COMPLIANCE VERIFICATION NATM MEMBERSHIP INDUSTRY ISSUES PROMOTING TRAILER SAFETY WHO WE ARE PROGRAM NATM Mission Promote trailer safety and the success of the trailer manufacturing industry through education and advocacy. The National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) is the premier trade association for manufacturers of light- and medium- duty trailers (under 26,000 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) and suppliers and service providers to the industry. For over 30 years, NATM has worked to improve the safety of America’s roadways. NATM Vision Continuously advance trailer safety and industry growth.
Transcript
COMPLIANCE VERIFICATION
NATM MEMBERSHIP
INDUSTRY ISSUES
PROMOTING TRAILER SAFETY
WHO WE ARE
PROGRAM
NATM Mission Promote trailer safety and the success of the trailer manufacturing industry
through education and advocacy.
The National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) is the premier trade association for manufacturers of light- and medium-
duty trailers (under 26,000 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) and suppliers and service providers to the industry. For over 30 years, NATM has worked to improve the safety of America’s roadways.
NATM Vision Continuously advance trailer safety and industry growth.
NATM INDUSTRY ISSUES
PROMOTING TRAILER SAFETY
The National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) is the trade association for manufacturers
of trailers under 26,000 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (also referred to as light- and medium-duty trailers)
and suppliers to the industry. The Association is dedicated to improving trailer safety
and performance through NATM’s Compliance Verification Program and member education.
COMPLIANCE VERIFICATIONPROGRAM
INDUSTRY ISSUES
NATM MEMBERSHIP
The cornerstone of NATM is its mandatory Compliance Verification Program (NATM CVP) which verifies that NATM member trailer manufacturing companies have the manufacturing processes in place to build trailers that meet applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, federal regulations, and industry best practices, as well as providing members with technical and educational resources.
Although the law requires that all trailer manufacturers comply with federal regulations, not all US trailer manufacturing companies use a third-party inspection body to verify compliance. The NATM CVP is mandatory for all trailer manufacturing members in the Association and involves multiple components, all of which are geared toward creating safer trailers and in turn, safer roadways. Currently, NATM members manufacture an estimated 80% of new trailers on the nation’s roadways each year.
Biennially, an NATM Compliance Consultant visits the member company to conduct an unbiased third-party inspection. The onsite consultation includes a review of items such as record keeping, NHTSA reporting, safety chains, emergency breakaway systems, lighting requirements, component capacities, and other applicable items. Once the member successfully completes a compliance consultation, they are able to purchase and place NATM Compliance Decals on their trailers.
When shopping for a trailer, look for the NATM Decal.
NATM INDUSTRY ISSUES
PROMOTING TRAILER SAFETY
NATM MEMBERSHIP
INDUSTRY ISSUES
The National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) represents manufacturers who produce light- and medium-duty trailers that are towed behind cars, trucks, and SUVs; and suppliers to the trailer manufacturing industry.
There were more than 1,067,000 new trailers registered in the U.S. in 2018*, representing approximately $4.86 billion in sales each year. In addition, NATM members employ more than 485,000 American workers.
NATM seeks to promote awareness among its members of best industry practices and provide a voice for trailer manufacturers when issues of trailer safety and regulation are considered by Congress and relevant government agencies. NATM’s goal is to promote safety standards by which the industry is measured.
* Statistical Surveys. (2018). National Light- and Medium-Duty Trailer Registrations Report, 2018.
Number of Employees by State Employed by NATM Members
NATM INDUSTRY ISSUES
PROMOTING TRAILER SAFETYEducating Dealers and ConsumersWhile trailer manufacturers play a significant role in trailer safety, consumers and dealers also contribute. NATM has increased its efforts to educate trailer dealers and end-users through its annual, nationwide Trailer Safety Week which takes place the first week of June. The mission of Trailer Safety Week is to improve the safety of the nation’s roadways by raising
trailer safety awareness through the education of end-users, dealers, and manufacturers on safe trailering practices. The weeklong event features onsite events, webinars, and social media campaigns all aimed at providing towing safety resources and education. With audiences
INDUSTRY ISSUES
including dealers, consumers, law enforcement and legislators, Trailer Safety Week continues to expand its reach. Resources are available all year long at www.TrailerSafetyWeek.com.
In June 2019, NATM launched its Dealer Affiliate program, an effort focused on closing the gap of communication between trailer manufacturers and end-users by providing dealers with trailer safety education and resources. Trailer dealers are an integral component of the trailer industry and often are the only point of contact for trailer purchasers. Dealers’ success and ability to support trailer safety is dependent upon their access to information and resources and NATM is proud to begin establishing those vital pipelines.
Educating ManufacturersRegulatory compliance is an important and often confusing topic for the light- and medium- duty trailer industry for both trailer manufacturers and suppliers. All trailer manufacturers and suppliers, regardless of size, have reporting obligations per federal regulations and NATM is committed to providing education and facilitating conversations about practices that will help members navigate those compliance obligations more confidently.
When the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) expressed concern about industry compliance with Tire Recordkeeping requirements (a system set in place to improve recall effectiveness in cases of tire-related safety defects), NATM responded quickly to educate the industry. NATM developed webinars for both tire manufacturers/suppliers and trailer manufacturers about their respective roles. The Association printed articles in its magazine, Tracks, and hosted in-person workshops on the topic in 2018 and 2019. These opportunities were made available to members and non-members alike. Further, NATM went so far as to establish a more robust process through its Compliance Verification Program to better ensure the adequacy of member recordkeeping practices.
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NATM seeks to educate members of Congress, congressional staff members, and regulatory agencies as to the unique challenges facing the light- and medium-duty trailer industry to ensure trailer manufacturers are able to comply with regulations and standards, thus improving trailer safety. One unique challenge is the fact that trailers are defined as “motor vehicles” and thus grouped into legislation and regulations that impact automobile manufacturers, often without thought of the implications for trailers.
Impact of TariffsOf particular importance to the trailer manufacturing industry is the ongoing institution of tariffs on products used heavily in the manufacture of trailers. Members of NATM were impacted by the Section 232 Aluminum and Steel tariffs, Section 301 tariffs, and the anti-dumping and countervailing duty assessments with regard to certain Chinese steel wheels. In each instance, NATM has provided comments or otherwise encouraged industry comment where so required. As a result of these tariffs, the price per unit has risen while in 2019 units sold has declined*. NATM members have also been communicating regularly with their legislators on these impacts. NATM member companies pride themselves on supporting the American worker and contributing to the nation’s economy, but sourcing parts and providing the American consumer a reasonably priced product is vital for the success of the industry. *RSM US LLP, 2019 State of the Industry Survey
Developing a Skilled WorkforceMuch like the entire US manufacturing sector, NATM members are facing a critical skilled labor shortage. While the industry has made great progress since the recession of 2008, manufacturers are finding it difficult to meet workforce needs and this issue is promising to grow even more severe in the coming years. This threatens not only the future economic health of the industry, but also its ability to continue to work at current capacity. NATM member companies are developing innovative ideas like hosting on-site programs for local high school students to train them in necessary skills while earning school credit. The Association has made workforce development a primary initiative of its strategic plan, investing in school outreach, upskilling resources, expanding efforts to attract women, minorities and veterans, and marketing the stability and importance of trailer manufacturing careers.
NATM INDUSTRY ISSUESINDUSTRY ISSUES
Funding Trailer Safety InitiativesTraffic safety is considered a major public health issue, but light- and medium-duty trailer towing is one facet of motor vehicle crash safety that is often overlooked. There has been no previous nationwide safety initiative to address the proper usage of these trailers, which millions of Americans use each year for a wide variety of commercial and recreational purposes. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has noted an increase in towing-related crashes in recent years. NATM’s members are dedicated to producing safe trailers that are manufactured in accordance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, federal regulations, and industry best practices. However, trailer owners are often unaware of safe trailering practices, putting themselves at risk of collisions, flipping, sway, detachment, tire blowout, and other poor outcomes including life-threatening impacts with others on the roadways. All towers, novice and seasoned, private and commercial, can struggle with towing basics. From selecting the right tow vehicle and trailer combination, to proper hitching and loading and maintenance, mistakes are made daily, often unintentionally.
With over one million new trailers being towed on highways across the United States every year and a demographic of users that mirror those of higher risk, higher fatality rate drivers, it is crucial that trailers are considered within the realm of traffic safety. And as such, safety initiatives focused on this issue are funded accordingly. In 2018, NATM launched the inaugural “Trailer Safety Week” to develop educational materials to raise awareness of safe towing practices. 2019 marked the successful second year of the effort, but more can be done. NATM believes Congress should consider directing appropriate funding, via the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, to continue the progress NATM and industry partners have been able to make over the past two years.
Such funding could be distributed to traffic safety organizations and key stakeholders, associations, and/or law enforcement to fund public health interventions to improve trailer safety. Federal funding to support nationwide towing safety initiatives intended to prevent trailer related incidents is a crucial next step in roadway safety. Proposed trailer safety initiatives include the development of a mobile app that includes information, safety resources and support at the touch of a button. Other proposed initiatives include Public Service Announcements during peak towing seasons; sponsorship and resource distribution at events with significant towing populations such as rodeos and car races; development of trailer safety content in print and video format; and funding to educate the law enforcement community on safe towing practices and regulatory compliance. These public safety interventions are intended to educate end-users about proper towing safety and maintenance in an effort to decrease trailer-involved traffic incidents.
