employees when asked, what is most important to you when choosing an employer?, the results were:

› 41% competitive salary

› 33% work-life balance

› 26% positive work culture

› 25% guaranteed job security

Work-life balance was noted as most important when choosing an employer by 33% of the 500 production line respondents but was not touched on by those in operations or HR roles. The panel found this surprising and something that upper management should be aware of. They concluded from these results that while money matters, balance and culture follow right after.

“What do people want when they think of work-life balance? You’re talking about front line employees in manufacturing that

have to go onsite and have to be there to do their job. They’re not working from home,” Zenk said. “It’s a different animal than what you’re talking about when you’re trying to attract people who work in finance or marketing, for example.”

We can stop talking about the pension or the 401k when employees are first starting out in the workforce, says Frehse.

“We believe they should care about those things, but they don't care about those things,” he said.

The bigger red flag for Frehse is the fact that so many workers are concerned with job security.

“Why are they even talking about job security in a labor shortage? Supervisors are doing a worse and worse job of being leaders,” Frehse said. “Through the pandemic they were taught to stop leading and start managing. The management of people means that even though we desperately need them, they feel like they’ve got a target on their back so that concern about job security is growing.”

With work-life balance so high on the list from production workers, what exactly does that look like in manufacturing? The most desired option for the production line workers was alternate shift patterns outside the traditional eighthour shift such a 4/10 (four days a week working 10 hours a day) or a 3/12 (three days a week working 12 hours a day). An alternate shift pattern option was rated as valuable or extremely valuable to 78% of the production line respondents. In contract, only about 40% of operations and HR roles reported that this is an option their companies offer.

“Hourly employees are often feeling like they're not in control,” Frehse said. “They're asked to work extremely long hours, and it's not just about 12-hour shifts, it's about 60-70 hours a week sometimes, especially in a labor shortage. The idea that there are alternatives out there where maybe they’re still working a lot of hours but they’re covering it in 10 or 12 hour shifts – you still get some days off with that high overtime. It is a game changer for them especially if you’re on night shift where you want at least two days off in a row to try to reacclimate.”

Zenk says she recently spoke with an operations manager who wanted to attract more people, so they looked at their shift dynamic.

“They created a new shift they called it the weekend shift but it's really three 12-hour days, like a Monday, Saturday, Sunday, but they pay those people for 40 hours, so they work 36 hours but they get paid for 40, and it's been incredibly successful,” she said.

The presenters determined that companies need to be able to offer complex and flexible schedule options. Doing so can help companies fill labor shortages by reaching additional talent pools, such as parents only available during school hours, or college students who are paying their own way but need to work around class schedules.

This slide from the UKG webinar shows each category in the survey and what they responded was the top reasons why workers leave their jobs. Photo is a screenshot from the webinar.

Continued from Page 37

“The story here is really about a multi-generational workforce, people in their 20s and 30s versus people in their 50s and 60s,” Frehse said. “The older generation, generally, are wanting more overtime. They’re good with the shift schedules they’ve always worked even if it means they work 12 days in a row with two days off every 14 days, where the younger workforce is saying, I’ll work 35 hours but I really value my time off, and i don't need all the money that someone in their 50s who’s now very serious about retirement is thinking about. How do you satisfy two very different groups with one strategy?”

With high employee turnover and lack of properly trained or skilled workforce listed as the top internal struggles companies are facing, the webinar next examined why workers leave.

Of course people are going to leave for better pay, Zenk says. It’s the number one reason production line workers gave for leaving a job at 39%. Second on the list is the job is unsafe and/or an unhealthy work environment at 30%. Third on the list of why they’d leave a job is the job not interesting or enjoyable (25%) and tied for fourth were three answers: they did not feel appreciated, they had a bad relationship with their manager, and there was an inadequate benefits package.

“On the HR and operations side of the house, 'did not feel appreciated' is very low on the list. It's incredibly low on the list, so there’s a massive disconnect between what an employee feels is important and why they want to stay with a company,” Zenk said. “The fact is, people want to feel relevant and when managers aren't doing their job to make people feel relevant, they’re going to look for alternatives.”

Frehse blames some of this on proximity bias, where the farther away a boss is, the less their employees feel appreciated. If a production line worker’s boss works at a different location or even in a different state in some cases, they are more likely to feel unappreciated by that boss than someone who works face to face with their boss on a regular basis.

Manufacturers like their jobs, Frehse says. They’re doing something that’s relevant, they just don't feel relevant. He says managers have to be better at expressing their appreciation to their workforce and need to work on being better leaders.

The panelists expressed that upper management uses these results to help better understand their work force and what they want. If your company is facing similar struggles, it could be beneficial to conduct your own survey, whether that is a formal survey or simply walking around and talking to your employees and discussing what they like or wish they could improve with their jobs. Communication is key to understanding your employees and assisting with retention efforts for your business. ■

Dealers Build Affiliate Program, Benefits, Programming with NATM

By Andrea Boetticher, NATM Dealer Programming Specialist

Dealers across the nation are working with the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) to build community and programming with the only not-for-profit trade association dedicated to the light- and medium-duty trailer industry. Join as a Dealer Affiliate to unlock education and resources to increase your dealership’s profitability.

Engage with the industry to learn from the best — your peers. Be part of something bigger and have your voice heard in the industry and have your voice heard. The rapidly expanding Dealer Affiliate Program is directly guided by the needs assessments of dealers. Help curate what you would like to see in your not-for-profit trade organization dedicated to improving the safety of the industry by joining NATM as a Dealer Affiliate.

One major focus area of the NATM 2023-2026 Strategic Plan is the goal of a cohesive industry.

As detailed in the strategic plan, NATM, with the assistance of the Board and Committees, will work to ensure it is the reputable resource of trailer information for consumers, trailer manufacturers, component suppliers, trailer dealers, OEM vehicle manufacturers, and regulators.

Now what exactly does the goal of a cohesive industry mean for dealers?

A cohesive industry is a successful industry, and NATM wants to support dealers’ success. The Association knows that your business model is different from the manufacturers and that dealers are looking for different benefits and resources to boost their success. This is why NATM is creating a membership made specifically for you, built by

dealers just like you on the NATM Dealer Committee.

New dealer benefits will be rolled out in phases in the coming months, but here is a sneak peek at what NATM has started to build around five major categories:

NATM Dealer Affiliate Benefits — Program Roadmap

› Education & Resources: Relevant education in a variety of topics and formats for you and your staff, and resources to help your business succeed.

› Network & Community: A place to connect with your peers and discuss ideas and challenges with noncompeting dealer owners.

› Services & Solutions: A directory of service providers and discount programs thoroughly vetted by dealers themselves.

› News & Publications: Industry news curated for you.

› Industry Data & Surveys: Useful information about the dealer industry to keep up with trends and measure your business against.

Anything missing from this list? NATM wants to hear from you. Please share your feedback through the survey accessible with the QR Code on this page or send an email to Dealer Programming Specialist Andrea Boetticher at Andrea.Boetticher@natm.com. ■

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Reach Customers Year-Round with New Sponsorship Program

By Savana Morrison, NATM Marketing Director

The National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) is proud to announce its new Sponsorship Program, which offers exciting opportunities for members to promote their brand while supporting the not-for-profit 501(c)(6) trade association. With the NATM Sponsorship Program, members can easily get their brand out in front of their customers and peers as well as be identified as a leader in the industry.

By becoming a sponsor of NATM, members will not only gain valuable exposure to the community but also support the Association's mission to promote the light- and mediumduty trailer industry. Sponsorship dollars go directly back into Association programming that ultimately serves members and the industry as a whole. Multiple levels of sponsorship opportunities are available, from logo placement in NATM publications and on the website, to sponsorship of our top-tier member programming.

Sponsors of NATM will enjoy the benefits of increased visibility and exposure to NATM members, who include trailer manufacturers, suppliers, service providers, trailer dealers, and tow vehicle OEMs. The Association is dedicated to promoting trailer safety and the success of the trailer manufacturing industry through education and advocacy, and our sponsors will play a crucial role in helping us further that mission.

Opportunity to Become a NATM Blog Sponsor!

Looking for a way to promote your brand? NATM Blog sponsors are given the chance to sponsor available blog categories, which can be found on NATM's public blog at www.natm.com/news/ blog. Categories to choose from include Tracks Magazine, Convention & Trade Show, NATM Insider eNewsletter, and Trailer Safety – with more to come soon. What benefits do NATM Blog sponsors receive? Your branded banner ad will be displayed at the top of the Blog Category landing page, and your logo and boilerplate will be listed at the end of each blog post in the sponsored category. With NATM's consistent use of blog posts in our marketing strategy, your brand will receive regular exposure to site visitors, as well as targeted member marketing efforts. See your branding on NATM’s next blog post!

Keep an eye out – NATM will be introducing new sponsorship opportunities in the coming months. Staff are hard at work developing the best opportunities for you.

The NATM Sponsorship Program is an excellent way for members to increase their brand recognition and support the industry. Take advantage of this opportunity and become a sponsor of NATM today. ■

Members can learn more about sponsorships by visiting www.natm.com/become-a-sponsor or by emailing Advertising@natm.com.

Navigating a Male-Dominated Field: Melissa Searle's Journey at Laclede

By Samantha Darling LaCount, NATM Tracks Editor

Melissa Searle, the Director of Product Management at Laclede Chain Mfg. Co., says she never would have guessed she'd end up in manufacturing, much less as a director at a company with 210 employees spread over three states in four locations.

“Manufacturing kind of just fell in my lap,” Searle said. “A recruiter with Laclede reached out to me after I graduated.”

Searle graduated in 2016 with a mechanical engineering degree from the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Missouri, located about 100 miles southwest of St. Louis. After a few rounds of interviews, was hired to work in the company’s manufacturing plant in Maryville, Missouri, in the northwest corner of the state, 100 miles north of Kansas City, Missouri.

“When I got there, I had no idea this is how chain was made and the environment. It was the first time that I had ever been exposed to manufacturing in general,” Searle said. “I fell in love with the atmosphere of our plant and the idea that what I was doing on a daily basis could change and that I was going to be able to get a lot of different experiences under my

belt in a short amount of time because I could be on a sales project, then I could be on a plant project. I could be on a random ISO (International Organization for Standardization) project. That kind of flexibility and being able to have hands in different aspects of our company was very intriguing to me.”

From there, Searle learned everything she could. She describes herself as outgoing, a rarity when it comes to stereotypical engineers. She started taking more and more sales questions and started to become a unique product engineer that her company was looking for.

“Melissa is an exceptional engineer. She listens to a customer’s and/or internal team’s challenges and then often comes up with a solution that solves their problem. She is technical and connects well with everyone she comes into contact with,” said Laclede CEO Tim Riley. “Those are exceptional, but what is the biggest thing for me is that she is able to take something very technical and translate it to a non-technical person. Then, she can take feedback and convert it back to adjust the technical specifications. It is a rare ability and she is really, really good at it. That is when Melissa is wearing a sales/engineer (individual contributor) hat.”

Melissa Searle (right), Director of Production Design, leads a tour of one of Laclede's plants. Photo provided by Laclede.

“About two years into my career," Searle said, "they moved me from Maryville back to St. Louis and created a position for me to be more focused on product design and more sales engineering. From there, I started getting more involved in going on customer visits, going into different industries, and being a part of different trade shows and just fell in love with it.”

Her career continued to advance as she began to focus on her leadership skills. Laclede enrolled her in a business development program to grow her management style to help her take that next step. Searle says Riley has been supportive of her since day one, something she believes has been pivotal for her success and growth in such a male-dominated field.

“He’s very, ‘I don't see gender, I don't see anything. All I see is talent, and I want to grow that talent.’ So luckily my CEO has been very helpful and supportive of me over the years,” Searle said.

“My background includes working overseas for almost 10 years," Riley said. Throughout my career, I worked with many different people from many different places and backgrounds. I find that we get better decisions when we have people of different backgrounds and points of view that share their ideas. That means different ages, genders, races, etc. The buzzword is DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion), which I find a charged word. It is not diversity for diversity’s sake. I have truly experienced that we get better results when we have men and women both contributing to coming up with the solutions to our challenges. Manufacturing is mostly a male-dominated industry and space. I want to make it more comfortable for all people to work in this space and at all levels. We’ll get better results when we do. When we all look the same and come from the same experiences, we likely approach and solve the problems the same way. That’s simply not good enough in the current challenges we face as a society and as a manufacturing company trying to stay relevant. Not only will we perform better, we will also attract the best talent over time.”

Riley wants to make it clear. Laclede cares about bringing in different perspectives, but his people are where they are because of their talent and skills and not to hit certain numbers.

“Melissa is on my team and in her role because she is damn good at what she does and she is a trusted confidant for me and others on our leadership team,” Riley said.

Searle believes Riley has helped her excel by simply taking the time to sit down with her and listen. She sees that as something other executives can do to help foster and advance their female employees.

“In my opinion, actually listening to women, putting them in a room and hearing what they have to say and implementing what they have to say. Obviously, as a leader, CEOs can’t implement everything everyone says. That would be impossible but just having that conversation with them. Not just locker room talk with the guys, actually sitting down and having those conversations with women and hearing what they have to say would be helpful,” Searle said. “That's something that my CEO really did for me. He took a lot of time to talk about things like

what I want to be and who I want to be as a person and as a leader, and he’s really taken the time to listen, get to know that, and then encourage me to take the different steps to get there.”

Confidence is key when it comes to being a female in a traditionally male-dominated industry. It’s also something women report struggling with. They report feeling like they have to work twice as hard for the same recognition as a man and that they aren’t allowed to make the same mistakes their male counterparts can or else they lose all reputability.

“I think the confidence level (of women in manufacturing) might start a little low, so if we can do anything, let’s boost their confidence and let them know they do have a career path here. I also think women are less likely to vocalize something than men are. I think men are very quick to say, 'Hey, I want to grow. I want to be a manager, be a leader. I eventually want to own my own company.' They're very vocal about it, where women I feel like tend not to be vocal, so just allowing them to see there is a path to whatever you want. Let’s map it and let’s build the confidence to get you there,” Searle said. “I think it is very beneficial to just be able to sit down and see my career path with my boss. It has really helped me, because at first, I was like, there’s no way to grow. I’m going to be stuck in this role forever and instead, it was, let's put you in this business class. Let's do this. That vision that we built together helped me see that there was greater potential of what I could do in this company and in the manufacturing world.”

Knowing that the company’s CEO cared about her success at the company and believed in her gave Searle that initial boost of confidence she needed to keep moving up. Overcoming that initial lack of confidence Searle says has been a challenge building a career in manufacturing.

“Just that encouragement alone I think goes a long way, especially for women. For me, before it's always been, like hey, know your spot. Women don't get to grow. Women get held back a lot and so coming in with confidence isn't something that I've always had,” Searle said. “To have your CEO and to have people that love you encourage you to get involved really is helpful and builds your confidence.”

Even once she had more confidence in her abilities, Searle says it’s then a mental game of balancing the difference of perceptions her peers have of her as a woman. Research indicates that when females behave assertively, they are stereotyped as “aggressive” or “bossy,” whereas men showing similar traits of competencies are seen as “assertive” or “demonstrating natural leadership qualities.” This is known as the double-bind, which leaders should consider as it negatively impacts the success of not only the female individual but the team and company as a whole.

“I think my biggest challenge is getting over the fear that if I am vocal about my opinions, or I am vocal about whatever I want to be vocal about, that I could get called an (XYZ), or that I'm not ambitious like a guy would get called,” Searle said. “Getting

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over that fear alone has been a challenge for me because I don’t want to be labeled as that, I want to be ambitious. I want to be labeled as that go-getter, that self-starter.”

Searle says that something else that had helped her as a young woman starting out in her career is knowing that she wasn’t starting from scratch. Laclede has other female leaders she was able to look to and see that that kind of advancement was possible for herself. Laclede’s leadership team includes three women: the Director of Marketing, Crystal Miller; the Director of HR, Deana Juergens; and of course, Searle herself.

“Something that helps me a lot in Laclede is being able to see other women get into higher positions. I think that would be helpful to others too, being able to see more women in power and being able to have access to those women in power through mentorship or coaching,” Searle said. “I think it’s cool to see that it doesn’t always have to be the common roles like HR and sales for women. It’s cool to see a female engineer make that move. It’s not something you typically hear.”

“Our leadership team is made up of all my direct reports – CFO, COO, Director of Product Management (Melissa), Director of Marketing, Director of IT, Director of HR, and VP of Traction. Melissa is a vital member of this team. She is the facilitator of our weekly staff meetings – that means she runs the meetings and often determines what we cover,” Riley said. “She leads from the front. She has been a vital part of developing the values and purpose we have developed over the past few years. We have brought the work of Brene Brown (Dare to Lead) into our organization and she has been a key driver of this rollout. People all over the organization have changed their work and personal lives due to this influence.”

Searle says something people not in the manufacturing industry might not know is that her job is fun. She says she could see why women on the outside might assume a career in a male-dominated field would be a constant struggle, but that has not been her experience.

“I really enjoy being a part of this career, being a part of this company and the culture we’re building with this company, and being on that team to drive it. I would really love to see just more growth in me with this company and more growth in general. I think if you’re not growing, you're dying, that's kind of what I like to say,” Searle said. “As far as manufacturing, I feel like the chain world, the lifting world, the trailer world, it has a way of captivating you and not letting you go. It's very open and friendly and once you’re in, you're in. People are very accepting and just open to having those networking relationships with you outside and inside of work and really open to helping you in your career in general. I really enjoy that about manufacturing.”

As Director of Product Management, Searle is focused on product development. She and her team are currently working on making complementary products to chain such as fittings, hooks, etc. She enjoys bringing teams together

for a smoother product design process. For example, she says sometimes engineers can get focused on what they want in the designs and not take into consideration what will work best for the manufacturing side. She likes to be that bridge and bring all the involved players together.

“What I love about my current role is just being able to be creative in the designs that I get to pick. Also, I really enjoy trying to bring multiple teams together and have that collaborative relationship and be that in-between between our manufacturing and our sales and get all parties involved to come up with the best possible solution for our customers,” Searle said. “I really try to get all teams involved and have that collaborative style relationship instead of just, ‘I’m going to take it from here’. I’m going to be that go-between person and instead, let’s just get everyone in the meeting and have a brainstorming session before we even start thinking of how to develop a product. I really enjoy being able to do that and having that flexibility.”

For the future, Searle says primarily she wants to keep growing. Maybe she’ll take on more responsibility. Maybe someday she’ll get to say she’s a female CEO in the field that challenges and continues to captivate her. She cares about leading and continuing to lift others up alongside her. No matter what she chooses, she says she’s going to run with it.

“I would eventually love to get into more being a mentor for different organizations or having something inside of our company itself where you promote mentorship to newer employees and bring them along,” Searle said. “I genuinely have a passion for helping people in general. Any place where I can step in to be a mentor to someone, or to give them advice, or help them along in their careers, I just genuinely want to see people succeed and create a culture where people can succeed.”

Laclede has been a member of NATM since 2000. You can find out more about them at www.lacledechain.com.

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

Melissa Searle, Laclede's Director of Product Development, poses for a portrait. Photo provided by Laclede.

R & R Trailers Helps Local Youth Fishing Team Reel in Their Gear

By Samantha Darling LaCount, NATM Tracks Editor

R& R Trailers, Inc. donated a trailer to the Three Rivers Youth Bass Fishing Team to haul their gear to tournaments. R & R Trailers and the school are located in Three River, Michigan, a city of about 8,000 located 150 miles southwest of Detroit near the Indiana border. The Three Rivers school has around 700 students.

The fishing team is new to the school and Carrie Balk, Three Rivers High School Principal, says the trailer has been instrumental in helping the team get all their equipment to their weekly tournaments.

“My family has bought trailers from R & R, really for years, so they have a strong reputation in our area,” Balk said. “To have them step up

and do this for our team I think shows a real commitment to the school and our community.”

Balk was approached just before the COVID-19 pandemic by a few of her students who said they were interested in the school starting a bass fishing team. Those plans had to be put on pause for a while but ultimately it was something the students wanted. The school surveyed the students and 92 kids said they would be interested in a fishing team. They held a meeting and 40 kids and their parents showed up.

“It filled up our auditorium. It was really cool,” Balk said. “It’s neat because a lot of times I think with teenagers there's a stereotype that they’re inside playing video games and they don't want to

The Three Rivers youth bass fishing team poses with their new trailer from R & R Trailers. Photo provided by Three Rivers Schools.

be outside. This certainly showed that that’s not true.”

The parent meeting got the ball rolling and the team was finally formed in May 2022. The team is part of the Michigan Youth Bass Fishing Association, which is part of the Bass Federation. They fish all over the state and have anglers from high school age down to some grade school kids. It’s proved to be a success from the jump.

“We were fortunate last year that two of our junior anglers won the state championship and then they went on to fish Kentucky Lake in Tennessee and got fourth in the nation,” Balk said. “For being our first year, we were certainly off to a pretty good start.”

Tournaments are held on Saturday and Sunday with winners announced at the end of each day. Each boat has an adult captain and two students on board. They typically fish from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., when weigh-ins start.

The Three Rivers team has kids that can’t travel so they started a Monday series held on their local lakes that take place over June and the first half of July. The team typically brings about 22 boats and 44 kids.

“The Monday series is pretty big,” Balk said. “We have some teams that joined us that are even from the other side of Michigan and

make a two-and-a-half-hour drive to come fish our tournaments.”

The team requires a lot of gear for its tournaments. They need rods, tackle boxes, and for certain tournaments they also need a water tank, tables, a scale, a horse trough they use as a holding tank, tents, a generator, a speaker system with a microphone so announcements can be heard out on the boats, and a prize board. That is on top of towing boats. Balk says the trailer from R & R has been a game-changer.

“They built us the most beautiful trailer. It couldn't be more perfect,” Balk said. “We have everything we need in there. We also put our stuff in there when we’re traveling to tournaments. The tournament that we’re fishing this weekend is about four and a half hours from home and again, we’re pulling boats, so we don’t have a lot of room. We mostly tent camp to keep costs down. It’s nice to be able to put all that stuff in the trailer. It’s organized. It’s secure.”

Balk reached out to a couple of trailer companies hoping for a used trailer. Robert Brewer, co-owner, co-founder, and president of R & R Trailers, was the first to answer the call and knew their company could do better than a rundown hand-me-down. R & R built the team a custom trailer with storage built-in for all their gear, including ceiling-mounted fishing rod racks. Brewer is an avid fisherman himself. He says he and the company love to help out local organizations whenever they can.

“We have been very community-oriented since the beginning. We started our business in the town we grew up in and have given back for their support to us,” Brewer said. “We have donated trailers to our local school and other local organizations throughout the years.”

R & R Trailer was founded in 1994 in Three Rivers. Its name stands for Robert and co-founder Rick. Rick retired in 2021 and sold his shares to his son Ross Daniels, so the name still holds. The company produces only aluminum trailers and has from day one, just as it has been involved in the community since day one.

ABOVE: Racks built into the trailer hold tents, coolers, bait, and fishing rods mounted on the ceiling.

RIGHT: All the team's gear is stowed in the Three Rivers trailer donated by R & R Trailers. Photos provided by Three Rivers Schools.

Continued from Page 51

“Most of us were born and raised here and continue to build our own families in this community,” Daniels said. “Last year, I was elected to the Three Rivers Board of Education because of how strongly I believe in this school district and our community as a whole. The most specific reason though for donating the trailer to the bass fishing team was because it was a non-traditional sport that was gaining a lot of traction and participation from various types of students and we wanted to be a part of that and to help grow that inclusion.”

The first trailer R & R made was a clamshell snowmobile trailer that was put together by the two co-founders in Brewers’ fathers’ garage. From there, the duo opened a factory and hired their first employees. In 2000, the company moved from its downtown location to a new factory where it now produces all aluminum open and enclosed snowmobile trailers, cargo, motorcycle, utility, car haulers, custom open and enclosed trailers, toy haulers, marine products, such as personal watercraft lifts and trailers, docks, float rafts, kayak and small boat trailers and accessories.

Making all these different types of trailers all only in aluminum is one of the company’s facets that sets it apart. Another is that it is factory-direct and they build products to sell directly to the end-user.

“We sell our products directly to customers (although we do have a few dealers) thereby eliminating the extra time and confusion caused by having to go through the middleman,” Brewer said. “By doing this, we are able to offer a better trailer for a reasonable cost. We build our trailers to last by using thicker, stronger, and more tubing than most manufacturers.”

The bass fishing team’s R & R Trailer will be something the team can use for a long time. Balk says the team likely wouldn’t have been able to purchase one themselves. Without this donation, she said she’s not sure how they’d be getting all their gear around.

“Our team, we’re not financed at all through the school, so we don’t receive any funding. We have to fundraise for everything and the thought of fundraising for that trailer – it probably wouldn’t have happened,” Balk said. “We put our fundraiser money toward gear for the kids, paying for memberships, offsetting the cost of their jerseys, and making sure they have everything they need. The trailer would have probably been quite a bit out of reach without their donation.”

R & R Trailers, Inc. has been an NATM member since 2006. To learn more about them, visit www.rnrtrailers.com.

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

The team got a decal made for its donated trailer from R & R Trailers. Photo provided by Three Rivers Schools.

Safety Hits Home for LOOK Trailers’ Manager

By Samantha Darling LaCount, NATM

Editor

James Vargo says people are more willing to listen to safety information when it’s coming from someone with a personal connection. If that’s the case, then he ended up in the correct field. For nearly five years, Vargo has been the Corporate Workers Compensation Manager for LOOK Trailers by Novae.

Vargo was hired on to put together a personal protective equipment (PPE) program, put together a safety program for the company, and all together keep employees safe. It’s a responsibility he doesn’t take lightly.

“When I work in safety or with a company, my job is to remind leads, leaders, and employees on a production floor to just be safe today. Watch what you're doing. Pay attention to what your job entails because I want you to go home,” Vargo said. “It's a passion for me. I get on my soapbox when I see someone not being safe.”

Vargo and his family know firsthand what can happen when safety isn’t at the forefront of a company’s and workers’ minds. His grandfather and greatgrandfather both died in industrial accidents.

Vargo’s great-grandfather, Alex Vargo, worked for The Studebaker Corporation. Around the time of his employment in the early 1930s, the company was starting to make automobiles but there was still some wood product in the manufacturing of their wagons. Alex worked in the wood department and was using a table saw. It is Vargo’s understanding that a wood board got turned and hit the saw wrong, causing it to come back and hit him in the stomach. The family believes he suffered internal bleeding which led to pneumonia. He eventually died from pneumonia.

“There were six children at home, one of them being my grandfather,” Vargo said. “My grandfather was 6 at the time of his father's death.”

Fast forward and now Vargo’s grandfather, Albert Vargo, has grown up. He volunteered to fight in World War II as a young man. Vargo says he didn’t have to sign up. His brother was already enlisted.

Tracks

James Vargo, LOOK Trailers' Corporate Work Comp Manager, walks the company's plant. Photo provided by LOOK Trailers.

Continued from Page 55

“Grandpa was a land craft driver, so the boats that you see in ‘Saving Private Ryan,’ when they hit the beach, he drove those onto the beach for the Marines or the Army soldiers to land on beaches,” Vargo said.

Albert then got married and had four kids, Vargo’s father, Anthony, being the eldest. Albert made it through World War II uninjured only to face danger when he should have been safe — just going to work. In June of 1973, 50 years ago this year, Albert was working at a foundry that supplied to the three big automobile makers in Detroit. The foundry didn’t have the kind of safety mechanisms in place that a facility like that would be required to now, Vargo says.

“In 1973 OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) was being talked about in Congress and with the federal government,” Vargo said. “That law was not passed until, believe it or not, my birthday, December 29, 1973.”

Albert turned off an electric switch so that he could work on a particular spot. Someone else came in looking for a light. They flipped the wrong switch and restored electricity for the area Albert was working on. Vargo says the electric current went into a righthand finger and out his big toe, crossing his body. He died instantly.

ABOVE: James Vargo's great-grandfather, Alex, and great-grandmother, Carrie.

LEFT: Vargo's grandmother, Dorothy, and grandfather, Albert. Photos provided by James Vargo.

“Safety is taught at an early age. Your mother tells you a stove’s hot and you learn from that. Your mother and father take you to a street corner and tell you to watch out for traffic. We’re always dealing with safety. We’re watching when we drive. We’re watching what we eat. Safety is always in us and we don’t think about it most of the time because it comes second nature,” Vargo said. “When it's on a job, everyone just does their job, and they don't think about it. To me, it's a practice.”

“Grandpa was 49 and his youngest baby was 6,” Vargo said. “It’s ironic because my grandfather was 6 when his father died from the industrial accident.”

Vargo’s father Anthony was a mail carrier at the time. He says he could tell right away something was wrong when his boss and a state trooper approached him on his route. He, the state trooper, and a priest then all had to go to Vargo’s grandmother’s house to tell her her husband wasn’t coming home. They had three kids still at home: a high school boy, a 13-year-old girl, and a 6-year-old son. Anthony was 25.

Vargo says he wants to share his family’s story so that others think of their families at home waiting for them and take their own safety seriously. He says his job as a parent is to remind his kids of safety and to look out for them. His job is the same in that it’s his responsibility to remind people to think of their safety.

Vargo says a perfect day on the job for him is when no accidents come across his desk. He wants people to look out for each other and for them to go home in the same condition that they came in.

LOOK Trailers by Novae has been an NATM member since 2010. To learn more about them, visit www.looktrailers.com.

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

“I get on my soapbox sometimes when someone is not doing something safely,” Vargo said. “I might be a little more boisterous just because of the passion because I know what a family went through.”

Racing has Become a Family Affair for Featherlite Employees

By Samantha Darling LaCount, NATM Tracks Editor

For a pair of Featherlite Trailers employees, their jobs and favorite hobby are both a family affair. Steve Holthaus and Chris Hovden are both manufacturing supervisors with Featherlite and both are avid race car drivers.

Featherlite is a sponsor and supporter of several equine, livestock, and motorsports organizations and events. This includes serving as the Official Trailer of NASCAR.

Holthaus has been with Featherlite for 37 years and has been racing since 1985. He attended his first race to watch a friend. He was hooked and got in his own car the following year. He came away from his first race with a win and

has never looked back, aside from a Tom Bradyesque retirement that lasted one season.

“I went to my first race when I was 18 and was hooked,” Holthaus said. “I was always into muscle cars and was always kind of a hellion. The track was a good place to have fun and not get in trouble. Ever since it has been a way of life for our whole family.”

Hovden has been a supervisor for seven years and has been with Featherlite for the past

Continued on Page 58

Featherlite employees Steve Holthaus (left) and Chris Hovden pose with their cars. Photo provided by Featherlite Trailers.

Continued from Page 57

19 years. He started racing in 2006 and won his first race three nights in. Holthaus is Hovden’s step-father. He grew up on the race track sidelines watching his dad race.

“It was pretty cool getting to go to the races as a kid, especially since my dad was the one I was cheering for every night,” Hovden said. “I really never thought I was going to do it myself until I was older, as I didn’t start racing until I was 20 years old.”

Featherlite is based in Cresco, Iowa, located in the northeast corner of the state less than 10 miles from the Minnesota border. Mississippi Thunder Speedway in Fountain City, Wisconsin, is their favorite track to race. Hovden travels to tracks all over the region to race, while Holthaus says he races at tracks closer to home these days.

Both are excited this year to be racing at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minnesota, which Featherlite has been a long-time sponsor of, along with the annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree. Although Holthaus’ class previously wasn’t a regular feature at the track, he has a history there as well. He raced in the first-ever race at Deer Creek Speedway and finished second in an Outlaw Special they held.

Holthaus’ season starts later in the year and he is just getting warmed up. He says he's seen a lot of rainouts and is working on getting his new car dialed in.

“Had some top five’s, no wins yet,” Holthaus said.

For Hovden, the racing season starts in April and goes till October and they have races Friday, Saturday, and Sunday every weekend. Hovden says this has been one of his best seasons.

“I have won 16 times and we are leading the USRA Hobby Stock National Points,” Hovden said. “I raced 35 times so far this year which I’ve never raced that many times this early in the season.”

Winning is not the most important thing to father or son. Holthaus says racing has become a way of life for their whole family and that his nine grandchildren all enjoy looking for grandpa and uncle Chris’ numbers (70 for Holthaus and 07 for Hovden) and colors each week.

“I have three kids ages 10, 7, and 2. All of them love racing and especially watching me and cheering for me,” Hovden added. “My wife is a big part of my success as well, if she wouldn’t do what she does, I would be as successful as I am. My seven-year-old son absolutely loves racing and everything to do with it. He is really into flagging right now.”

Sharing the sport with family is easy when it’s something they both love so much.

“It’s a good family-oriented sport where you learn a lot about sportsmanship,” Hovden said.

“Racing is really a family. Whenever someone needs it, you go over and help,” Holthaus said. “We do almost everything

TOP: Chris Hovden poses with his car, number 07.

LOWER: Steve Holthaus poses with his car, number 70. Photos provided by Featherlite Trailers.

ourselves as far as building and maintaining the cars. When you do well, it’s a good feeling knowing you did that yourself.”

While they do most of the work themselves, it really is a family affair. Hovden’s twin brother, Kyle, who works in the Featherlite Custom Service Center, is a big fan and plays a key role in the pits, helping both with whatever work needs to be done on the cars. Hovden says his race competitors every week include his dad, uncle, and cousin as well.

“I love how competitive the sport is and the harder you work at it the more you get out of it. I really like the people you meet racing and the friends they become,” Hovden. “My summers have always involved racing and I really can’t imagine doing anything else.”

Featherlite Trailer Manufacturing, LLC has been a member of NATM since 1988. To learn more about them visit www.fthr.com.

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

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Los Sauces Welding Co

3015 E 3rd Rd

lasalle, IL 61301

• Aluminum, Dump, Utility/ Flatbed, Trailer Service/Repair

Metaal Centrum Dunning bv

Bremenweg 6

Groningen, Netherlands 9723TD

• Agricultural/Farm, Aluminum, Auto Hauler, Boat, Cargo, Concession, Custom Design, Dog, Dump, Enclosed Cargo, Equipment, Horse, Landscape, Livestock, Living Quarters, Mobile BBQ/ Smoker, Motorcycle, Pole/Pipe/ Cable Reel, Portable Equipment, RV/Towable, Snowmobile/ATV, Specialty, Tow Dolly, Utility/ Flatbed, Trailer Service/Repair

Plumettaz America Corp

225 Thrasher Pike

Soddy Daisy, TN 37379

• Equipment, Portable Equipment, Utility/Flatbed

Priefert Steel Manufacturing

2630 South Jefferson Avenue

Mt. Pleasant TX 75455

• Boat, Custom Design, Specialty

RK Manufacturing Industries, Inc. d/b/a Riddle Metal Works

11501 Hillguard Rd Dallas, TX 75243

• Specialty

Sumacortec S.A. de C.V.

Autopista Qro-Mexico KM168, La Estancia San Juan del Rio, Querétaro, Mexico 76816

• Custom Design

DEALER AFFILIATE

Atlantic Trailer & Tractor

8 Lintrose Pl

Mount Pearl, NL, Canada A1N 5K2

• Trailer Sales, Trailer Service/Repair

Big Tex Trailer World - Mt Pleasant, TX

950 I-30 E

Mt. Pleasant, TX 75455

• Trailer Sales, Trailer Service/Repair

Big Tex Trailer World - Tyler, TX

10640 US Hwy 69 N

Tyler, TX 75706

• Trailer Sales, Trailer Service/Repair

Texas Trailer Solutions

131 Lake Estates Drive

Montgomery, TX 77356

• Trailer Sales

Truckfitters — Mt. Pleasant, TX 2330 I-30

Mt. Pleasant, TX 75455

• Trailer Sales, Trailer Service/Repair

SUPPLIER/SERVICE PROVIDER

All State Fastener 15460 E Twelve Mile Rd

Madison Heights, MI 48066

• Fasteners

Alpha Software 1605 43rd Ave S

Moorhead, MN 56560

• Computer Software

Dayton Air Suspension and Control Products 2785 Lance Dr

Dayton, OH 45409

• Suspensions

MK Products Inc 16882 Armstrong Ave Irvine, CA 92606

• Welding Equipment

Ningbo EZLEE Industrial Tech Company, LTD

721 Yanhu Rd Jiangshan Town, Yinzhou District

Ningbo City, Zhejiang, China 312362

• Castings, Engineering, Fabricated Parts, Hitches, Metal Stamping, Storage Racks, Towing Accessories

RHINO TIRE USA LLC 11423 Satellite Blvd

Orlando, FL 32837

• Tires, Wheels/Rims

New Trail Industries

800 Highway 150 South West Union, IA 52175

• Utility/Flatbed

Trailers By Sam

47-705 Ahilama Pl

Kaneohe, HI 96744

• Trailer Service/Repair

Trader Interactive 4525 Main St., Ste 1101 Virginia Beach, VA 23462

• Sales/Marketing

Press Releases

TecNiq Inc. Announces New Area/Accent Light

TecNiq’s New Surface Mount Slim Line Area/Accent Light for Multiple Applications

GALESBURG, Mich. – TecNiq Inc. announces the release of their new, E49 Surface Mount, Slim-Line Area/Accent Light. The All New E49 is designed with a frosted acrylic lens for even light distribution and provides users with a bright white or blue light – which operate separately. This new area/accent light comes available in either twenty-four inch or thirtysix inch sizes, with a twelve Sheathed pigtail connector.

The two-foot version of the E49 lamp features 2650 (white) and 215 (blue) lumens of light output from 144 LEDs. The three-foot version provides 4000 (white) and 325 (blue) lumens of output from 216 LEDs. Each light runs on a current draw range from 0.52 ¬- 0.80A and designed for 100,000 hours of performance.

Similar lights are popular throughout the light duty trailer industry, as well as in work vans and light-duty shipping vehicles,

like box trucks and sprinters. Couple the E49 with the TecNiq Motion Detection Sensor (E22) for efficient lighting for any space and save on power consumption as well as the life of the lamp.

For more information regarding the new E49 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.

• Frosted Acrylic lens for even light distribution

• Available in 24" or 36" models

• Designed for 100,000 hours of performance

• Comes with 12" Sheathed pigtail connectors ■

New area/accent lights from TecNiq. Photos provided by TecNiq.

'Star Tribune' Names IDC Spring a 2023 Top Workplace

COON RAPIDS, Minn. — IDC Spring has been named one of the Top Workplaces in Minnesota by the Star Tribune. A complete list of those selected is available at startribune.com/ mn-top-workplaces and was published in the Star Tribune Top Workplaces special section on Sunday, June 18, 2023.

Produced by the same team that compiles the 32-year-old Star Tribune 100 report of the best-performing public companies in Minnesota, Top Workplaces recognizes the most progressive companies in Minnesota based on employee opinions measuring engagement, organizational health and satisfaction. The analysis included responses from 124,719 employees at Minnesota public, private and nonprofit organizations.

The results of the Star Tribune Top Workplaces are based on survey information collected by Energage, an independent company specializing in employee engagement and retention.

Over 5,000 organizations were invited to participate in the survey, and more than 124,719 employees shared their views. We are honored to be included in the list

of Top Workplaces. Especially since the judges were our employees! Thank you to all our team members for contributing to a positive work culture and making IDC Spring a great place to work! — Jodi Boldenow, President.

Star Tribune CEO and Publisher Steve Grove said, “The companies in the Star Tribune Top Workplaces deserve high praise for creating the very best work environments in the state of Minnesota. My congratulations to each of these exceptional companies.”

IDC Spring is a garage door spring, mechanical spring, and wire form manufacture. IDC Spring is located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota; Piqua, Ohio; and Mesa, Arizona. We pride ourselves on our value-driven operation, attentive customer service and longstanding relationships in the industry.

To qualify for the Star Tribune Top Workplaces, a company must have more than 50 employees in Minnesota. Over 5,000 companies were invited to participate. Rankings were composite scores calculated purely on the basis of employee responses. ■

IDC Spring has been named a top workplace in Minnesota. Photo provided by IDC Spring.

Dexter, Subsidiary of DexKo Global Inc., Announces Distribution Brand Strategy

NOVI, Mich. — DexKo Global Inc., the global leader in highly engineered trailer running gear, chassis assemblies, and related components, announces today that its wholly-owned subsidiary Dexter Axle Company (“Dexter”) is continuing the long-term brand strategy offering trailer parts and accessories through distribution under the trusted brand, Dexter.

During our past several years, Dexter’s steady growth has added new teammates, new customers, and new product offerings. To reduce the complexity of Dexter’s brand portfolio in the United States and Canada, we are rebranding our TexTrail Trailer Parts, National Trailer Parts, and Marius Garon Inc, distribution businesses to Dexter.

“Consolidating brands and product offering will make it easier for our customers and allow us to offer higher levels of quality and service,” states Adam Dexter, President and CEO, Dexter. “We thank the loyal customers of TexTrail, NTP, MGI, and Dexter and look forward to continuing our long-lasting relationship.”

Watch for changes taking place over the course of the next several months. Building signs, truck graphics, business cards, websites, order documentation and many other items will transition to the Dexter logo and company name. This new brand structure will continue to bring much needed clarity, making it easier to navigate our product offering and support our customer base.

Dexter is excited to continue expanding our product offering and services to the industries we serve. For sixty years, Dexter has been recognized as a leader and a strong and dependable brand within our industry. Consolidating the brands of our more recently acquired business units will bring clarity and assured stability for the next 60 years of continued partnership with all of the customers we serve. We have forged strong partnerships in numerous channels across our industry and we are committed to continuously supporting our valued partners in all aspects of our business.

Please send inquiries to:

2900 Industrial Parkway East Elkhart, Indiana 46515

Stacey K. Miller, Director of Marketing

stacey.miller@dextergroup.com

Phone: 574.295.7888

Phone: 574.296.7228

Fax: 574.296.7368 ■

About Dexter

DexKo Global Inc. is the world's leading supplier of advanced chassis technology, chassis assemblies and related components. DexKo Global was founded at the end of 2015 through the combination of DEXTER and AL-KO Vehicle Technology. With its headquarters in Novi, Michigan, the company employs approximately 7,000 associates with 56 production facilities and 95 distribution centers. For more information, please go to www.dexko.com.

Optronics Introduces Uniquely Shaped MCL Series Marker/Clearance LightsUpdate

TULSA, Okla. — Optronics International, a leading manufacturer of vehicle harnesses, electronic control systems and LED lighting for the global transportation industry, today announced the release of its innovative MCL2300, MCL20, and MCL16T Marker/Clearance Lights. The novel lights will enable trailer OEMs to create a signature, branded look for their vehicles and will provide broad customization options for owner-operators.

In a marked departure from the conventional, Optronics has introduced geometrically shaped marker/clearance lights, giving customers the choice between round, oval and rectangular lights. Uniquely, these lights offer an increased light size while fitting into a standard 3/4inch hole, courtesy of the included grommet.

“The MCL Series Marker/Clearance Lights we’re launching today are a testament to our commitment to innovation and to meeting industry needs and desires,” said Dustin Smith, vice president of sales for Optronics. “We are continuing to set the pace, providing diverse shapes and sizes to differentiate and elevate our customers’ vehicles, all while keeping the installation process uncomplicated.”

The PC-rated lamps can be used as combination side marker and front or rear clearance lights when mounted on an angle. The unique geometric optics spread light for an extraordinarily bright appearance, delivering a reliable, high-quality lighting solution that enhances the look of any vehicle.

The three-diode MCL2300 lamp boasts a rectangular design measuring 2.31 inches wide, 1.43 inches tall and 0.64 inches thick. The three-diode MCL20 is an oval marker/clearance light measuring 1.875-inches wide, 1.5 inches tall and 0.5 inches thick. The single-diode MCL16T is a 1.25 inch diameter round light with a 1.31-inch profile, and stands out with its unique fluted lens pattern. All three lamps come hardwired and are available in bulk and polypack packaging.

“The lights are versatile and easily installed without any need for retooling, maintaining the same manufacturing process that our OEMs are accustomed to,” explained Michael Whitman, director of production management for Optronics. “Despite the different shapes, they still fit into the 3/4-inch cutout hole that’s become the industry norm, offering an effortless original equipment upgrade or an aftermarket replacement option.”

The new marker/clearance lights are ideal for a variety of vehicles and applications, including work trucks, dry vans, reefers, box trucks and more. The optical design offers a brighter and more visually appealing look, significantly enhancing vehicle aesthetics and visibility on the road.

“And this is just the beginning. We will continue to expand this lighting line, developing future products that add auxiliary features, such as our supplemental turn and stop light functions,” Smith added.

The lamp’s lenses are made of tough polycarbonate material that is sonically welded and resistant to dust and moisture. The lamps employ a solid-state, surface-mount device (SMD) design that protects their electronics against moisture, shock and vibration. Like all LED products from Optronics, these lamps come with a no-hassle, one-diode lifetime warranty protection that will replace a lamp if even one diode fails.

The new MCL2300, MCL20, and MCL16T marker/clearance lights are in stock and available for shipping immediately. ■

About Optronics International

Optronics products are available in the U.S. and Canada through the company’s extensive distribution network of more than 30,000 convenient distribution locations. Users can access individual Optronics distributor websites by simply clicking on their logo icons. For information on international sales and distribution of Optronics products, please contact Dorian Drake at (914) 697-9800, or visit www.doriandrake.com.

Optronics’ innovative new, geometric MCL Series Marker/Clearance Lights flip the script on “pennystyle” lights, offering a distinctive, high-style alternative while using the same 3/4-inch hole.

A Light of Hope, Felling Trailers Announces 2023 Trailer for a Cause Auction Dates

SAUK CENTRE, Minn. — Felling Trailers, Inc. is conducting its eleventh annual online auction of an FT-3 drop deck utility trailer to benefit a non-profit organization. Pockets of Hope is the 2023 recipient. Every day, children are rescued from abuse, neglect, and abandonment. These children are confused, scared, and desperate for security and comfort after being separated from family, home, and possessions. Pockets of Hope provides backpacks filled with essential and comfort items like socks, blankets, combs, etc., for these children as they enter foster care. Felling Trailers wants to help generate awareness about Pockets of Hope, the work they do, the children they serve, and the hope and security their backpacks provide to children. Thus, Felling Trailers manufactured and painted one of its most popular trailers, custom "Hope Blue" with custom green pinstriping and bares the Pockets of Hope emblem. An online auction of the trailer will run for five days: September 11th through September 15th. Several Felling Trailers' suppliers have joined to support Pockets of Hope by sponsoring the trailer build, from lighting to tires to decking. The 2023 Trailer for a Cause sponsors are Trans-Texas, PPG, Dexter, Sealco, Peterson, Industrial Wood (Blackwood), Demco, and Pacific Rim. One hundred percent of the winning bid will benefit Pockets of Hope!

Pockets of Hope provides children, teenagers, and young adults (ages birth-21) with comfort items they can call their own. These are everyday items that many of us take for granted, such as pajamas, shampoo, a tooth brush, and more. For the recipients, these are more than a backpack; they represent hope and comfort that there are people who care. Whether received when going to a new foster home in the midst of the night or after an incident that has brought them to the CAC (Central Minnesota Child Advocacy Center), they provide each recipient a light of hope that there is good out there. “3/17: One of my favorite work memories is giving an older youth a backpack from Pockets of Hope. This specific youth told me that it was the first time in a really long time that he felt anyone cared about him (& a simple backpack with a few goodies gave him that message!) I love organizations that make a difference. If you have ever thought about children/youth in the foster care system, this is an amazing way to give them some comfort and hope!” (The Impact, www.pocketsofhope.org/the-impact.html).

The Trailer for a Cause auction will start on Monday, September 11th at noon, running for five days, ending Friday, September 15th at noon. The online auction can be viewed at www.felling.com/our-company/trailer-for-acause/. Arrangements are to be made for pick up at Felling Trailers' manufacturing facility or delivery (freight extra). ■

About Pockets of Hope

Every day, children are rescued from abuse, neglect, and abandonment. These children are confused, scared, and desperate for

security and comfort after being separated from family, home, and possessions. Children often enter foster care with nothing. Pockets of Hope provides these children with new backpacks filled with personal care items they need and comfort items they can call their own. Our mission is to give foster children a sense of worth, bring comfort and provide a light of hope for a brighter future, one backpack at a time. Pockets of Hope is a non-profit organization located in Sartell, MN, serving those wherever they are able to help, in and around Stearns and Todd County and throughout Central Minnesota.

For additional information about the Pockets of Hope, visit www.pocketsofhope.org.

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 441,000 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 cuttingedge 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 Quality Management System Certified company, a WBENCCertified WBE company, 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. You can also follow them on Twitter (@FellingTrailers), Facebook (Felling Trailers, Inc.), and Instagram.

Felling Trailers is auctioning off this trailer for Packets of Hope. Photo provided by Felling Trailers.

Felling Trailers Adds Larson Cable Trailers to Product Offering

SAUK CENTRE, Minn. — Felling Trailers, Inc. adds Larson Cable Trailers to their product offering with the, LCT-7500, LCT-5620, and LCT-5700. A division of Felling Trailers, acquired in May of 2021, Larson Cable Trailers, Inc. is a known leader in fiber-optic cable-handling trailer products. Effective August 1st, 2023, the Felling Trailers sales team is now offering the LCT models as part of their expansive product line. “We feel this move will allow us to provide enhanced regional dealer support, providing training and product support,” said Nathan Uphus, Felling Trailers sales manager. With the two companies working together with seven regional sales managers, we can now provide sales and product support nationwide. This will, in turn, allow more time for Larson's Tech Training Specialists, Rick Larson, and Mike Young, to focus on end-user support.

The two companies will be exhibiting in tandem at this year's Utility Expo, taking place in Louisville, KY, Sept. 26th-28th. Located in the K-Lot, Felling Trailers, Inc., in booth K125, will display a selection of utility underground products from their drill series and utility telecom model lines. Located next door to Felling in booth K123, Larson Cable Trailers, Inc. will provide product demonstrations with their core models, LCT-7500 and LCT-5620.

Regional Sales Support Contacts

› North Central – Jeff Swartz 605-481-4005

› Great Lakes – Joel Lindmeyer 320-309-3833

› South Central – Joe Pessen 913-249-1766

› Northeast – Jim Capobianco 774-991-3613

› Southeast – Jason Worley 803-415-2742

› Northwest – Mike Pitts 208-546-1504

› Southwest – Michael Wilwerding 209-429-7110 ■

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 441,000 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 nearly 50 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 Quality Management System Certified company, WBENCE-Certified WBE company, 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. You can also follow them on Twitter (@FellingTrailers), Facebook (felling trailers), and Youtube (FellingTrailersINC).

About Larson Cable Trailers, Inc. (Division of Felling Trailers, Inc.)

Founded in 2000, Larson Cable Trailers is a cable trailer manufacturer providing solutions for the power and fiber optic industries, serving public/private contractors, rural telephone/ electric co-ops, and city municipalities. Offering three core models (LCT-7500, LCT-5620, and LCT-5700), each is built to user specifications with advanced designs to provide an efficient, safe, and easy-to-use cable trailer. For more information, contact 1.866.250.7634, sales@larsonct.com, or visit them on the web at www.larsoncabletrailers.com. You can follow them on Facebook (LarsonCT) and Youtube (LarsonCableTrailers).

RAM Gooseneck Coupler Addition

Pacific Rim International, LLC/Pacific Trailer Products, Inc is pleased to announce our new RAM 40,000lb capacity gooseneck coupler to our family of products. This square tube coupler is designed for those heavy duty gooseneck trailer applications. Like our other RAM gooseneck couplers, the 40K capacity model features an exclusive solid one piece cast head design. For further details, here is a link to our website: www.ramtrailerproducts. com/product/40k-gooseneck-couplers-square-tube. ■

About Pacific Rim International, LLC/ Pacific Trailer Products, Inc

Pacific Rim International, LLC/Pacific Trailer Products, Inc is a family owned business that started manufacturing and supplying trailer jacks and couplers in 2004. We have an office and staff in the US to help companies ordering product direct us and additional support for those buying through our distribution partners throughout the US and Canada. For additional details about our company, visit our website at www.ramtrailerproducts.com.

The RAM 40,000 lb capacity gooseneck coupler. Photo provided by RAM.

For Challenging a ppli C ations

All of these have passed our rigid quality standards. If we sell it... we stand behind it!!!

PVC Foam and High Bond Tapes: As the exclusive distributor of Gaska Tape products we offer high density foam tapes, Hi-Bond tapes, vinyl glazing tape, and polyethylene foam tapes at competitive prices.

Since 1969 LaVanture Products Company has been providing customers with the highest quality products to meet the challenging applications of today’s competitive markets. LaVanture offers products to meet the needs of custom applications in the industry.

LPC Gas Springs are available in both Black Nitride and Stainless Steel all at factory pricing and a large inventory is in stock for immediate shipment.

Call for our new catalogs.

Applications:

• Tool Boxes

• Door and Window Seals

• Truck Caps and

New LaVanture Line of Sealants: LaVanture Products

is proud to announce our new sealant line including great quality products including, MS Polymers, Silicones and many others. We have partnered with a quality manufacturer to provide a great product at a great price.

Conspicuity Tapes: We are a national distributor for 3M

D.O.T. Diamond Grade Conspicuity Tape.

Tonneau Covers

• Truck Bodies

• Cargo Trailers

• Utility Boxes

• Fiberglass Doors

• Work Truck Doors

• Marine

• Recreational Vehicles

• Roof Sealant

We also stock complete lines of high quality EPDM Seals, Trim Seals, Edge Trims, Butyl Tapes, Caulks and Sealants.