2015 March April Tracks

Page 1

March/April 2015 Volume 28 Issue 2

NHTSA Defect Investigations and Record Retention Page 74

Installing Used Tires on New Trailers Page 52

Know Your Association; Know Your Decal Page 44

Why is My Trailer Corroding?! Page 60

8 Tips for Effective Grinding Page 74


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NATM Headquarters • 2420 SW 17th St. • Topeka, KS 66604• (785) 272-4433 • Fax: (785) 272-4455 STAFF

On the Cover: Aluma, Ltd. aluminum cargo trailers.

Communications Director Meghan Ryan Meghan.Ryan@natm.com Executive Director Pam Trusdale Pam.Trusdale@natm.com Assistant Director Kendra Fritz Kendra.Fritz@natm.com Technical Director Russ Moore Russ.Moore@natm.com

Reports & Updates: 4 President’s Report 8 Headquarters Report 14 Government Affairs Update 82 NATM Member News 87 NATM New Member Update

Events Director Allison Malmstrom Allison.Malmstrom@natm.com Compliance Director Greg Soden Greg.Soden@natm.com Marketing Coordinator Kathleen Dultmeier Kathleen.Dultmeier@natm.com Bookkeeper Cindy Streeter Cindy.Streeter@natm.com Trade Show Director Monica Johnson Monica.Johnson@natm.com Technical Assistant Linda Brink Linda.Brink@natm.com Executive Assistant Christina Trimmer Christina.Trimmer@natm.com OFFICERS President Greg Snyder CAR MATE Trailers, Inc. Vice President Patrick Jennissen Felling Trailers

Tracks 22

NHTSA Defect Investigations and Record Retention Requirements

Treasurer Bob de Kruyff U-Haul International, Inc. Past President Mike Lloyd Aluma, Ltd DIRECTORS FEB. 2013 - FEB. 2016 Lynn Beal Big Tex Trailer Manufacturing Rick Coffey CTP Transportation Products Chris Steinman MGS, Incorporated

56

Tire Tariff Update

DIRECTORS FEB. 2014 - FEB. 2017 Doug Deaver M. H. Eby, Inc. Adam Dexter Dexter Axle Owen E. Shelton BoatMate Trailers, Inc. Ron Yarnell PPG Industries, Inc. DIRECTORS FEB 2015 - FEB. 2018 Les Eaves Delta Manufacturing Marcus Hester Optronics International Nathan Long Tracker Marine Group Tony Priesgen Triton Aluminum Trailers Rick Russell Carry-On Trailer, Inc.

52

Installing Used Tires on New Trailers

Articles & Forms: 2 Tracks Advertisers 10 Statistically Speaking 11 Randy Lemasters, Statistical Surveys, Inc. Retires 18 Open Invitation to the 2015 Regulatory Roundup 22 NHTSA Defect Investigations and Record Retention Requirements 31 Unauthorized Use of NATM Trademarks 31 Advertising with NATM 34 2015 Board Election Results 36 2015 NATM Committee Assignments 40 Dealers Committed to Compliance 44 Know Your Association; Know Your Decal 46 Alum-Line, Inc.: Trailer & Truck Body Outfitters 52 Installing Used Tires on New Trailers 56 Tire Tariff Update 60 Why is My Trailer Corroding?! 70 Bri-Mar Trailers Celebrates 20th Anniversary 74 Eight Tips for Effective Grinding 79 Thank You 2015 Convention & Trade Show Sponsors 80 Getting Breakthrough Performance by Implementing a Breakthrough System

About this publication: Tracks Volume 28, Number 2 March/April 2015 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 the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers, 2420 SW 17th St, Topeka, KS 66604. The National Association of Trailer Manufacturers assumes no responsibility for statements, representations, or claims made or expressed in this publication, including those made in advertising appearing herein, nor does it 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.

USPS Number: 022438

ISSN Number: 1552-2415


Advertisers Index

Tracks

Advertisers Index A.L. Hansen Manufacturing

20 LaVanture Products Company

19

Aerosmith Fastening Systems

24 Lippert Components, Inc.

33

Aluma, Ltd.

23

Alum-Line, Inc.

54 Muro North America

Austin Hardware & Supply, Inc.

51 Napoleon/Linx 49

Big Tex Trailers

53 NATM Save the Date

43

Blazer International

10 NCP Coatings, Inc.

25

BluDot, Inc.

69 North West Rubber, Ltd.

26

Cargo Towing Solutions

29 NTP Distribution

21

Covers Optronics International

48

Carry-On Trailers

81

Cequent Performance Products, Inc.

68 Peterson Manufacturing Co.

28

Corn Pro Trailers

67 Powerbrace Corp.

13

CPR Systems

59 PPG Industries, Inc.

32

Dec-O-Art, Inc.

16, 51 Premium Supply

39

Delta Manufacturing, Inc.

17 Proven Graphics, Inc.

Dexter Axle

42 Redneck Trailer Supplies

Diamond C Trailer Mfg.

30 Rockwell American

73

Double A Trailers, Inc.

12 Rumber Materials, Inc.

66

Eck Corrosion Coating

81 Sawblade.com 9

Enviroserve Chemicals, Inc.

12 Sutong China Tire Resourcs, Inc.

58

Felling Trailers

30 TexTrail Trailer Parts

55

H&H Trailers, LLC

2

8 LOOK Trailers

7 The Fabricator

16 3

78

H.E. Parmer Company, Inc.

51 Tie Down Engineering, Inc.

38

Hentzen Coatings, Inc.

63 Towmaster, Inc.

16

Hiniker Company

88 Trailerman Trailers, Inc.

57

Hudson Brothers Trailer Mfg., Inc.

6 TRAILSTAR 62

KampCo Steel Products, Inc.

7 TravAlum (Liberty Inc.)

March/April 2015

67 www.NATM.com


R E D U C E C U S T O M E R D O W N T I M E,

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President’s Report

Tracks

President’s Report by Greg Snyder, CAR MATE Trailers, Inc. It is a special honor and privilege to begin my term as president of the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers, and I'd like to take the opportunity in my first President’s Report to thank some of the many people that have made this journey enjoyable. Thank you to Mike Lloyd (Aluma, Ltd.) our “This is an association outgoing President, for built on the backbone his dedicated efforts. Luckily, Mike will and voices of compliant continue to serve as an trailer manufacturers officer for an additional and their suppliers, and I year. Congratulations hope that more dealers to Patrick Jennissen and manufacturers (Felling Trailers), and come to understand Bob de Kruyff (U-Haul the importance of this International), on distinction.” their elevation to Vice -Greg Snyder President and Treasurer NATM President respectively. Welcome to newcomer Nathan Long (Tracker Marine) to the Board. Continuing their service on the Board are Les Eaves (Delta Manufacturing), Marcus Hester (Optronics International), Tony Priesgen (Triton Aluminum Trailers), and Rick Russell (Carry-On Trailer, Inc.). I would like to spotlight our outgoing past president, Gary Potter for his outstanding and faithful service to the industry and to NATM. Like the great people on the NATM Board of Directors and all of our members, I am passionate about this industry and about safe trailers. And also like many of you in the industry, I started working at the bottom 35 years ago. Working as a contractor during the early expansion years of CAR MATE, I went into the purchasing side of the business a few months later, and have been there ever since July of 1989. I am now overseeing CAR MATE’s purchasing department and am CEO of CAR MATE Trailers, Inc. in Pennsylvania. I would also like to take this chance to thank the ownership, management and

4

March/April 2015

employees of CAR MATE Trailers for permitting my participation in such a worthwhile cause. After seeing an article in Trailer/Body Builders magazine regarding the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers and their mission to improve the trailer industry, I encouraged my company to join and I am proud to say that CAR MATE has been a member since 1996. Improving the safety of our highways is why I first became involved with NATM, and why I’m sticking around for the long haul. Those that pass the NATM Compliance Verification Program biennial verification understand that although our businesses strive to be profitable, it isn’t at the cost of safety. We in this Association are trying to build safe trailers that we ourselves would want to own, as well as drive behind on highways. Since joining the Association two decades ago, I have served on many different committees for the Association, including the Membership, Trailer Dealer, Nominations, Finance and Executive committees. NATM hit the ground running in New Orleans this February at the annual Convention with committee meetings. With a fresh new slate of committee members and board members, a great staff, and an expanding membership base, NATM is poised to do great things for the trailer industry over the next several years. 2015 is going to be great, or even better. Already, the recent NATM Convention & Trade Show in New Orleans was an outstanding success. If my memory serves me right, I actually attended my first NATM Convention years ago in New Orleans. Since that show in the Big Easy, the convention has significantly expanded and improved. Back then, the show wasn’t much bigger than a hotel suite. When I returned to New Orleans 20 years later, this time as president of the Association, I found the Trade Show sold-out, and featured 178 exhibitors, 869 attendees and had relevant, interesting workshops.

www.NATM.com


President’s Report

Tracks

In July, the NATM Board of Directors will attend a strategic planning session in Minneapolis. There, we will review and make sure that the Association is making strides towards reaching its key objectives: membership growth, improving member services, focusing on government regulation and legislation, and ensuring that the proper infrastructure is in place to guarantee success. We will also evaluate whether these same key objectives are our top priorities or if there are new objectives that better meet the needs of our membership and this growing and ever evolving industry. The NATM staff will have its first formal planning visit in March during its journey to become ISO 17020 certified. Because of the excellent work of the NATM staff, we are on track to achieve the major milestone of ISO certification for the Association’s compliance verification program by the end of the year.

NATM President Greg Snyder at the NATM Convention & Trade Show in New Orleans, La.

In May, the NATM Board of Directors, members and staff will be attending the annual Regulatory Roundup in Washington, D.C. For more information about this important event, turn to page 18. During this time of year, the NATM staff is focused on membership renewals. While our membership numbers are on the rise alongside the improvement of the economy, we will continue to attract more manufacturers, suppliers and dealers into our network of committed companies and individuals. The value of membership in an association that is dedicated to serving the members and improving the safety of the entire trailer industry of the United States, should not be overlooked or underestimated. NATM’s value is not merely a bullet point list of advertising and trade show opportunities, it is about a greater sense of good and dedication to producing compliant, safe trailers. There is value in being part of a community that strives together to improve trailer standards, that stands together against problematic legislation, that learns together in workshops and that works together on committees. This is an association built on the backbone and voices of compliant trailer manufacturers and their suppliers, and I hope that more dealers

www.NATM.com

and manufacturers come to understand the importance of this distinction. I am so proud of how far this organization has come, and how far we will go because I truly believe that this Association can do anything it sets its mind to. If you have any questions or concerns about membership in the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers, do not hesitate to contact the NATM staff at NATMHQ@natm.com. I look forward to serving you and encourage your participation and input to further the success of our Association.

Greg Snyder CAR MATE Trailers, Inc. NATM President March/April 2015

5



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Headquarters Report

Tracks

Headquarters Report

by Pam Trusdale, NATM Executive Director

The Institute for Organization Management (IOM) is the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. It is the premier non-profit professional development program for association and chamber professionals, fostering individual growth through interactive learning and networking opportunities. Since 1921, Institute has educated hundreds of thousands of past, current and future non-profit leaders from across the country, making it one of the oldest and best regarded adult education programs in non-profit management.

extensive reporting concerning the organization’s governance and management policies, the independence of its board, and board members’ and key employees’ family and business relationships with each other and with the reporting organization. The NATM Governance Plan ensures that the Association operates with transparency and meets the reporting requirements of the IRS. In July, the board will meet for two days in Indianapolis for a facilitated strategic plan review. The purpose is to guarantee that the Association’s goals are relevant for the future and meet the ever changing demands of the trailer industry.

The IOM graduate recognition is awarded to those who have completed Institute’s full 96-hour course curriculum. Created in 2004, the IOM graduate recognition stands as a mark of achievement and reflects the dedication it takes to manage a non-profit organization in today’s ever-changing environment. NATM Executive Director Pam Trusdale has completed year three and Assistant Director Kendra Fritz has completed year two of this four year program. Classes are taught by consultants and experts in the field of non-profit management. After each course they return with a list of initiatives and new ideas to implement and also an affirmation that NATM does a lot of things right. NATM has a relevant strategic plan, an effective government affairs program and a strong governance plan to provide continuity, growth and security for the future of the Association. NATM developed its first strategic plan in 2005 and reviewed the plan in depth in 2008. As a result the board and staff developed a government affairs program and established a comprehensive governance plan. With many non-profits under scrutiny, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) completely redesigned Form 990, the Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax, to be filed for calendar year 2008 and subsequent periods. This form is filed by most tax-exempt organizations and is open to public inspection. One stated purpose of the makeover was to increase transparency and disclosure of exempt organization operations, thereby improving governance and highlighting conflicts of interest and insider dealings. One major change in the form was that it requires

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March/April 2015

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M42 Band Saw Blade Prices Discounts for ordering 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 blades. WIDTH 4'-6" 5'-0" 5'-6" 6'-0" 6'-6" 7'-0" 7'-6" 8'-0" 8'-6" 9'-0" 9'-6" 10'-0" 10'-6" 11'-0" 11'-6" 12'-0" 12'-6" 13'-0" 13'-6" 14'-0" 14'-6" 15'-0" 15'-6" 16'-0" 16'-6" 17'-0" 17'-6" 18'-0" 18'-6" 19'-0" 19'-6" 20'-0" 20'-6" 21'-0" 21'-6" 22'-0" 22’-6” 23’-0”

1/2” 16.08 17.15 18.23 19.30 20.37 21.44 22.51 23.58 24.65 25.73 26.80 27.87 28.94 30.01 31.08 32.15 33.23 34.30 35.37 36.44 37.51 38.58 39.65 40.73 41.80 42.87 43.94 45.01 46.08 47.15 48.23 49.30 50.37 51.44 52.51 53.58 54.65 55.73

3/4" 17.75 19.01 20.27 21.53 22.78 24.04 25.30 26.55 27.81 29.07 30.33 31.58 32.84 34.10 35.35 36.61 37.87 39.13 40.38 41.64 42.90 44.15 45.41 46.67 47.93 49.18 50.44 51.70 52.95 54.21 55.47 56.73 57.98 59.24 60.50 61.75 63.01 64.27

1" 18.65 20.01 21.37 22.73 24.08 25.44 26.80 28.15 29.51 30.87 32.23 33.58 34.94 36.30 37.65 39.01 40.37 41.73 43.08 44.44 45.80 47.15 48.51 49.87 51.23 52.58 53.94 55.30 56.65 58.01 59.37 60.73 62.08 63.44 64.80 66.15 67.51 68.87

1-1/4" 20.67 22.25 23.83 25.41 26.99 28.58 30.16 31.74 33.32 34.90 36.48 38.06 39.64 41.22 42.80 44.39 45.97 47.55 49.13 50.71 52.29 53.87 55.45 57.03 58.62 60.20 61.78 63.36 64.94 66.52 68.10 69.68 71.26 72.85 74.43 76.01 77.59 79.17

WIDTH 15’-6” 16’-0” 16’-6” 17’-0” 17’-6” 18’-0” 18’-6” 19'-0" 19'-6" 20'-0" 20'-6" 21'-0" 21'-6" 22'-0" 22'-6" 23'-0" 23'-6" 24'-0" 24'-6" 25'-0" 25'-6" 26'-0" 26'-6" 27'-0" 27'-6" 28'-0" 28'-6" 29'-0" 29'-6" 30'-0" 30’-6” 31’-0” 31'-6" 32'-0" 32'-6" 33'-0" 33'-6" 34'-0"

1-1/2" 68.79 70.78 72.77 74.75 76.74 78.73 80.72 82.71 84.70 86.68 88.67 90.66 92.65 94.64 96.63 98.62 100.60 102.59 104.58 106.57 108.56 110.55 112.53 114.52 116.51 118.50 120.49 122.48 124.46 126.45 128.44 130.43 132.42 134.41 136.39 138.38 140.37 142.36

2" 86.20 88.74 91.29 93.83 96.38 98.92 101.46 104.01 106.55 109.10 111.64 114.19 116.73 119.28 121.82 124.36 126.91 129.45 132.00 134.54 137.09 139.63 142.18 144.72 147.26 149.81 152.35 154.90 157.44 159.99 162.53 165.08 167.62 170.16 172.71 175.25 177.80 180.34

2-5/8" 117.67 121.14 124.62 128.09 131.56 135.03 138.50 141.97 145.45 148.92 152.39 155.86 159.33 162.80 166.28 169.75 173.22 176.69 180.16 183.63 187.11 190.58 194.05 197.52 200.99 204.47 207.94 211.41 214.88 218.35 221.82 225.30 228.77 232.24 235.71 239.18 242.65 246.13

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Statistically Speaking

Tracks

Statistically Speaking

by Jeff Jones, Statistical Surveys, Inc.

Sales for the light- and medium-duty trailer industry rose 11.9 percent in October of 2014. Nationally, the registration data is up 5.9 percent for the calendar year ending in October. Following are the details of the market’s performance for the five trailer segments as reported by Statistical Surveys, Inc.

Following are the top state rankings in sales growth for all trailer types for the year ending in October 2014.

Trailer Type

Oct. 2014

Year to Date Oct. 2014

2 Oregon 19.7 %

Boat

17.5 %

4.9 %

3 Idaho 19.2 %

Enclosed

6.1 %

3.7 %

4 Utah 18.5 %

Horse

16.5 %

5.0 %

5 Florida 16.4 %

Livestock

31.3 %

7.7 %

Open

10.5 %

5.7 %

October was a very good month for commercial trailers and 2014 was an up year.

Industry

11.9 %

5.9 %

Please note that Maine, Minnesota and Tennessee are experiencing data delays and will be added to the proper month when received.

Ranking State Percent Growth 1 Michigan 21.5 %

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

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March/April 2015

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Randy Lemasters, Statistical Surveys, Inc., Retires

Tracks

Randy Lemasters, Statistical Surveys, Inc., Retires

Randy Lemasters has announced his retirement from Statistical Surveys, Inc. at the end of February 2015. This is Randy’s second retirement. He retired 12 years ago from NuWa Trailers where he was the Vice President of Sales. Randy came to work for Statistical Surveys, Inc. not long after retiring from NuWa, to develop the Recreational Vehicle Dealer report. He was instrumental in launching that product. The Trailer File was started in 2005 with Randy’s assistance. He also helped design and develop the file on the electronic cube delivery system. Randy worked with the NATM in developing the five trailer types that Statistical Surveys, Inc. now uses to report industry sales. Tom Walworth, President of Statistical Surveys Inc., is very thankful for the great job that Randy has done for the company. Randy and Lana plan on putting some miles on their fifth wheel trailer. The employees at Statistical Surveys, Inc. and NATM wish Randy and Lana a great retirement!

www.NATM.com

March/April 2015

11


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Washington, D.C. Transportation Policy Leaders

Tracks

Washington, D.C. Transportation Policy Leaders By: Darrell Conner and Dennis Potter, K&L Gates

November’s Congressional elections and the conclusion of the 113th Congress have resulted in some important changes and brought some new faces to transportation policy debates. Here is an introduction to some of the key figures in the legislative and regulatory process for 2015. At press time, the top Democratic positions on the House and Senate Subcommittees have not yet been determined and will be introduced in a future article. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Chairman John Thune (R-SD) is serving his second term in the Senate after three terms in the House of Representatives. Senator Thune grew up in Murdo, S.D. and has a distinguished career of service to the state. Early in his career, he was appointed by President Reagan to a post at the U.S. Small Business Administration. During the 114th Congress, he will also hold the position of Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, the chamber’s third ranking Leadership post. Chairman John Thune (R-SD)

Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D-FL) is serving his third term in the Senate. His career in public service began with election to the Florida Legislature in 1972 and has included stints in the U.S. House of Representatives as well as Florida’s state Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner and Fire Marshal. He is a fifthgeneration Floridian and in 1986 spent six days orbiting the Earth aboard the space shuttle Columbia. Senator Nelson has been closely involved in the Committee’s recent vehicle safety investigations and has authored legislation to make significant changes to NHTSA’s Bill Nelson (D-FL) regulatory authorities. 14

March/April 2015

Senate Commerce Surface Transportation Subcommittee Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) was elected in 2012 and is serving her first term in the Senate. Prior to running for the Senate, she served two terms in the Nebraska Legislature where she was selected Chairman of the Legislature’s Transportation & Telecommunications Committee. She is a lifelong Nebraskan, born and raised in Lincoln and attended the University of Nebraska where she received a degree in education. She also was selected to serve on the Senate’s Republican Whip team for the 114th Congress. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE)

House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) has served on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee since being elected to Congress in 2001. He was selected to serve as the Committee’s Chairman in the 113th Congress and continues in that position in the 114th Congress. He has been a leading voice in transportation policy, having overseen a short term highway bill reauthorization as well as legislation reauthorizing water resources development, coast guard and maritime programs. He was born in McKeesport, Pa. and succeeded his father, Congressman Bud Shuster, representing the 9th District. Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) www.NATM.com


Washington, D.C. Transportation Policy Leaders Federal Regulatory Agencies Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-OR) was elected to Congress in 1986 and is the longest serving House Member in Oregon’s history. He has served on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee since coming to Congress and during his time on the Committee, he has served as Chairman or Ranking Member of four of the six Subcommittees, including Highways & Transit. During his time as Ranking Member of the Highways Subcommittee in 2005, Congress passed a full five year federal highway bill, a challenge which will again face the Committee in 2015. Peter DeFazio (D-OR)

Tracks

On Dec. 16, 2014, the U.S. Senate confirmed Dr. Mark Rosekind to be the new Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Dr. Rosekind joins NHTSA after a distinguished career in the transportation safety arena, having served on the National Transportation Safety Board and decades of innovative research and studies in safety related issues. He is the 15th NHTSA Administrator since its inception in 1970 and will lead the Administration’s efforts Dr. Mark Rosekind, NHTSA Administrator to promote vehicle safety and compliance with motor vehicle safety laws.

House Transportation & Infrastructure Highways and Transit Subcommittee Representative Sam Graves (R-MO) is a life-long resident of Missouri’s 6th District. A sixth generation family farmer and small business owner, he served in the Missouri House of Representatives and Senate before being elected to Congress in 2001. He served as Chairman of the House Small Business Committee during the 112th and 113th sessions of Congress.

Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO)

T.F. Scott Darling, III is the Acting Administrator and Chief Counsel of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Mr. Darling became the Agency’s Acting Administrator in August 2014 after first being appointed by President Obama in September 2012 to serve as the Chief Counsel. Acting Administrator Darling leads FMCSA’s overall efforts to improve commercial motor vehicle safety and reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. T.F. Scott Darling, III Acting

Administrator and Chief Counsel of FMCSA

Darrell Conner is a Government Affairs Counselor and Dennis Potter is a Government Affairs Analyst at the law and lobbying firm of K&L Gates, where they represent NATM and other clients on legislative, regulatory, policy and political matters. Conner can be reached at darrell.conner@klgates.com and Potter can be reached at dennis.potter@klgates.com.

www.NATM.com

March/April 2015

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Open Invitation to the 2015 Regulatory Roundup

Tracks

Open Invitation to the 2015 Regulatory Roundup by Pam Trusdale, NATM Executive Director

The Annual Regulatory Roundup and Capitol Hill Visits will be in Washington, D.C., May 14, 2015. Along with the Convention & Trade Show, this is one of NATM’s most important events of the year. NATM was originally invited by the Boat Trailer Manufacturers Association (BTMA) to be a guest at this event held during the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) American Boating Congress (ABC). This grew into a joint event between NATM and BTMA and in 2014 NATM took over managing the event. The Roundup was originally attended only by members of the NATM Board of Directors. Those attending found great value in the program and suggested expanding participation. Members of the Government Affairs and Government Affairs Outreach Committee were strongly encouraged to attend and participation has grown. The next step in the success of this event is to encourage more members to attend. Members who have attended in the past have found the experience very rewarding and provided the following comments: Brett Johnson, President/CEO, Optronics International says, “The Hill Visits were a valuable opportunity to explain and advance NATM interests in Congress. There is no better vehicle for advancing NATM member interests such as doubles towaway and uniform brake requirements than face-to-face meetings with key members of Congress. Moreover, it was a great opportunity to simply educate members on who NATM is and what we stand for – particularly consumer safety which is of interest to all Members of Congress. This introduction and education will greatly assist in our future efforts to advance our industry agenda. Out of the eight Hill meetings I attended, none of the members were familiar with NATM. They are now! This is what leads me to my next point. We need to more aggressively promote attendance to next year’s Trailer Roundup! We need more NATM members to attend in order to educate and advance our interests. What a few can accomplish, more can better accomplish!” said Johnson. John Kerr, Executive Producer, Manufacturing Practice Group, Marsh & McLennan Agency, says, “I have attended every Regulatory Roundup since I have been a member of the NATM. 18

March/April 2015

The Roundup has allowed me to have a real and meaningful impact on the trailer manufacturing industry. When I first went to Washington to meet with Members of Congress, there was a complete lack of knowledge and understanding about the NATM and the issues of importance to the trailer manufacturing industry. That is certainly not the case today and I am pleased to say that our work in Washington has been very productive and our efforts on the Hill have converted important advocates in Congress to the trailer industry. In fact, every single Congressperson and Representative I met with last year was familiar with the NATM and our issues. We even had a number of Congressmen and women who agreed to up their commitment to trailer manufacturers by endorsing and co-sponsoring NATM’s efforts. Without a doubt, this event has been the most important and impactful contribution I have made to the industry. The benefits of this work are real and I would challenge every NATM member to up their commitment to the industry by joining us in Washington,” said Kerr. NATM’s long-term approach to and investments in government relations continue to pay dividends to the Association and its members. Legislative and regulatory enactments are important and beneficial to NATM, but preventative activities—stopping bad things from happening—are perhaps more important from NATM’s perspective. The Association has been successful on both counts. The current government relations program in place for NATM is strong, and maintaining a steady course will continue to provide tremendous value to NATM members. Expanding the participation at the Regulatory Roundup and Capitol Hill visits will help build on that success and help NATM educate members of Congress about the trailer manufacturing industry. If you aren’t ready to make the commitment to join NATM in Washington, D.C., you can volunteer to host a member of Congress at your facility. In 2014, a record number of Senators and Representatives visited NATM members – both trailer manufacturers and suppliers. If you would like more information about the Regulatory Roundup or how you can get involved in the NATM Government Affairs program, contact Pam Trusdale at Pam.Trusdale@natm.com. www.NATM.com


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NHTSA Defect Investigations and Record Retention Requirements

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NHTSA Defect Investigations and Record Retention Requirements By Kendra Fritz, NATM Assistant Director

With the recent publicity surrounding the motor vehicle industry and NHTSA’s handling of recalls, NHTSA has indicated that scrutiny of manufacturers and their suppliers will become more aggressive in order to ensure there is not a repeat of the events with Takata airbags, Toyota, GM and the like. Not only is NHTSA going to be more aggressive in pursuing defects, but they have indicated a general difficulty when working with RV and trailer manufacturers because records retention is not appropriately managed and required information is often lacking. To try help alleviating this issue, on Jan. 15, 2015 RVIA and NATM joined together with the National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTSA) to further educate manufacturers and component suppliers on their responsibility regarding defect investigations. This webinar also covered Early Warning Reporting (EWR), Technical Service Bulletins (TSB) reporting, and record retention requirements. Three specific regulations were addressed: 49 CFR 573, 576, and 579. Bruce York, NHTSA Division Chief, Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles Division led the webinar with help from R. Nicholas Englund, Trial Attorney, Litigation and Enforcement Division, Office of Chief Counsel and Nate Seymour, Safety Defect Investigator. Turnout for this event boasted more than 300 NATM and RVIA members. York began the webinar explaining how the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI), one part of NHTSA, handles an investigation. Understanding the investigation process is vital to manufacturers and suppliers understanding their role. The process begins when ODI becomes aware of a possible defect. Sources for such information are numerous, but include complaints from the public, reports and data submitted by manufacturers, suppliers and insurance companies. Once ODI believes it is possible a defect exists, the screening phase begins. This is an ongoing phase wherein ODI looks for trends, interviews consumers and manufacturers, compares data to peer vehicles and reviews EWR information. If it is still possible that a defect exists, ODI enters the investigation phase. The investigation phase can last anywhere from four months to a year. In this phase motor vehicles, including trailers, are inspected, manufacturers and suppliers are contacted, information is requested, tests are run, surveys are sent out and data analyzed. This is the phase 22

March/April 2015

in which ODI will begin to look in-depth at the companies involved and their participation is paramount. An investigation may close at this phase for two reasons: first, the manufacturer has voluntarily decided to issue a recall; or second, ODI has determined no defect exists. However, without one of these two results, ODI then moves into the Post-Investigation phase. During this phase, because there has been a lack of agreement between the manufacturer and ODI, recall request letters are issued and possible litigation ensues among other similar paths. This last phase is rarely entered into, but it does occur. 49 CFR Part 573 Part 573.6 focuses on Defect and Noncompliance Information Reports or recalls. In this instance, it is the responsibility of the manufacturer of the motor vehicle and manufacturer of the part to furnish a report to NHTSA for each defect in the vehicle or item of original or replacement equipment that the manufacturer or the Administrator from NHTSA determines to be related to motor vehicle safety, and for each noncompliance with a motor vehicle safety standard in such vehicles or items of equipment which the manufacturer or Administrator determines to exist. In the question and answer portion of the recent webinar, it was determined that the responsibility for determining when a defect exists lies largely with the manufacturer. The question then became, how does one know when a defect exists? York and Englund jointly answered this question by stating that the manufacturer should look at the frequency and severity of the issue combined with supporting documentation including reports, warranty claims, complaints and any investigation into the matter. Once the determination that a defect exists, according to part 573, the manufacturer – both motor vehicle and part – then has five days to submit a report to NHTSA. This is five days from when the manufacturer knew or should have known that a defect existed. Of particular importance and a point that was reiterated several times was the value of a strong relationship between the part supplier and the manufacturer. Both parties are responsible for reporting and making sure that the lines of communication are open, so that defects can be discovered and reported in a timely manner. Continued on page 27 www.NATM.com


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NHTSA Defect Investigations and Record Retention Requirements Fines for lack of timeliness are $7,000 per vehicle per day up to $35,000,000. And fines of this amount have recently been levied. York took great care to point out several times that both the part manufacturer and the motor vehicle manufacturer are responsible for reporting. NHTSA has found that often the manufacturer tries to avoid reporting by saying that the part is under warranty with the supplier and the onus thus falls on that company. This is NOT an accurate representation of responsibility. “You as the manufacturers are responsible for the safety of the vehicle you put out on the road,” said York. While one part may bear the brunt of any recall requirements, both parties must participate in reporting and information requests. An aside comment was also made that it does not matter where in the chain of distribution the item with a possible defect in question is, once the item is no longer in the complete control of the manufacturer, a report must be furnished. This means, in overly simplified terms, the only time a report can be avoided is when the part in question is still in production and not one item with the possible defect has left the control of the manufacturer, so that it can be fixed before it leaves said control. 49 CFR Part 576 Part 576 covers record retention requirements. Inadequate record keeping results in an inability to comply with information requests and is the main reason civil penalties have been levied against manufacturers. As mentioned above, NHTSA has found this to be particularly true of RV and trailer manufacturers. The purpose of part 576 is to preserve records that are needed for the proper investigation, and adjudication or other disposition, of possible defects related to motor vehicle safety and instances of non-conformity to the motor vehicle safety standards and associated regulations. This regulation requires that manufacturers of motor vehicles and of motor vehicle equipment retain claims, reports and other records concerning alleged and proven motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment defects and malfunctions that may be related to motor vehicle safety. Please note the verbiage “may be related to motor vehicle safety.” Such information must be kept for five calendar years from the date on which it was generated or acquired. 49 CFR Part 579 Notices, bulletins, customer satisfaction campaigns, consumer advisories and other communications are covered in Part 579. According to Part 579, manufacturers must submit to NHTSA

www.NATM.com

Tracks a copy of all notices, bulletins and any other communications sent to more than one manufacturer, distributor, lessor, lessee, owner, or purchaser regarding any defect in its vehicles or item of equipment. York went on to explain that defects in this instance mean any failure or malfunction beyond normal deterioration in use, or any failure of performance, or any flaw or unintended deviation from design specification, whether or not such defect is safety related. NHTSA was adamant with regard to this regulation that if something is flawed or breaks that was not part of the intended design even if it is not safety related, they want to know. NHTSA recognizes, and the manufacturers participating definitely took note, that this is a very broad regulation. Part 579 goes on to state that manufacturers must also submit or furnish NHTSA with a copy of each communication to a customer satisfaction campaign, consumer advisory, recall or other safety activity involving the repair or replacement of motor vehicles or equipment that the manufacturer issued to, or made available to, more than one dealer, distributor, lessor, lessee, other manufacturer, owner, or purchaser in the United States. This then begged the question, does this include a customer satisfaction survey? NHTSA admitted that this is in part a grey area, noting that generally speaking a general survey would not need to be reported, but that if comments note an EWR issue or if the basis of the survey is such that it is grounded in the possibility of a defect, then it probably needs to be reported. It is key that when a manufacturer has questions, they contact NHTSA to make a determination. Subpart C of Part 579 covers EWR reporting. These reporting requirements vary based on what is being manufactured and how many of those items are being manufactured per year. Some companies will be required to report on a quarterly basis while others are required to report as the information is submitted. Englund directed attendees to Part 579.21 – 579.29 for specification as to how a company is required to report. Questions were also raised regarding technical service bulletins (TSB). TSB is covered in 49 CFR 579.5. It was noted that this section is particularly complex in what is required and so discussion was brief. However, it is important to understand that what is required for EWR reporting is separate from TSB reporting and that penalties for confusion of the two have been assessed and will continue to be assessed going forward. For the most up-to-date version of the regulation discussed, please visit www.gpo.gov or www.ecfr.gov. The webinar can be found online at www.NATM.com or contact NATM headquarters at NATMHQ@natm.com for a copy. March/April 2015

27


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Unauthorized Use of NATM Trademarks, Advertising with NATM

Tracks

Unauthorized Use of NATM Trademarks by Pam Trusdale, NATM Executive Director

The trademarked NATM Compliance Decals are earned by trailer manufacturers after successfully completing the NATM Compliance Verification Program to confirm they have the manufacturing processes in place to build trailers that meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and recommended industry practices. Unfortunately, there are reports of non-members using both the NATM Logo and compliance decal including some former members and some that have never been members of NATM. NATM does not allow companies that are not members to use the NATM logo and decal or make false claims about being NATM compliant. Only Association members that have verified compliance are authorized to use the trademarked logo and decal.

NATM Compliance Decal

The NATM decal is a symbol of high quality, best practices and verified compliance and it is no wonder that non-members see the value of NATM’s trademarks. Unfortunately, this is a trademark infringement and gives false information to consumers while damaging the reputation of the industry and reputable manufacturers. If you know of companies infringing on the NATM trademarks, please send copies of printed materials or an email with a link to the violators website. Send emails to NATMHQ@natm.com and a staff member will contact those companies and ask them to either remove the compliance decal or to join and participate in the compliance verification program.

Advertising with NATM

By: Meghan Ryan, NATM Communications Director

Placing advertising in front of trailer manufacturers and dealers is one of the easiest and most effective benefits of NATM membership. As a not-for-profit organization, the Association works to keep advertising prices low enough to cover costs without breaking the marketing budgets of NATM's supplier and trailer manufacturing members.

NATM.com to update your listing, contact Kendra Fritz, assistant director, at Kendra.Fritz@natm.com.

Advertising in the bi-monthly Tracks magazine, the annual NATM Convention Program and the annual Membership Directory & Buyer's Guide is easy: simply send in your advertising contract and PDF of the artwork, and NATM will send you an invoice once your ad is sent to print in the publication of your choice.

The deadlines for submitting artwork, contracts or articles for 2015 is as follows:

It is free for NATM members to upload company logos and update company information on NATM's online Member Directory, and your listing can be edited at any hour of the day. If you need your login credentials for the Members Only section of

If you have any questions or concerns about advertising or Tracks magazine, contact Meghan Ryan, communications director, at Meghan.Ryan@natm.com. NATM encourages members to submit suggestions for Tracks article topics and welcomes submissions for member spotlight articles.

www.NATM.com

If you or someone you know would like to receive Tracks magazine or advertising notices, please let NATM know and you will be added to the mailing list.

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2015 Board Election Results

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2015 Board Election Results

By: Pam Trusdale, NATM Executive Director

NATM Members elected their Board of Directors for the 2015 – 2018 term in January. Those elected included: Marcus Hester – Optronics International as an Associate Member; Les Eaves – Delta Manufacturing; Nathan Long – Tracker Marine Group TrailStar Trailers; Tony Priesgen – Triton Trailers; and Rick Russell – Carry-On Trailer as Regular Members. Nathan Long is new to the board of directors. Les Eaves, Marcus Hester, Tony Priesgen and Rick Russell were elected to their second term on the board. Nathan Long, supply chain manager for Tracker Marine Group, has been involved in the marine industry for over 30 years. Such experience has created familiarity with DOT/NHTSA standards in addition to NATM’s compliance program and use of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Nathan has had contact with local and federal legislators with great frequency Nathan Long Tracker Marine Group through NHTSA, USCG, ABYC, and NMMA. His role within his own company has led to dealing with engineering issues and the development of a continuous improvement system through Lean Sigma. Further, his role has also included working with legal counsel. When asked why he feels qualified to serve on the NATM Board of Directors, Long says, “My 30 years of experience in the marine industry has allowed me to gain extensive knowledge of

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March/April 2015

all products leading to the development of standard operating procedures and business tool development proven in beta prior to hard code launch on portals. Quitters never win and winners never quit, reminds me to be relentless in the pursuit of excellence.” Les Eaves, vice president of Delta Manufacturing, Inc., has been involved with the trailer manufacturing industry for 16 years. During his tenure, he has dealt with engineering issues and has worked with legal counsel, which contributes to his ability to serve on the board. Les is a current NATM board member and is currently serving on the NATM Marketing and Government Affairs committees. Les Eaves Eaves’ Delta Manufacturing, Inc. participation in the annual NATM Regulatory Roundup and his role as a Representative for the Arkansas House of Representatives have created countless opportunities to work with local and national legislators. When asked why he feels qualified to serve on the NATM Board of Directors, Eaves says, “As vice president of a family owned trailer business, and a current NATM board member, I am committed to this industry’s future.” Marcus Hester, vice president of sales and marketing for Optronics International, has worked in the trailer industry for over ten years, with a focus on the OEM and heavy-duty trailer markets. He stays current on LED technology to ensure the OEM

www.NATM.com


2015 Board Election Results

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trailer industry reaps the benefits of higher quality, more reliable lighting products. Further, Marcus is knowledgeable regarding current FMVSS 108 standards and other actions being taken to update lighting requirements as well as proper application of lighting. Marcus Marcus Hester has served on the Optronics International NATM Board of Directors for one term while also serving on the Executive and Marketing committees. Additionally, he has attended the NATM Hill Visits and has hosted Rep. Markwayne Mullin at Optronics’ Muskogee facility. When asked why he feels qualified to serve on the NATM Board of Directors, Hester says, “My goal is to maximize the value NATM brings to regular members by offering creative new ideas to help grow membership, positively impact trailer safety, improve public awareness, and increase demand for NATM compliant trailers and products.”

Tony Priesgen Triton Trailers, LLC www.NATM.com

Tony Priesgen, executive advisor for Triton Trailers, LLC, has been involved in the trailer industry for 20 years. He was former vice president and owner of Triton Corp. and directly managed the engineering and R&D departments for more than

fifteen years. Tony has served as an NATM Board Member for the past four years. Additionally, he has served on the NATM Technical, Membership, Dealer, and Convention committees. Currently Priesgen serves on the Convention and Nominations committees. Priesgen has been an active participant in the annual NATM Hill Visits. During those visits he has served as a team leader and is a strong advocate for the members as he represents their needs to legislators and their staffers. When asked why he feels qualified to serve on the NATM Board of Directors, Priesgen says, “I have been involved in the trailer industry for 20 years as an owner and active manager in trailer manufacturing and with this prior experience I feel I can be a great board member to represent our growing organization due to my understanding of what it takes to be a trailer manufacturer and thus understand all areas of the business sector we are faced with in our daily efforts in this industry.” Rick Russell, vice president of marketing with Carry-On Trailer, Inc., has been involved with the trailer industry for more than 30 years. Rick is completing his 2012-2015 term and as a current board member serves as the chairman for the Government Affairs committee while also serving on the marketing committee. He has participated in the NATM Hill Visits since 2010, as well as the NMMA Regulatory Roundup since its inception. However, his contact with local and national legislators goes back 20 years. Rick also serves on boards, committees and task forces with other industry associations such as NMMA and BTMA. When asked why he feels qualified to serve on the NATM Board of Directors, Russell says, “Long term experience in the trailer market and 20 years of involvement in industry association work. I can recognize the importance of representing what is best for our industry.”

Rick Russell Carry-On Trailer, Inc. March/April 2015

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2015 NATM Committee Assignments

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2015 NATM Committee Assignments

By: Pam Trusdale, NATM Executive Director

NATM had a number of significant successes in 2014 and the Association is off to a good start for 2015. Committee assignments were made and goals were set for 2015 and most of the committee members attended the orientations held in New Orleans during the 27th Annual Convention & Trade Show. A number of years ago the board of directors recognized the importance of making committee assignments early and setting specific goals for each committee. Since that time, the number of committee volunteers has quadrupled.

Committee goals are based on the strategic plan and goals of the Association. With over 35 percent of the committee members being new volunteers, there is a great balance of history and corporate knowledge along with fresh ideas and new enthusiasm. It has been said that, “Ten percent of the people do 90 percent of the work.” That is not true of NATM volunteers. A high percentage of members that have volunteered to serve on the board and committees have been actively engaged and truly make a difference in the Association and trailer manufacturing industry.

This year, 23 individuals who had never served responded to the survey for committee volunteers. The NATM Technical Committee continues to be the most popular committee and unfortunately it was not possible to accommodate all of the volunteers and still keep the committee a manageable size. It is best if all volunteers can list at least two options, so that as many members as possible can be included.

The 2015 NATM committee roster may be found on the facing page. It’s not too late to get involved. If you are interested in serving on a committee, contact Pam Trusdale at Pam.Trusdale@natm.com or by calling NATM headquarters. Detailed committee information may also be found on the NATM website, www.NATM.com on the About NATM tab.

2015 NATM Board of Directors Back Row L-R: Doug Deaver, Chris Steinman, Tony Priesgen, Rick Russell, Rick Coffey, Adam Dexter, Les Eaves, Owen Shelton, Ron Yarnell, Lynn Beal Front Row: Nathan Long, Mike Lloyd, Patrick Jennissen, Marcus Hester, Greg Snyder, Bob de Kruyff

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March/April 2015

www.NATM.com


2015 NATM Committee Assignments Executive

Marketing

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Government Affairs

Greg Snyder, CAR MATE Trailers, Inc.*

Patrick Jennissen, Felling Trailers*

Rick Russell, Carry-On Trailers*

Bob de Kruyff, U-Haul International

Brain Adams, Rumber Materials

Lynn Beal, Big Tex Trailer Manufacturing

Marcus Hester, Optronics International

Jim Berry, Dexter Axle

Bob de Kruyff, U-Haul International

Patrick Jennissen, Felling Trailers

Bill Bushman, Titan Distribution

Adam Dexter, Dexter Axle

Mike Lloyd, Aluma

Clay Chambless, BB&T

Les Eaves, Delta Manufacturing

Marcus Hester, Optronics International

Andy Gehman, MGS, Incorporated

Bob de Kruyff, U-Haul International*

Jeff Jones, Statistical Surveys

Patrick Jennissen, Felling Trailers

Patrick Jennissen, Felling Trailers

Tary Krahenbuhl, Austin Hardware & Supply

Nathan Long, Tracker Marine Group

Mike Lloyd, Aluma

Joe Ostrowski, Americana Tire & Wheel

Owen Shelton, BoatMate Trailers

Randy McMann, Titan International

Rick Russell, Carry-On Trailers

Tony Priesgen, Triton Trailers

John Walsh, Cequent

Finance

Governance Kevin Weinacht, Featherlite*

Don Watkins, Jet Heat Trailer Dealer

Membership Rick Coffey, CTP Transportation Products* Chip Chrisman, Rumber Materials Rhiannon Dixon, Redneck Trailer Supplies

Andy Gehman, MGS, Incorporated

Greg Snyder, CAR MATE Trailers*

Carl Maxey, MGS Incorporated

Joe Beatty, MGS, Incorporated

Blake Moore, Bailey International

Gary Bergeron, Connecticut Trailers

Chris Pokornowski, Towmaster Trailers

Greg Blaser, Trailer World and Blaser Trailer Sales

Bob Reedy, Link Trailer Parts

Rich Cihanowyz, Carr Trailers and Supplies

Greg Snyder, CAR MATE Trailers

Rhiannon Dixon, Redneck Trailer Supplies

Ron Yarnell, PPG

Owen Shelton, BoatMate Trailers Todd Walstrom, Cequent Nominations Patrick Jennissen, Felling Trailers * Mike Lloyd, Aluma Tony Priesgen, Triton Trailers Marcus Hester, Optronics International Convention Ron Yarnell, PPG* Jim Berry, Dexter Axle (Co-Chair) Bill Bushman, Titan Distribution Patrick Chadwick, Bucher Hydraulics

Brandy Garrison, Better Built Trailers

Brent Freel, KampCo Steel Products Marcus Hester, Optronics International Joe Ostrowski, Americana Tire & Wheel

Technical

Mike Lloyd, Aluma

Chris Steinman, MGS, Incorporated*

David McKee, BWise Manufacturing

Patrick Chadwick, Bucher Hydraulics

Rick Rathfon, CAR MATE Trailers

Bruce Bailey, Lippert Components

Bob Reedy, Link Trailer Parts

Mike Crow, EZ Loader Boat Trailers

Bennie Shivers, Shivers Utility Trailers

Bob de Kruyff, U-Haul International

Sid Wells, Double O Trailer Service

Frank Drake, Cequent

Josh Widdes, Widdes Trailer Sales

Bernardo Duran, AZZ Galvanizing Services

Government Affairs Outreach

Kevin Fredrickson, Eagle Trailer Company

Lynn Beal, Big Tex Trailer Manufacturing*

Nick Gamby, Nuera Transport

Adam Dexter, Dexter Axle

Pat Godwin Jr., Champion Hoist

Doug Deaver, M.H. Eby

Bernie Goettker, UFP by Dexter

Tom Grieshaber, Liberty/Travalong

Tom Kaufman, Hillsboro Industries

John Kerr, Marsh & McLennan Agency

Tim Lammers, Demco

Ryan Eichhorn, Buyers Products

Tary Krahenbuhl, Austin Hardware & Supply

Randy McMann, Titan International

Jeff Grieshaber, Liberty/Travalong

Carl Maxey, MGS, Incorporated

Dave Mihalik, Bison Coach

Marty Lorick, Triple Crown Trailers

Dan Ryan, Badger Components

Owen Shelton, BoatMate Trailers

Rich McCarthy, MidWest Materials

Steve Taub, U-Haul International

Luis Vendrell, U-Haul International

Rick Coffey, CTP Transportation Products Brian Collins, Nuera Transport Fred Dosmann, Dec-O-Art Jennifer Egan, Col-Met Engineered Finishing Solutions

Tony Priesgen, Triton Trailers

Kyle Wald, Felling Trailers

Robert Roden, H.E. Parmer Company Dustin Smith, Optronics International * Denotes chairperson of the committee www.NATM.com

March/April 2015

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Dealers Committed to Compliance

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Dealers Committed to Compliance

By: Kendra Fritz, NATM Assistant Director

The NATM Dealers Committed to Compliance (DCTC) Program has seen unprecedented growth in the last year. As the Association looks to incorporate dealers into programming and provide more benefits and services, it has become apparent that dealers need a voice in this process. Who better to help redefine the dealer program than dealers? The NATM Trailer Dealer committee will now feature five dealers, all Tier One in the DCTC program, to help give a voice to the needs of this integral link in the trailer industry. Each of these dealers took the time to complete the dealer survey and indicated an interest in contributing to and participating in the work of the Association. Dealers have long been a missing but vital link in working towards the NATM mission and the communicating the importance of the Compliance Verification Program. It is with great excitement and hope that this new committee will begin its work by finding new ways to meet the needs of dealers and reach the end consumer about NATM manufacturers. Recently, all 186 dealer affiliates received a survey that sought to both evaluate current benefits and provide an opportunity for dealers to submit ideas for change. A number of dealers have responded and now the committee will have a great jumping off point when they officially begin their term in February. Although the survey results have been collected, NATM is always looking for new ideas and opportunities to improve, so please contact Assistant Director Kendra Fritz at (785) 272-4433 or via email at Kendra.Fritz@natm.com with input. As of this writing, 93 trailer dealers across the country are Tier One DCTC affiliates. Tier One dealers sell only new trailers produced by NATM verified compliant trailer manufacturers. Those members are as follows:

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309 Trailer Sales – Drums, PA

Carr Trailers and Supplies – Muncy, PA

4C’s Trailers Direct – High River, AB Canada

Connecticut Trailers, Inc. – Bolton, CT

99 West Trailer Sales – Sherwood, OR

Country Load Trailer Sales – Madrid, NE

A-1 Motors, Inc. – Chambersburg, PA

Cross Country Trailer Center – Quincy, IL

Agri Supply Company – Garner, NC

Custom Cabs & Trailers, Inc. – Jamestown, OH

Agri VA., Inc. – Garner, NC

D & G Auto Center –Bridgeport, CT

Agri-South, Inc. – Garner, NC

Davis Trailer World, LLC – York, NY

Agri-Supply of Statesboro, Inc. – Garner, NC

Double O Trailer Service, Inc. – Paris, KY

Agri-Supply of Valdosta, Inc. – Garner, NC

East Coast Autos and Trailers – Wilmington, NC

Agri-Supply, Inc. of Greenville – Garner, NC

G. H. Trailer, Inc. – Westbrook, CT

Agri-Supply, Inc. of Lumberton – Garner, NC

General Welding & Fabricating – Elma, NY

Airport Trailers – Leominster, MA

Gilman Auto Parts – Gilman, IL

Alec’s Truck Trailer & RV – Miami, FL

Goodrich Trailer Sales – Elk Mound, WI

All Star Trailer Sales – Norfolk, NE

Hawkeye Tack & Western Wear – Des Moines, IA

Altmeyer’s Trailer Sales – Kittanning, PA

Heikes Equipment – Farmington, MN

Blake’s Trailer Sales and Repair, Inc. – Rapid City, SD

Heilbrun’s Powersports – Scottsbluff, NE

Blaser Trailer Sales – Woodburn, OR

Idle Wheels RV Center, Inc. – Placerville, CA

Brake & Clutch, Inc. – Salem, MA

Ike’s Auto Sales – Steinbach, MB Canada

Cap World, Inc. – Melrose, MA

J J M Auto and Fleet Service – Salem, NH

March/April 2015

www.NATM.com


Dealers Committed to Compliance Johnson Trailer Sales – Tingley, IA Kaldeck Truck & Trailer Neepawa – Neepawa, MB Canada Kaldeck Truck & Trailer, Inc – MacGregor, MB Canada Kelley & Sons Trailers – Carleton, MI Kentucky Trailer Sales – Louisville, KY Killam Truck Caps – East Windsor, CT Kokoon Homes – Toccoa, GA Link Hydraulic – Dubuque, IA Lohr Equipment & Welding – Scott Township, PA Luft Trailer Sales – Ellensburg, WA M. H. Eby, Inc Seymour – Seymour, IN M. H. Eby, Inc. – Iowa – Story City, IA M. H. Eby, Inc. – Ohio – West Jefferson, OH

M. H. Eby, Inc. – Pennsylvania – Blue Ball, PA M.H. Eby, Inc of Logansport – Logansport, IN M.H. Eby, Inc of Worthing – Worthing, SD Marciano’s – Port Chester, NY Maurertown Trailer Sales – Woodstock, VA Maxey Trailer Sales – Fort Collins, CO Maximum Power Sports, Inc. – Peru, IN MGS, Incorporated – Denver,PA Midsota Manufacturing Inc. – Avon, MN Midsouth Distributors, Inc. – Garner, NC Mouser Steel Supply, Inc. – Patton, MO

Rabeaux Auto Sales, Inc. – Lafayette, LA

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Rental World of Osceola, Inc. – Kissimmee, FL Roeder Bros., Inc. – Bellevue, IA Rollin-on Trailer Sales, LLC – New Franken, WI Ron’s Toy Shop – Manchester, NH S & K Trailers – Blairsburg, IA S.P. Enterprises, Inc. – South Easton, MA Scott Reinhart Trailer Sales, Ltd. – Shelburne, ON Canada Ship’s Cycle – Elko, NV Smouse Trucks, Vans & Trailers – Mt Pleasant, PA Southwest Trailer Sales (Patine, Inc.) – Ramona, CA Staring Trailer Sales – Byram, MS Stateline Trailer Sales – Newburgh, IN

Storage In Motion, LLC – Hoton, PA Summit Trailer Sales & Service, Inc. – Akron, OH The Car Shop Trailer Sales – Holly Hill, FL T-N-J Trailers, Inc. – Pelzer, SC Town Line Auto – Greenville, NY Trailer World – Bend, OR Trailering U – Anderson, CA Ultimate Tire – Coldbrook, NS Victory Auto and Trailer – Metamora, MI Visto’s Trailer Sales – West Fargo, ND

Nila’s Outdoors, Etc. – Sparks, GA

Wendell H Stone Co., Inc. dba Mustang Trailer Mfg. – Glassport, PA

Nore’s Auto and Trailer Sales – Kenmare, ND

Werner Bros. Pre-Owned Cars & Trucks – York, PA

Northside Trailer, LLC – Zionsville, IN

Widdes Trailer Sales – Esko, MN

Prairie Wind Trailers, LLC – Harrisburg, SD www.NATM.com

Wolf’s Auto Outlet – Shippenville, PA

March/April 2015

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Save the Date NATM Regulatory Roundup and Capitol Hill Visits May 14, 2015 • Washington D.C. Each year, NATM hosts a Capitol Hill Visit,

The Regulatory Roundup includes speakers and

where members attend meetings with his or her

presenters from members and staff members of key

state representatives. These meetings allow NATM

congressional committees as well as other industry

members to discuss the impact of legislation on

experts discussing the industry’s status and future.

the industry and educate legislators on the NATM

The registration deadline is April 22, 2015.

Compliance Verification Program.

Contact Allison Malmstrom for more information: • (785) 272-4433 • allison.malmstrom@natm.com


Know Your Association; Know Your Decal

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Know Your Association; Know Your Decal By: Pam Trusdale, NATM Executive Director

Know Your Association The National Association of Livestock Trailer Manufacturers (NALTM) was founded in 1987 when a group of horse and livestock trailer manufacturers met in Chickasha, Okla. The Association incorporated in Texas in 1990. By 1992, this young Association realized that all manufacturers of light- and mediumduty trailers faced the same business, regulatory and legislative issues. So, the Association dropped “Livestock” from its name and became the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM). NATM is a trade association, a membership organization governed by its members for the benefit of its members and the industry in general. Trade associations that meet the requirements of Internal Revenue Code section 501(c) (6) are entitled to be exempt from federal income tax as “business leagues,” thus qualifying as a not-for-profit organization. NATM filed for and was granted 501(c)(6) tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on April 1, 1991. IRS Exemption requirements: The IRS defines a “business league” as an association of persons having some common business interest, the purpose of which is to promote that common interest and not to engage in a regular business of a kind ordinarily carried on for profit. To be exempt as a business league, an organization’s activities must be devoted to improving business conditions of one or more lines of business (as distinguished from performing particular services for individual persons). It must be shown that the conditions of a particular trade or the interests of the community will be advanced. Merely indicating the name of the organization or the object of the local statute under which it is created is not enough to demonstrate the required general purpose. No part of a business league’s net earnings may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual and it may not be organized for profit to engage in an activity ordinarily carried on for profit (even if the business is 44

March/April 2015

operated on a cooperative basis or produces only enough income to be self-sustaining). To be exempt, a section 501(c)(6) organization must receive meaningful membership support. Trade associations and professional associations are business leagues. NATM is a not-for-profit 501(c)(6) trade association. It is governed by a set of bylaws investing governing power in an elected board of directors. The Board owes a fiduciary duty to the association’s members. The Board hires the Executive Director to manage the day-to-day affairs of the Association and instructs the Executive Director through written Board-adopted policies that prescribe the organizational goals to be achieved. The Board also develops policies instructing the Executive Director to achieve Board specified results, for specified recipients, at a specified cost. The NATM Board also appoints a Finance Committee. Each year the Finance Committee prepares a balanced budget for the Association to ensure the Association has adequate resources to fund programs and remain financially sound. If revenues exceed expenses, the excess revenue is allocated to “reserves” with a goal of accumulating sufficient funds to cover a number of months’ operating expenses – in NATM’s case, six to twelve months operating expenses – to ensure the Association remains financially sound through economic down-turns. Reserves are also used to fund special projects when technical, regulatory or legislative issues impacting the industry arise that must be addressed by the Association. All excess revenue not placed in reserves is rolled back into Association-run programs to benefit members and to keep dues and convention registrations at an affordable rate. Non-profit organizations must maintain complete transparency, and their 990s filed annually with the IRS may be viewed online and are on file for public inspection at the Association headquarters office. If you want to check whether an organization you belong to is a non-profit, you can check it out at www.guidestar.org. This is also a good resource to check on www.NATM.com


Know Your Association; Know Your Decal

Tracks 501(c)(3) (charitable) organizations to verify if donations to the organization are tax-deductible. Dues to trade associations – a 501(c)(6) – are deductible as a business expense, less any amount dedicated to lobbying. This non-deductible amount must be disclosed on membership renewal forms. Know Your Decal In the early 1990s, NATM created a gold “member” decal. The purpose of the decal was to show pride in the organization and to help offset operating expenses. When the trailer Compliance Verification Program (CVP) was established in 2002, a new “compliance” decal was created. This decal was only available to members that successfully completed their compliance consultations. Initial consultations were free to NATM members, and subsequent consultations remained free to members that supported the CVP program through purchase and use of the decal. Since its inception, revenue from the sale of compliance decals has completely funded the cost of the program. The gold “member” decal was eventually phased out to eliminate any confusion in the minds of the trailering public about the significance of the two decals. Participation in the original CVP was voluntary with the goal of increasing participation over time in response to public demand. Eventually, NATM members voted unanimously at the 2011 convention to make participation in the compliance program mandatory effective Jan. 1, 2012. The items on the CVP checklist are all items required by federal law or are industry best practices. NATM experienced record compliance decal sales in 2014. Membership continues to grow and more manufacturers are joining to take advantage of the CVP. Revenue generated from the program continues to cover CVP operating expenses. Excess revenues are earmarked to adding another Compliance Consultant to the NATM staff to keep up with the demands of the program and to promote the significance of the compliance decal. An NATM compliance decal on a trailer indicates that www.NATM.com

the manufacturer has the processes and systems in place to manufacture trailers in accordance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and recommended, accepted industry best practices. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently conducted a webinar for trailer and RV manufacturers. NHTSA is taking a strong stand on enforcement and compliance and recently announced two $35 million civil penalties against the automotive industry, for a total of $70 million, for failing to report deaths, injuries and certain warranty claims to the federal government in violation of the TREAD Act. In 2014 alone, NHTSA issued more than $126 million in civil penalties for violating NHTSA’s FMVSSs, exceeding the total amount collected by the agency during its forty-three year history. For more information, turn to page 22. The motor vehicle industry (which includes trailers) will continue to be under Congressional and public scrutiny. NATM’s mission is to promote trailer safety, and its members have embraced that mission by adopting a mandatory safety compliance program. The goal for NATM is to continue its focus on trailer safety by educating every trailer manufacturer about the importance of compliance, educating every trailer dealer about the importance of selling compliant trailers, and educating consumers about the importance of purchasing compliant trailers. The NATM compliance decal may be purchased and used only by manufacturers that have verified compliance through their participation in NATM’s CVP. The sale of compliance decals funds the cost of this CVP. All revenue generated from decal sales go back into the program to defray costs for salaries, administration, travel, overhead, monitoring regulations and continuous improvements. Use of the compliance decals signifies a commitment to the industry, to safety, and to NATM. Is the NATM compliance decal on every trailer you build/sell/ buy? It should be! Look for the decal that has meaning.

March/April 2015

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Alum-Line, Inc.: Trailer & Truck Body Outfitters

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Alum-Line, Inc.: Trailer & Truck Body Outfitters

by Sydney Hayes, Alum-Line, Inc. Human Resources Manager

When asked how he’d best describe Alum-Line, Inc., founding owner Gary D. Gooder responds, “We call ourselves the largest custom shop of the industry. Whatever our customer wants, we’ll build.” With over 100,000 square feet of manufacturing space in Cresco, Iowa, Alum-Line continually outputs a range of custom-designed and built products, from truck beds, tool boxes, livestock and specialty trailers, to rescue and service bodies. In addition to a long list of standard products, the customization factor is what makes Alum-Line unique to the “cookie-cutter” trailer manufacturing industry. Leaning away from mass production is Alum-Line’s claim to fame, offering customers the chance to get one-on-one customer service to plan the design and engineering of their project. “Instead of telling them what we think they need, customers get to tell us exactly what they want,” says Gooder. Alum-Line employs nearly eighty local people who agree it’s the “something new everyday” trait of the business that’s key to job satisfaction. “The number one benefit our associates tell us they like about their work here is that it’s never the same old routine,” says Human Resources Manager Sydney Hayes. “They appreciate the fact they’re not on an assembly line and that their skills count.” When Gooder founded the company with his father, Don Gooder, the two agreed that the driving vision for the enterprise would be “exceptional customer service,” achieved by listening to what the customer needs, paying attention to detail and assuring the enduser enjoys the best product and value possible. Alum-Line builds each product to order with exact specifications. “It’s the niche that has driven our success,” says Gooder. “Even though we’ve had

over a dozen expansions, we are geared more toward quality than how big we can get.” Inherently, the company’s success is also owed to the qualities of aluminum. Alum-Line products are built with up to ¼” or ½” aircraft-grade aluminum on areas that incur heavy wear, and nothing thinner than .125” for any product, including boxes. The extruded flooring allows trailer and truck bed floors to withstand constant abuse from heavy equipment without bowing, bending, or puncturing. Alum-Line is a leader in quality aluminum structural innovation. The Alum-Line “full line” of products includes: •

Trailers

Truck bodies

Tool boxes

Fire & rescue bodies

Livestock Toppers & PoppersTM

Their product versatility and customization capability has allowed the company to expand in an impressive reach of markets. “We deal with people coast to coast,” states Dave Anderson, Sales Manager, “We’ve shipped products outside of North America to Great Britain, Kuwait, Ireland and Australia, to name a few.” Fitting special needs made Alum-Line an attractive solution for government projects fitted for the U.S. Army and Navy. Yet the company’s principle base continues to be farmers, firemen, agricultural companies and small businesses. Adds Anderson, “We haven’t been afraid to try new things. All of our customers are very pleased with the end result.” The company’s most popular line-up includes a full-range of truck bodies: flat truck beds, component bodies, service bodies for any contractor or any industry, and fire

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March/April 2015

www.NATM.com


Alum-Line, Inc.: Trailer & Truck Body Outfitters

Tracks and rescue bodies. Gooder explains: “We began developing truck bodies like trailers were being developed 30 years ago. Now that it’s been perfected, an Alum-Line body will be the last one you will need.”

Alum-Line’s motto, “Where Workmanship Lasts a Lifetime,” – in use since the company’s founding in 1986 – is more than just words: it’s a fact. Customers still come back with products they bought in the early days for a quick acid wash – and the product looks as resilient as ever. More often, customers trade up to a newer model with more custom features. “We often see repeat customers who, after using their livestock trailer or flatbed for years, have their own ideas for their own special needs,” says Anderson. “They come in and select add-ons or trade up for a new custom product. I have different customers who will keep their custom truck body and

keep purchasing new chassis for it throughout the years.” Through the internet, the company continues to expand their growing customer base even further. They have research-based customers who are looking for something that can fit specific needs. When they access www.alumline.com, a potential customer sees extensive photo galleries of projects completed in the past, and gain confidence that Alum-Line can tackle their todo list for the future. Individuals are sharing their Alum-Line product photos and experiences online and small businesses are featuring their Continued on page 50.

Top: Alum-Line's gooseneck flatbed trailer. Above: Alum-Line, Inc. bumper pull flatbed trailer with tilt. www.NATM.com

March/April 2015

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Alum-Line, Inc.: Trailer & Truck Body Outfitters

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Alum-Line, Inc.'s aluminum dog box trailer.

custom products in commercials. Recognition of the brand is spreading; the Alum-Line Gooseneck Flatbed Trailer will be featured on TV episodes of “Shipping Wars” on A&E this season. Alum-Line is a nationally recognized business that continues to serve its local community and beyond with innovative ideas that serve individuals, businesses and communities throughout the United States.

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March/April 2015

“We’re looking ahead, studying the markets, playing it by ear and continually developing new ideas and implementing technology,” President Gary Gooder concludes, “It’s paying off. Our future is like our company motto – steadfast for a lifetime ahead.” For more information, visit www.alumline.com.

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Installing Used Tires on New Trailers

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Installing Used Tires on New Trailers

By Kim Mann, NATM General Counsel Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hansen & Feary

Recently, NATM has received an influx of questions regarding the legality of placing used tires on new trailers. Although this question has largely been posed by trailer dealers as the competition for sales grows fiercer each day, trailer manufacturers too should know; is it legal? The short answer is “no”, with one narrow exception applicable only to trailers with GVWRs of more than 10,000 lbs or equipped with specialty “ST” or “FI” tires. If they don’t meet the exception, the manufacturers are violating federal law, subjecting themselves to substantial civil penalties and to the onerous obligation to initiate trailer recall campaigns. The statutory authority for this response appears in 49 U.S.C. § 30111(a). Pursuant to that authority, NHTSA promulgated a series of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, known as FMVSSs, codified in 49 C.F.R. Part 571. The FMVSSs governing tires and tire safety are Standard Nos. 109, 119, 120, and 139. Collectively, they require all new trailers – both over and under 10,000 lbs GVWR – be equipped with new tires, with one very narrow exception. See 49 C.F.R. § 571.120 S5.1.1.

That non-compliant manufacturer also is subject to the reporting-and-notification requirements of NHTSA’s motor vehicle recall regulations, 49 C.F.R. Parts 573 and 577, applicable to manufacturers of any vehicle not in compliance with an applicable mandatory FMVSS or containing a safety-related defect. Failure to comply with NHTSA’s recall regulations subjects the manufacturer to the same set of harsh civil penalties – fines of $5,000 per trailer up to $15,000,000 for a series of violations. Trailer dealers could face similar penalties if they sell non-compliant trailers with used tires. NHTSA, in a relatively recent rulemaking proceeding addressing the applicability of new tire standards, expressly states that, “[vehicle] dealers are not permitted to sell noncompliant vehicles or take actions which would take a vehicle out of compliance with an applicable safety standard [such as by substituting tires].” 69 Fed. Reg. 31311 (June 3, 2004). For more information, NATM has prepared a white paper on the subject, please contact NATMHQ@natm.com.

That one exception, appearing in paragraph S5.1.3. of Standard 120, is available only for trailers with GVWRs exceeding 10,000 lbs and, regardless of GVWR, for those equipped with special “ST” or “FI” tires. It permits trailer manufacturers (but not dealers) to install used tires on these trailers if, and only if, all five specific conditions are met. Congress prohibits the manufacture for sale, sale, or offering for sale any motor vehicle not fully compliant with all applicable motor vehicle safety standards. 49 U.S.C. § 30112(a). It imposes a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for each violation of a mandatory safety standard, including Standard No. 120, and $15,000,000 for a series of violations. 49 U.S.C. § 30165(a). New trailers equipped with used tires not fitting the narrow exception of S5.1.3. of Standard No. 120 violate that FMVSS, and each vehicle not in compliance is a separate violation of the statute.

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March/April 2015

www.NATM.com



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Tire Tariff Update

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Tire Tariff Update By Kendra Fritz, NATM Assistant Director

In July of 2014, the U.S. Department of Commerce opened an investigation in response to a petition alleging certain passenger vehicle and light truck tires produced in China were unfairly competing with domestically produced tires. The petition sought to have tariffs imposed upon those products in order to compensate for the harm alleged to be caused to the U.S. industry. During an expansion of the scope requested by the petitioners, it came to light that certain types of specialty trailer (ST) tires may have been captured and could be subject to future tariffs. NATM’s leadership and technical staff began working with its government affairs advisors, K&L Gates, to assess the situation and provide comments requesting clarification of the case: that it should not include ST tires, particularly in light of the fact that such tires are not domestically produced. K&L Gates filed comments on behalf of NATM with the U.S. Department of Commerce in August requesting specific exclusion of ST tires from the investigation’s scope. NATM’s submission noted that the vast majority of ST tires are not produced in the United States and thus there was no detrimental effect on a domestic tire manufacturing industry as the union had alleged existed in the passenger vehicle and light-truck tire industry. Furthermore, NATM noted that there are physical distinctions between ST tires and those utilized on passenger vehicles and light trucks.

and load index consistent with those outlined for specialty trailer tires in the Tire and Rim Association Yearbook; “ST” marking (or designation); a warning indicating “For Trailer Service Only” or “For Trailer Use Only;” and a speed rating not to exceed 81 mph, or an “M” rating. The Department made a preliminary affirmative countervailing duty determination and has found that “critical circumstances” exist for one named respondent, as well as for the “All Others” category of respondents. In addition, the Department adopted a specific exclusion for ST tires, but intends to require more than the “ST” and “For Trailer Use Only” markings, including, in the case of the speed rating, a rating not to exceed 81 mph, which NATM argued against. Soon after, the Department made an amended preliminary affirmative countervailing duty determination that reflects revised countervailing duty margins for one mandatory respondent and temporarily suspended two of the marking requirements relating to the scope exclusion for ST tires. As it stands, the four requirements will likely stand in the final determination. Commerce is scheduled to announce its final determination in this investigation on or about April 6, 2015, unless the statutory deadline is extended.

The United Steelworkers Union (USW) that initiated the proceeding filed an official rebuttal to the docketed comments received from NATM and other organizations, stating, in part, that it agrees with NATM’s position that certain ST tires should be excluded from the scope of the investigation. They also outlined in detail which ST tires it believed should be excluded; and they specifically referenced NATM’s comments. The USW stated in its filing with the Commerce Department that it agrees with NATM’s position on excluding certain ST tires. However, they proposed that for such tires to be excluded the following items must be molded on the tire sidewall: markings indicating dimensions 56

March/April 2015

www.NATM.com


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"Why is My Trailer Corroding?!"

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Why is My Trailer Corroding?! By: Bernardo Duran, Technical Sales Manager, AZZ Galvanizing Services

“Why is my trailer corroding?� Those are words no trailer company wants to hear from their customers. Fortunately, there are ways to slow the corrosion process and extend the life of metals used on trailers. These options apply even for trailers exposed to very corrosive environments, such as boat trailers used in seawater and on livestock trailers. This article will discuss common types of corrosion found on trailers. This will serve as a foundation for the next article in the series, which will discuss various corrosion protection options, and explain how they prevent or limit the types of corrosion discussed in this article. What is Corrosion? Corrosion is a natural process that causes steel to revert to the lower energy state it initially existed in as iron ore. Energy is put into iron during smelting, steelmaking, and fabrication processes, 60

March/April 2015

and corrosion acts to reduce this energy. This reduction in energy causes steel to lose its mechanical properties and often changes its appearance as it corrodes. Corrosion can occur on pure metals, alloys of steel such as carbon and stainless, and aluminum alloys, depending on the environment. Corrosion scientists and engineers have been describing different forms of corrosion since at least the early 1900s. The basic forms of corrosion in this article include general, crevice, pitting and galvanic corrosion. These forms of corrosion can all be identified with the naked eye. General Corrosion General corrosion is also known as uniform corrosion and is the most prevalent type of corrosion. This type of corrosion happens over the entire surface of a structure or large portions of it. The metal loss occurs at roughly the same rate over the corroded area, www.NATM.com


"Why is My Trailer Corroding?!"

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Mosaic of anodes and cathodes, electrically connected by the underlying steel.

Moisture in the air provides the electrical path between anodes and cathodes. Due to differences in potential, electric current begins to flow as the anodic areas are consumed. Iron ions produced at the anode combine with the environment to form the flaky iron oxide known as rust.

As anodic areas corrode, new material of different composition and structure is exposed. This results in a change of electrical potentials and changes the location of anodic and cathodic sites. Over time, previously uncorroded areas are attacked and uniform surface corrosion results. This continues until the steel is entirely consumed.

Changes in Anodic and Cathodic Areas on Steel (AGA)

which allows general corrosion rates to be predicted for many metals and alloys in different environments. This is in contrast to other types of corrosion rates, which are much less predictable. On a metal surface undergoing general corrosion, there are many very small anodes and cathodes on the metal which react in the presence of an electrolyte. The anode donates electrons to the cathode, and in so doing, the anode will corrode or dissolve. This is an electrochemical process.

As this process continues, areas on the metal surface constantly change to anodes or cathodes depending on the differing properties of the individual areas and environmental factors. For example, an electrolyte may dry in one area, which may stop the corrosion process at that location. Then, when an electrolyte deposits on the surface again, an area that was previously a cathode may be in electrical contact with a different area, and thus may switch to an anode as it reacts with the new area. As this process happens over a large surface, the outcome is general corrosion. Localized Corrosion Whereas general corrosion tends to happen over large areas of metal surfaces, localized corrosion happens on smaller, distinct areas. The effects of localized corrosion can be much more severe than general corrosion, since localized corrosion can happen much more quickly and severely. This makes it much harder to predict localized corrosion rates. The two most common types of localized corrosion include crevice and pitting corrosion, which are similar, but attack different areas on the metal surface. Crevice corrosion happens in closed off areas while pitting occurs on wide open surfaces.

Anodic and Cathodic Areas on Bare Steel www.NATM.com

Continued on page 64 March/April 2015

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"Why is My Trailer Corroding?!"

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Crevice Corrosion under Painted Hardware

Crevice Corrosion As its name implies, crevice corrosion is corrosion that can occur in narrow and enclosed areas on steel and other metal fabrications. Moisture in the form of humidity, dew, rain and snow can enter these small gaps where it can stay until it forms an oxygen differential corrosion cell. In this type of corrosion cell, the moisture inside the crevice has a different level of oxygen than the moisture at the opening of the crevice. The metal inside the crevice becomes anodic and will corrode. The

This can sharply increase the rate of attack in crevices. Deicing salts can similarly affect electrolytes when they deposit on the underbodies and outer areas of trailers. Pitting Corrosion Pitting occurs when corrosion occurs at very small, defined areas. The start of the corrosion process might be due to soluble salts depositing on the metal surface. The salts could be chlorides from coastal air, or they might be sulfates from industrial pollutants.

metal near the opening of the crevice becomes cathodic and is protected. Thus, corrosion takes place inside the crevice. Crevices on trailers can be found in many areas. Some examples include in moving parts on couplers, axles, under bolt heads, between washers and bolted surfaces, on clamps, areas that have been stitch welded or are very close together, and even under protective coatings. Any place on a trailer that has a tight area which can trap water could be a candidate for crevice corrosion. The special case of crevice corrosion under barrier coatings, such as paint, is called filiform corrosion. On livestock trailers, animal waste can add to the crevice corrosion problem. The waste can affect the conductivity and pH of electrolytes. 64

March/April 2015

Severe Pitting Corrosion on the Steel above the Weld (AGA) www.NATM.com


"Why is My Trailer Corroding?!" The result of pitting corrosion is a cavity, which is sometimes covered by its own corrosion products. The corrosion tends to be deep, narrow, and can be directed into the substrate thickness. Because of this, pitting corrosion can be extremely dangerous. Although very little area might corrode in terms of the overall surface area, perforation completely through a member can occur, which may result in catastrophic failures.

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Galvanic Corrosion This type of corrosion is also known as dissimilar metals corrosion. It occurs when two (or more) dissimilar metals or alloys are electrically connected in the presence of an electrolyte that covers both metals. An example of this could be a galvanized boat trailer that has been bolted with stainless steel bolts, and will be used to frequently launch a boat in seawater. The high conductivity of the seawater can serve as a potent electrolyte and cause galvanic corrosion. There are four components necessary for galvanic corrosion to occur, including an anode, cathode, metallic pathway (or return current path) and an electrolyte. When all four components are present and electrically connected, a bimetallic couple is formed. Corrosion will occur at the anode, which provides corrosion protection to the cathode.

Galvanic Corrosion between Bare Steel and Zinc-Coated Hardware

Right: Bimetallic Couple (AGA) www.NATM.com

March/April 2015

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"Why is My Trailer Corroding?!"

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Galvanic Series (AGA) Galvanic corrosion occurs due to the electrical potential difference between the anode and cathode. The anode is the more electronegative (or active) metal and the cathode is the more electropositive (or noble) metal. The chart known as the Galvanic Series arranges metals in order of their electrical potentials in seawater. In the Galvanic Series, the seawater serves as the electrolyte (electrical potentials will vary in different electrolytes). Aspects that affect the corrosion rate of the anode in a bimetallic couple include the electrical potentials of the anode and cathode in a given environment, surface area of the anode relative to the cathode, conductivity of the electrolyte, and temperature.

About AZZ Galvanizing Services AZZ Galvanizing Services, a division of AZZ Inc., headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas owns and operates 36 hot-dip galvanizing plants strategically located across the U.S. and Canada. AZZ operates kettles ranging from 16’ to 62’ in length. With the company’s network of plants, they are able to accommodate the largest projects with customized turnaround times at a competitive price. GalvXtra, their unique nickel-zinc alloy process, helps meet the highest quality standards necessary in the highly competitive transportation market. Photos courtesy of the American Galvanizers Association www.galvanizeit.org

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Although corrosion is a natural and inevitable process, this does not mean trailer manufacturers can do nothing to control it. The field of corrosion science and engineering has made incredible discoveries and inventions that give designers many ways to limit corrosion. In addition to maintaining design integrity, corrosion protection keeps trailer owners happy since it prolongs the life of their investment. This article discussed the types of corrosion commonly found on trailers, including general, crevice, pitting and galvanic corrosion. The next article in this series will discuss ways to prevent or at least decrease the rate of attack from these forms of corrosion. To learn more about the various types of corrosion, the book Forms of Corrosion – Recognition and Prevention, and the week-long NACE International course Basic Corrosion are good starting points. The author has used these sources while conducting research for this article. Additionally, the American Galvanizers Association’s website www.galvanizeit.org offers a tremendous amount of free information and downloads relating to corrosion protection offered by hot-dip galvanized steel.

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Bri-Mar Trailers Celebrates 20th Anniversary

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Bri-Mar Trailers Celebrates 20th Anniversary By Marcus Rauhut, Public Opinion Online and Dave McKee, BWise Manufacturing, LLC

Brian Wise celebrating the 20th anniversary of his company, Bri-Mar Trailers. Photo Credit: Markell DeLoatch, Public Opinion

BWise Manufacturing, LLC, a leading manufacturer of Dump, Equipment, Tilt and Utility Trailers, is celebrating a major milestone as the Bri-Mar Trailers brand marks 20 years manufacturing trailers for contractors, landscapers, farmers and homeowners. Co-founded in 1995 by Brian Wise and Marcus Blank, the company grew from humble beginnings in a family barn with two employees to a 100,000 square foot, 19 acre facility on South Main Street in Chambersburg, Pa. In the early years, Bri-Mar was recognized twice as one of America’s top 100 fastest growing new small businesses and continues to be an industry leader with new products and innovative designs. Late in 2013, Bri-Mar became part of BWise Manufacturing, LLC and moved to its current location with 120 employees in a 375,000 square foot manufacturing facility on Wayne Avenue.

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“A strong commitment to our employees, our dealers and our community is an important part of my vision for BWise Manufacturing and Bri-Mar Trailers," said Brian Wise, President, BWise Manufacturing. "Bri-Mar is proud to employ the highest quality personnel, placing emphasis on strong work ethics, high moral values, and strong employee benefits. Our people have the opportunity to impact their individual work areas as well as the overall performance of the company." Bri-Mar Manufacturing has been a long term member of the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) and the North American Trailer Dealers Association (NATDA) and continues those relationships as part of BWise Manufacturing, LLC. As an integral component of the BWise Manufacturing vision for the coming year, Bri-Mar Trailers and BWise Trailers plan

www.NATM.com


Bri-Mar Trailers Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Tracks to introduce several new products and product improvements in 2015. Public Opinion, a news outlet based out of Bri-Mar's hometown of Chambersburg, Pa. spoke with Brian Wise, president of BWise Manufacturing, on the company's 20th anniversary. Q: How was your business started? Marcus and I had worked for a competitor and we decided we needed to do something on our own. We left there and started in February of 1995. We planned to be a two-man operation. That was our goal. That didn't last long. It didn't take long before we needed to hire. Things started to take off and we weren't there long. Less than a year later, we moved to Wolf Avenue into a 5,000-square-foot building, which we thought was a huge upgrade. A year and a half later, we moved to 20,000 square feet. In 1999, the business moved to a property on Main Street, which was 100,000 square feet. That was a big step for us. We went from a two-man operation to close to 120 people now. There were a lot of design changes along the way and a lot of different models. There was a period of time where I didn't own the company. For years, we were innovators in dump trailers. After I left, they lost some ground, but now it's been a year that I've been back and we're starting to make up some ground that we lost.

without environmental concerns. It was not an even playing field. It was not easy to compete. Since then, a lot has changed. The industry has stricter regulations, which has made it a more even playing field. There is a lot more competition today than there was back them. Q: What is the key to your success? The keys to success are really the employees. You have to have good employees. We have a good, dedicated work force. We have good customer relationships to our dealerships. That's critical. And good relationships with our suppliers, as well, as this market is competitive. Continued on the following page.

Q: What does your company do? We offer a full line of utility, landscape, car hauler, dump, tilt and equipment trailers and dump inserts for pickup trucks. We serve the contractor, landscaper, agriculture industry and also the homeowner. We have a trailer that meets just about anyone's needs. They have anywhere from a 2,000-pound to 25,000-pound capacity. Q: How has the business changed? It definitely has changed in the last 20 years. I was in the industry for five years prior to that, so I've been building trailers for 25 years. Back in the early days, a lot of manufacturers were putting on used tires, or one axle breaks if it's a tandem axle, and we had a lot of guys down South just painting

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Jeff Burkhart puts a 20th year decal on a trailer Feb. 18, 2015 at the Bri-Mar Trailers Chambersburg, Pa. location. Photo Credit: Markell DeLoatch - Public Opnion March/April 2015

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Bri-Mar Trailers Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Tracks You had to look at innovative ways to improve efficiencies and make our product different from our competition over the last 20 years to put us in a situation where the next 20 years will be even better. On the dump side, we're one of the leaders. As far as overall trailers, we only have a small percentage of that market. I think for years, part of the problem was not having space to grow much. Now we have a lot more square footage for manufacturing where we can put ourselves in a more rapid growth plan. Bri-Mar’s extensive dealer network has over 200 locations throughout the United States and Canada. For more information, contact BWise Manufacturing at (717) 261-0922 or visit their websites at www.bri-mar.com and www.bwisetrailers.com.

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Co-founder Marcus Blank welds the first dump trailer made by Bri-Mar in February 1995

Brian Wise, President of Bri-Mar Trailers, in front of one of the company's dump trailers. Photo Credit: Markell DeLoatch - Public Opinion

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Eight Tips for Effective Grinding

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Eight Tips for Effective Grinding By Bill Meeker, Sales Representative Walter Surface Technologies Republished wtih permission from TheFabricator.com Reprinted with permission. Article first appeared on TheFabricator.com June 3, 2013. It doesn’t matter how mind-bogglingly fast upstream processes are if it takes forever and a day for parts to make it through the grinding department. In this business, grinding is where the rubber hits the road, or more precisely, where the grain hits the metal. At every process upstream, most precision sheet metal fabricators employ at least some level of automation. But there’s no getting around it: Grinding down a weld on a formed workpiece is and probably will remain an intensely manual operation. The act of grinding can be deceivingly simple. But the devil’s in the details. Effective grinding requires operators to apply enough pressure at the correct angle to let the grains—the “cutting tool” of a grinding disc—remove the most metal in the shortest time, while not prematurely wearing the disc or burning out the grinding tool. The variables abound, and managing them effectively can be vital for efficient part flow. After all, it doesn’t matter how mindbogglingly fast upstream processes are if it takes forever and a day for parts to make it through the grinding department. This subject could fill an entire book, of course. But as a starting point, here are 8 tips that may help you make the most effective use of your grinding operation. These factors just scratch the surface (so to speak), but they may give you some initial ideas on how to free your grinding bottleneck. 1. Use the right tool for the job Grinding discs are consumables; the power tools shouldn’t be. Be sure to use the appropriate grinder that can handle adequate amperage for the job at hand. If an application calls for between 8 and 10 amps of pressure, and you use a right-angle grinder rated for only 6 amps, you’re in trouble from the start. A grinder shouldn’t be a throwaway tool, and it makes business sense to spend a little more money on a higher-quality tool rated for industrial work. A grinder twice the price will give you better

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results, and its operating life may be measured in months or even years, not weeks. Besides, high-quality grinding discs as well as flap discs work with right-angle grinders as a system. An old jalopy (that is, a low-quality grinder) with fancy tires (high-quality grinding disc) may drive a little better, but it’s still not the smoothest ride. 2. Be safe Using the right tool for the job promotes safe operation. So many operators use grinders without guarding. This opens the door for potential injury, not to mention a hefty fine if OSHA comes knocking. Yes, the guard can be a slight nuisance in some circumstances, but without guarding that nuisance could turn into a serious emergency. It can become an even greater nuisance if you have an underpowered or, worse yet, the completely wrong tool for the job. If you need to grind in tight areas, don’t take the guard off and squeeze in a right-angle grinder. Use the right tool, like a file grinder. It gets the job done faster and, most important, safer. Also, when changing out the abrasive media, unplug the tool first. To replace the media, try turning the head of the power tool up so you can lock the key button, rest the tool on your forearm, then take the abrasive off while it’s facing up. This gives you better control during an abrasive changeout, and prevents you from dropping the abrasive. In fact, dropping the abrasive is one of the most overlooked causes of abrasive failure—and a disc that falls apart in a highRPM right-angle grinder can be quite dangerous. Even the smallest crack can cause a disc to break apart during operation. All too often operators drop a disc, inspect it, and then put it on the grinder, only to have the disc fly apart. 3. Look at the spark flow In an ideal world, every shop would have an ammeter handy. Hooked to the tool, an ammeter reveals whether the operator is pushing too hard or not hard enough. The pressure can change depending on what the tool and grinding wheel are rated for, but optimal pressure in a general industrial grinding application www.NATM.com


Eight Tips for Effective Grinding

Tracks usually draws between 8 and 10 amps. If the ammeter reads below this range, you aren’t pushing hard enough; if the meter reading exceeds this, you need to lighten up a bit. Of course, this isn’t an ideal world, and most shops don’t have the luxury of an ammeter. But every metal grinding application produces sparks, and the flow of those sparks can be read as a visual ammeter of sorts. Exactly how those sparks from the workpiece flow can tell you a lot about how effective the grinding really is. In most applications, sparks should flow about 3 to 4 feet away from the workpiece, in a consistent manner. This shows that the grains on the grinding wheel are doing what they’re supposed to be doing—removing excess weld metal.

skip or chatter as the grinding disc bounces across the ridges of the excess weld metal. The remedy here: Push a little harder. 5. Pay attention to your working angle Generally, grinding discs are designed to be used at a working angle that’s 5 to 10 degrees from horizontal, and the wear pattern on the disc face circumference should be about double the disc thickness. If the disc is 0.25 inch thick, then a 0.5-in.-wide wear pattern should be showing on the wheel. If the wear pattern is, say, 0.75 in., your approach is too flat, which means too many of the grinding disc’s grains are engaging at once. If the pattern is only 0.25 in. wide, your angle of approach is too high.

If you push too hard or aren’t pushing hard enough, the spark flow won’t be as pronounced. Pushing too hard overloads and overheats the disc, causing the grains to glaze over and become smooth. The grains are no longer cutting into much weld metal, which in turn reduces spark production. Similarly, if you don’t push hard enough, the grains don’t fully engage the workpiece, so they don’t remove much weld metal with every disc rotation. 4. Listen to the grinder A grinder’s sound can indicate similar problems. When engaged properly, the grinder should emit a sound with a somewhat constant pitch. If the pitch goes lower, you’re overworking the tool; if the pitch goes higher, you probably need to apply a little more pressure. A low pitch often will dip repeatedly, sounding a little like a paper shredder that’s trying to chew up too many papers at once. The remedy here: Lighten up a bit. That’s a key sign that the power tool is being overworked. Similarly, a high pitch will tend to www.NATM.com

Using a grinder on galvanized steel,

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Eight Tips for Effective Grinding

Tracks 6. Keep consistent pressure throughout When it comes to technique, grinding down a weld is pretty straightforward: Move the disc (again, angled 5 to 10 degrees from horizontal) forward and backward. That’s Grinding 101. But the way you apply that can be at least one root cause for trouble. You might naturally apply more pressure as you push the disc forward and then lighten up the pressure pulling the disc back. The excess pressure going forward overheats and glazes the disc grains. You may even see the disc’s edge turn an orange color. Then you lighten up on the backstroke and hear chatter. This actually gives you the worst of both worlds. You’re overheating moving forward and then bouncing the disc off the surface on the way back. After all that effort, you really haven’t removed that much weld metal. Effective grinding requires a constant pressure going backward and forward, again, not excessively hard or light. You want to apply enough pressure to let the disc’s grains do the work, but no more. 7. Adapt your technique and consumables for the material Moving the disc back and forth works best for many conventional mild steels, but it may not work best for all metals. Take stainless steel. Ask any machinist about stainless, and he’ll say how gummy the material is, and as such has much different machining characteristics. Grinding basically is a machining operation; the cutting edges (that is, the grains) and chips are just smaller. Just as different cutting tools are designed for different applications, different grinding discs are designed for different metals. For instance, some welds in high-strength, abrasive-resistant steels have been known to be ground down best with specialized discs that can “chisel” or “chew” away at the hard, high-tensile weld metal. Note, though, that this kind of selection is application-specific. Be sure to check with your abrasive disc representative, who should be able to recommend the best disc for the job at hand.

you’re “combing down” the excess weld metal. This pull-lift-andrepeat method tends to remove stainless and certain aluminums more efficiently. It also gives the workpiece a moment to cool between grinding strokes, which can minimize or eliminate that all-too-common bluing effect on the metal surface. 8. Think carefully about reducing steps If a part will eventually be prepped for paint, you may use a large-grit grinding disc to knock down the weld, then a 60- or similar-grit abrasive to reduce the Ra, or the average scratch depth. The steps can be critical. Every scratch an abrasive disc places in the metal must subsequently be removed by a finer-grit media, and if you jump from a very coarse disc all the way down to a fine-grit media, troubles can arise. If you stop too early, you may not have given the grit time to remove the deep scratches put on by the coarse-grit disc. The result: Paint doesn’t adhere to the surface, and the part is sent back for rework. Depending on the application, though, you may be able to reduce grinding steps with the right abrasive media. Certain flap discs, for instance, may reduce or eliminate additional finishing steps, depending on the application. The flap disc has a series of abrasive flaps overlapping each other. This allows it to squeeze a lot of cutting points (that is, grains) in a small area, giving it aggressive cutting action. But because the flaps aren’t held rigidly in place, they don’t cut as deep into the material with a single pass. This is why a specific flap disc can remove weld metal at the same rate as, say, a conventional 36grit grinding disc would, while leaving a final finish of a 60-grit material.

When you change material, your grinding technique can change. For instance, because stainless steel conducts heat the way it does, a grinding wheel can heat up and blue the metal surface before you know it. If it’s a cosmetically important area, you may need to go back and regrain or polish the entire surface. Instead of pushing forward and pulling back the grinding disc over the gas tungsten arc weld seam, just pull—almost like www.NATM.com

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Thank You 2015 Convention & Trade Show Sponsors

Tracks

Thank You 2015 Convention & Trade Show Sponsors Based on contracts received as of Feb. 11, 2015

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Getting Breakthrough Performance by Implementing a Breakthrough System

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Getting Breakthrough Performance by Implementing a Breakthrough System By Shane Barber, BV Alan

Ever wondered what always makes the “Top 10” list of companies’ greatest challenges? You won’t be surprised. Whether it is a small retail company, a service provider or a large

corporation, two challenges that hit this list are employee and team performance. It is usually stated like this, “My employees just don’t meet the expectations” or “The team just doesn’t work together well and perform.” Too many organizations have groups of employees that do not know how to organize and develop into a team, nonetheless foster a high-performance culture in the workplace. Leaders often get frustrated, and the managers get more tactical when the employees fail to achieve their production quota or goals. Management increases the pressure and oversight, but rarely do they take the time to stop and ask the employees directly whether or not these goals are achievable. Studies show that when individuals understand their role, work requirements, deadlines and have a chance to set their own goals they are not only successful, but can exceed their goals and create breakthroughs. According to William Daniels, author of Breakthrough Performance: Managing for Speed and Flexibility, breakthrough performance is achieved when managers provide three simple things: 1) clear expectations of the work required, 2) adequate and sufficient resources to carry out the work and 3) specific and measurable feedback on the work that was performed. In Daniels’ work, he has shown that once employees have these three things and they are empowered to set and monitor their own work progress, time and time again they have not only hit their goals but they exceed them. How does this team breakthrough system occur? Easily: improve collaboration, communication and team engagement by creating two daily team “huddles” or micro-meetings. The first meeting at the beginning of the day is when each individual on the team sets their personal goals and places them on a white board where the team meets to discuss the day’s plan. The second meeting 80

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is at the end of the workday where each member documents and reports on the progress of their goals. They use the meeting to share learning experiences of how they achieved goals or in cases where they didn’t and how they can improve next time. Employees can use this time to understand what impacted their goals and learn how to apply it to the future. Does it sound too simple? Well it is. What makes them tough is the resistance of implementing the meetings, often by team members or even the manager. They may think that they don’t have the time to meet or to get everyone together but when you can engage those who perform the work and create a team game plan, it is worth it. BV Alan, a full service consulting firm, asks its clients to take a simple two week challenge: Run the two meetings per day for two weeks and then measure the following: •

Did communication improve?

Did team members engage at a deeper level in setting and achieving their own goals?

Did the teams’ performance get more predictable?

Was the team more cohesive?

Did the level of accountability improve?

In hundreds of cases where companies have implemented these “huddles” the above have all improved, and the team begins to learn and achieve goals and in time exceed the targets they set. This is the breakthrough that occurs! In the first week it is typical to see some conflict and challenging of team members goals and results. The second week you will see team member’s goals become more realistic and accurate and then the break through happens: they start to set their own goals and achieve them on their own. Now all of this cannot be achieved unless the manager provides the three simple things 1) Clear expectations or boundary conditions of the work required. 2) Adequate and sufficient resources to carry out the work and lastly 3) Specific and measurable feedback on the work that was performed. The manager must be present at every meeting to hold them accountable to the process and the goals they set. They also need to be supportive and create a “learning environment” that

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Getting Breakthrough Performance by Implementing a Breakthrough System

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members can openly share why they didn’t hit their goals and how to improve the next day. This takes time, commitment and practice on the manager and teams’ part. Think about your favorite team sport. Successful teams on courts and fields create game plans and take the time to huddle before, during and after games to discuss performance, successes and failures in order to improve upon for the next game. The team is only as good as the plan and its leadership. Take the two week challenge, hold those team meetings, get a white board and pick a place to huddle daily to create your team breakthrough! About BV Alan Shane Barber is the co-owner and Vice-President of BV Alan. Established in Albuquerque, NM and Denver, CO. BV Alan is a full service consulting firm committed to utilizing people systems and process improvements to generate results and eliminate the nagging challenges that business owners and leaders are facing. Shane can be reached at (505) 717-2243, shane@bvalan.com, or through the web at www.bvalan.com

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Aluma 7712H Tilt Single Axle Trailers

Bancroft, Iowa—Aluma’s 7712H Tilt single heavy axle flatbed utility trailer is ideal for a wide range of hauling applications. The 7712H Tilt model features 14-inch aluminum wheels, aluminum fenders, an extruded aluminum floor and front and side retaining rails. The bed is 77.5 inches wide by 145 inches long. The trailers also include an LED lighting package and safety chains. Durable aluminum trailers from Aluma are lightweight, corrosion resistant and maintenance free. Special features on many makes and models offer users versatility and convenience. Aluma trailers also come with an industry leading 5-year all-inclusive warranty. Featherlite Livestock Trailer Used by NFL star Jared Allen and his Pro Bull Team Cresco, Iowa — What does Featherlite Trailers have in common with the NFL, bull riding and a charity for wounded veterans? The answer is Jared Allen, a four-time All-pro defensive end for the Chicago Bears, and formerly of the Minnesota Vikings. His pro bull team uses a Featherlite trailer to transport their bulls across the United States. The money Allen’s team raises goes toward his charity for soldiers, Jared Allen’s Homes for Wounded Warriors. Allen and his riders, Kasey Hayes, Tanner Byrne and Jordan Hupp, are currently in the midst of the PBR Built Ford Tough Series’ 2015 schedule. The trailer was also used for the latter half of the 2014 season. “They needed a trailer big enough to haul their whole fleet,” Andy VanDerGeest, sales representative for Featherlite dealer Gold Medal Trailers, said. “They also needed a trailer that could divide the bulls into individual pens, so they could have their own space and not hurt each other.” What drew Allen’s pro bull team to Featherlite Trailers? “They liked the Featherlite brand because it’s local to the team’s general area and Matt 82

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Scharping, the team’s co-owner and general manager, had hauled a couple Featherlite trailers before,” VanDerGeest explained. “They selected Gold Medal Trailers because we are also in the bucking bull industry. So they knew we would understand what was needed in a trailer that would be used to haul bucking bulls.” The end result is a Featherlite Model 8270 semi livestock trailer with options that maximize convenience and safety for Allen’s team. An air ride suspension gives the bulls a smooth ride, and a ground load configuration lets Allen’s team load the bulls without having to use a chute while at a rodeo. Oversize storage boxes underneath let Allen’s team store copious amounts of hay and feed for the bulls. Inside the trailer is an innovative pen system. “It has eight separate compartments with all the gates being adjustable, so Allen’s team can adjust the pen size,” VanDerGeest said. “The gates are alternating so you can open them without having to put yourself in front of a bucking bull. In addition, the hinge portion of the gate is built out 20 inches from the wall. It creates a triangle of safe space, so bulls can’t squeeze you between the trailer and the wall when you open the gate to let them out.” By all accounts, Allen and his pro bull team are happy with the way the trailer turned out. “I’ve run into Jared Allen’s team several times while they were using the trailer, and Matt really seems to like it,” VanDerGeest remarked. “They’ve had no complaints.” Featherlite Trailers, headquartered in Cresco, Iowa, built the first all-aluminum trailer in 1973 and throughout its 40-year history has been a leading American brand. The company offers a versatile line of trailers for recreational and business uses, including livestock, cargo, car, horse and flatbed trailers. For more information, call 800-800-1230, visit a local dealer or go to the web at www.fthr. com. About Featherlite Featherlite Trailers, located in Cresco, Iowa, is the nation’s leading aluminum specialty trailer manufacturer. Featherlite has highly diversified product lines offering horse, livestock, car, utility and recreational trailers through an

extensive dealer network in the U.S. and Canada. Featherlite is a sponsor of many organizations, including NASCAR. Featherlite is part of the Universal Trailer Corporation’s family of brands. Genius Manufacturing Software Will be Integrated into Engineering School’s Operations and Logistics Curriculum Quebec, Canada — Genius Solutions, developer of the leading enterprise resource planning (ERP) manufacturing software designed specifically for small to midsize custom manufacturers and their unique requirements, today announced an agreement with Montreal's École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS). Under the agreement, the company has granted the university the right to use its Genius Manufacturing software for teaching purposes in an operations and logistics course in the Bachelor of Engineering program. “Using Genius Manufacturing as part of our course on implementation of ERP systems (GOL720) allows us to present real-time case studies and simulations,” said Mustapha Ouhimmou, a professor in the automated production engineering department at ÉTS. “The software is user-friendly and easy to learn, allowing students to get acquainted with planning and production control management with an ERP system. Working with a Quebecbased company like Genius Solutions provides us with easy-to-access, personalized service. For example, the company developed custom-made training documents for our students based on our ETS curriculum,” he added. ETS is the fifth school in Quebec to integrate Genius Manufacturing software into its curriculum. “We are excited about all the interest in our educational programs, and look forward to forming more partnerships with schools in Ontario and the US,” said Jean Magny, President of Genius Solutions. “It’s clear that this teaching project, which combines theoretical and practical learning, ensures that students graduate with valuable skills and are coveted by growing manufacturing companies looking for a simple business management software that’s user-friendly, effective and affordable,” he added.

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NATM Member News

Tracks To learn more about Genius Solutions or its partnership with educational institutions, contact 1-877-987-6005, email marketing@geniuserp.com or visit www.geniuserp.com. LOOK Trailers Celebrates Five Years in Business Middlebury, Ind. — LOOK Trailers, one of the nation’s leading cargo trailer manufacturers, is celebrating their fifth anniversary. Over the past five years, LOOK Trailers has transformed from a startup company with big ideas into a successful manufacturer with four locations and over 400 dealers across the U.S. and Canada. LOOK Trailers began in February 2010 with the vision of being the best, not the biggest, trailer manufacturer in the industry.

Maintaining that focus, in its first five years the company has grown to become the second largest enclosed cargo trailer manufacturer in the nation according to Statistical Surveys, Inc. Matt Arnold, owner of LOOK Trailers said, “I would like to thank all of our dealers and employees for their support, hard work and dedication to make these first five years a success. In the past year, we have been recognized for our many successes but I am truly grateful to have been able to share those accolades with my father, Mike Arnold, who passed away in August of 2014. He constantly challenged me to take the difficult road and build a company with four divisions in fewer than four years coming out of the worst recession in my lifetime. I look forward to continuing to grow, innovate, and broaden our product line while offering outstanding service to our customers.” About LOOK Trailers LOOK Trailers was founded in February 2010 and was already the fastest growing enclosed trailer company in 2011, according to Statistical Surveys Inc. www.NATM.com

Headquartered in Middlebury, Indiana, LOOK Trailers manufactures a wide variety of enclosed steel and aluminum trailers including cargo, auto hauler, ATV, snowmobile and race. LOOK also manufactures Pace American and Cargo Express enclosed trailers across four facilities in Indiana, Georgia, Utah and Arizona. For more information, visit www.looktrailers.com. Optronics Unveils LampLock AntiTheft Lighting System at 2015 TMC Optronics answers industry’s demand for practical, low-cost, easy-to-install, antitheft lighting solution, with its LampLock system for stop/tail/turn and marker lamps. Nashville, Tenn., — Optronics International, America’s largest offshore vehicle lighting manufacturer, presented its new LampLock Anti-Theft Lighting System during a press conference at the 2015 Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. Integrated into four-inch round stop/tail/turn lamps and threequarter-inch marker lamps, the anti-theft design makes the lamps impossible to steal without destroying them. The magnitude and impact of vehicle lighting theft was vividly highlighted during an April 2014 presentation by the Lighting Theft and Avoidance Task Force of the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA). The IANA task force was formed to address member concerns about the costs associated with lamp replacement, repairs, vehicle downtime and related CSA violations. The task force also observed that theft issues have caused fleets and operators to retain outmoded incandescent lighting and prevented them from realizing the many benefits associated with LED lamps, including higher reliability, lower operating costs and reduced downtime. During its preliminary report to IANA members, the task force disclosed that a poll of four intermodal equipment provider fleets revealed they had collectively spent $13.5 million in 2013 to replace missing, broken or burned-out lighting on vehicle chassis. In short, more than a million stop/tail/turn and marker lamps were replaced at an average cost of $13 each (including labor and parts) – and a significant percentage of those

replacements were attributed to issues of missing lamps. “It’s clear that vanishing lights is a big problem for intermodal carriers, and this issue has plagued fleets and owneroperators within the shipping industry for years,” Brett Johnson, president and CEO of Optronics International, said. “We set out to solve the problem by designing an LED-based anti-theft lighting system that’s both easy to use and price competitive.” The LampLock Anti-Theft Lighting System is simple and easily replaces missing four-inch round stop/tail/turn lamps and three-quarter-inch marker lamps by precisely fitting into the holes they leave behind. The system is comprised of a specially designed single-diode LED lamp, an integrated anti-theft ring and a foam rubber gasket. In the case of the four-inch round lamp, an available locking PL-3 receptacle grips the connector plug body, increasing resistance to detachment due to shock and vibration. The lamps easily snap into position and once installed, are impossible to remove without being destroyed. “We were apprised of the IANA Lighting Theft Task Force and its mission at the same time as others in the vehicle lighting industry,” Johnson said. “The difference is, we’ve used the ensuing nine months to develop and bring to market a completely viable system solution that is ready to save our industry money and headaches today.” Theft resistance is also about stealth, and taking advantage of advancements in diode technology and reductions in LED pricing, Optronics engineered its new lighting solution to look virtually indistinguishable from incandescent lamps, thus making it less noticeable or attractive to thieves. However, Optronics’ new anti-theft LED lamps will last up to 50 times longer than their incandescent predecessors. The four-inch round stop/tail/turn lamps and three-quarter-inch marker lamps that are part of the LampLock Anti-Theft Lighting System will be competitively priced. Both four-inch round and threequarter-inch lamps are expected to sell for about the same price as other LED lamps, but include the extra value of their integrated anti-theft feature. The lamps

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are expected to begin shipping on or about March 31, 2015. The four-inch round stop/tail/turn lamps will be available with either PL-3 or weather-tight connectors. The threequarter-inch marker lamps will feature 0.180 molded bullet connectors. The new lamps meet all FMVSS 108 photometric requirements for visibility and safety. Each lamp comes with a lifetime LED warranty, and lenses and housings are made of tough polycarbonate material that is sonically welded. The lamps employ a solid-state, surface-mount device (SMD) design that protects their electronics against moisture, shock and vibration. Optronics products are available in the U.S. and Canada through the company’s extensive distribution network of more than 12,000 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 +1 (914) 6979800, or visit http://doriandrake.com. To access high-resolution product images of the LampLock Anti-Theft Lighting System, please visit: http://www.optronicsinc.com/ RESOURCES/ImageGalleries/ LampLockGallery.aspx To view a LampLock Anti-Theft Lighting System video, please visit: http://www.optronicsinc.com/theater. html About Optronics As America’s largest offshore vehicle lighting manufacturer, Optronics is a trustworthy, high-quality, widely available alternative to domestic lighting manufacturers and import houses. Founded in 1972, Optronics International is a premier worldwide manufacturer and supplier of branded industrial and commercial vehicular safety lighting products. The company specializes in interior and exterior LED, incandescent and fluorescent lighting for the marine, RV, trailer, HD and transit vehicle markets. The Optronics product catalog is among the most extensive in the industry. Optronics is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with manufacturing 84

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facilities in Annan District, Tainan, Taiwan, and Muskogee, Oklahoma. The company has distribution facilities in Goshen, Indiana and Ontario, Canada. Learn more at http://www.optronicsinc. com Powerbrace Corporation Launches New Website With Product Search Feature Powerbrace Corporation of Kenosha, Wis. announces its redesigned website, which now offers many new features to aid site visitors in finding exactly what they are looking for.

TBEI Welcomes New South Central Territory Manager Lake Crystal, Minn., — Truck Bodies & Equipment International, Inc. (TBEI) is pleased to announce the addition of Robert (Bob) Plichta as the new South Central Territory Manager for the Crysteel, Rugby, and DuraClass brands. Plichta will be based in Arkansas, and will cover the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

The new, responsive site can now be viewed on smart phones and tablets in addition to laptop and desktop computers. A newly added Product Search section allows visitors to search all Powerbrace products by either product category or by part number. Along with a photo of the part, this section provides product information as well as features and benefits. A new section, Resource Center, has also been added. At present this section includes the technical bulletin series, and the cam and keeper wall chart. Future plans include adding short “how-to” instructional and information videos along with other reference materials that will aid viewers in better understanding the Powerbrace product offerings. Sales and Marketing Manager, says, “We are very pleased with the new site and the additional features we have provided. It will make the user experience easier and also it is more helpful for finding what they are looking for.” About Powerbrace Corporation Powerbrace Corporation is a leading manufacturer of door securement products, serving the truck-trailer, intermodal, specialty and truck body market segments for over 50 years. For more information contact the sales department at Powerbrace Corporation, 262.694.3202 or visit the web site at www.powerbrace.com.

Robert Plitchta

“We are excited to have Bob join the TBEI family,” said Doug Hauck, VP of Distribution Sales at TBEI. “Bob’s experience and

relationships within the industry will be a tremendous asset not only to TBEI, but to our Distribution Network as well.” Plichta comes to TBEI with over 12 years of industry experience, including SnoWay International, Warren Equipment, Truck and Parts of Tampa, and Clement / HilBilt Manufacturing. About TBEI TBEI is a Minnesota based corporation that encompasses five leading manufacturers of dump truck bodies, hoists and truck & trailer equipment. TBEI brands include Crysteel, Rugby®, DuraClass®, J-Craft® and Ox Bodies®. Truck-Lite Co., LLC Announces New Packaging Falconer, NY, — Truck-Lite Co. LLC has unveiled new packaging designs on all polybags, retail boxes, and clamshell packaging. This initiative, which began rolling out shortly after the new year

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NATM Member News

Tracks and will be completed by the end of the first quarter 2015, is the latest step in the company's ongoing commitment to provide consumers with the information needed to make informed choices. "Consumer packaging is a hugely influential aspect of a customer's purchasing decision, especially in a premium product like Truck-Lite. We're confident that this change strengthens our in-store presence," said Beth English, Vice President of Marketing. Truck-Lite has increased its options in retail boxes to allow for a greater lighting presence in the retail setting. The boxes will have a new, full color design with see-through windows to view the actual product, and will feature a full list of attributes, specifications, and benefits translated into multiple languages to maximize customer interaction. In addition to aesthetic improvements, the sizes of the polybags and the material used have been upgraded, allowing for a better fit with the product and a more engaging presence in the retail space. The clamshell packaging now features a multi-lingual design with color-coded category branding to better educate the customer at the point of purchase. Truck-Lite has also updated its bin boxes, chipboard boxes, and brown shipping boxes. "We're very excited for our customers to see the new packaging. It is expected to boost our customer's retail sales with a better in-store presence and is part of our strategy to provide the best possible customer experience," said English. "These upgrades will improve both the aesthetics and functionality of TruckLite's existing packaging, and will ensure that the industry's best lighting solutions come in the industry's best packages." About Truck-Lite Co., LLC Truck-Lite Co., LLC is headquartered in Falconer, New York, with additional U.S. manufacturing facilities in Wellsboro, Coudersport, and McElhattan, Pennsylvania and Saline, Michigan. International facilities are located in Harlow and Birmingham England; Puebla, Mexico; and Eisenach, Germany. Truck-Lite is a major producer of safety lighting, forward lighting, wiring harnesses, mirrors, turn signal switches, and safety accessories to the heavy-duty

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truck, trailer, and commercial vehicle industries. KLLM- Frozen Foods Express Announces Decision to Instal TruckLite LED Lighting KLLM-Frozen Foods Express, headquartered in Richland, Mississippi with operations in 48 states, has announced their decision to install TruckLite LED forward lighting on all new trucks. "We're excited to get the safety and maintenance benefits of LED lighting into as many vehicles as we can. It's huge to have our product on a fleet with the reputation of KLLM-Frozen Foods Express," said Homer Newsome, Senior VP of Customer Satisfaction at TruckLite. Truck-Lite's LED headlights offer improved driver visibility through its more natural color of light, leading to improved object recognition at night and increased daytime visibility. Truck-Lite's LED beam pattern also reduces eyestrain for drivers and reduces harsh headlight glare to oncoming traffic. An additional benefit is a significant reduction in amperage draw on the vehicle's electrical system, freeing up power for other uses and resulting in a 50-times longer lighting system life than conventional halogen technology. Vigorous field-testing, which exposed the lights to extreme weather and environmental wear, substantiated the lights ability to far outlast today's halogen option.

Harlow and Birmingham England; Puebla, Mexico; and Eisenach, Germany. Truck-Lite is a major producer of safety lighting, forward lighting, wiring harnesses, mirrors, turn signal switches, and safety accessories to the heavy-duty truck, trailer, and commercial vehicle industries. www.truck-lite.com

send natm your news releases! By including NATM in your news release distribution, your message will be included in Tracks magazine and on NATM.com. Email releases to Meghan.Ryan@natm.com.

"This is a complement to our existing suite of safety features. Driver safety has always been our number one priority and we feel that this improvement is a key step in keeping safety first," said Jim Richards, President of KLLM-Frozen Foods Express. The fleet, which operates with over 3,500 tractors and 5,000 trailers, will begin its transition to LED forward lighting by installing Truck-Lite Custom LED headlights into all 2016 Freightliner and Vovlo models-nearly 700 trucks-which will start delivering in February 2015. Truck-Lite Co., LLC is headquartered in Falconer, New York, with additional U.S. manufacturing facilities in Wellsboro, Coudersport, and McElhattan, Pennsylvania and Saline, Michigan. International facilities are located in March/April 2015

85


You can read the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards OR you can let NATM do it for you NATM’s Technical Committee, Compliance Director and Technical Director review and condense the regulations into easy-tounderstand information and provide you a simple CD. NATM’s committees and professional staff take the guesswork out of compliance. Join NATM to receive your copy.


NATM New Member Update

Tracks

Associate Akzo Nobel Coatings, Inc. 3587 Parkway Lane Norcross, GA 30092 (678) 836-6747 www.akzonobel.com • Paints/Coatings

B.A.D. the Ultimate Link 295 Meadowbrook Pl. Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 (907) 946-2014 • Couplers, Jacks

Donarra Extrusions 1181 SW 42nd Ave. Ocala, FL 34474 (352) 369-5552 www.donarraextrusions.com • Composite Panels

Dynamic Tire Corp. 211 Hunter's Valley Rd Woodbridge, ON L4H 3V9 (416) 450-4392 www.dynamictire.com • Tires, Wheels/Rims

Elixir Industries 1300 Pope Drive Douglas, GA 31533 (912) 384-2078 www.elixirind.com • Aluminum/Extrusions

Genius Solutions 1305 Boul. Lebourgneuf Quebec, QC Canada 6ZK 2E4 (877) 987-6005 www.geniuserp.com • Computer Software, Engineering

Gulf Coast Composites 13903 Huffmiester Rd Cypress, TX 77429 (281) 213-4560 • Flooring

H.S.I. 2000 E Walnut St Des Moines, IA 50317 (515) 262-8482 www.hsitire.com • Tires, Wheels/Rims www.NATM.com

Hitchrific Products Co. #1 Malcard Pt. CV Little Rock, AR 72223 (501) 804-0048 www.hitchrific.com • Hitches

Kahn Steel Co., Inc. 1710 Southern Rd Kansas City, MO 64120 (816) 673-4805 www.kahnsteel.com • Hitches, Steel/Sheet, Steel/Tube

Power Pin, Inc. 598 2nd Street East Fort Qu'Appelle, SK S0G 1S0 (306) 332-3008 powerpin.ca • Hitches

Proven Graphics, Inc. PO Box 10023 2914 US Highway 2 E Kalispell, MT 59901 (800) 477-7265 www.provengraphics.com • Labels/Decals/Nameplates, Roll Striping

Stabilit America, Inc. 285 Industrial Dr Moscow, TN 38057 (901) 877-3010 www.glasteel.com • FRP Panels

Tesla Distribution 1250 Linda St Rocky River, OH 44116 (800) 321-3064 www.tesladistribution.com • Fabricated Parts, Fasteners, Hardware

Valterra Products, LLC 15230 San Fernando Mission Blvd #107 Mission Hills, CA 91345 (818) 898-1671 www.valterra.com • Caps, Cleaners/Chemicals, Couplers, Electrical/Lighting, Living Quarter Accessories, Locks, Wire Harness

Regular Allmand Brothers, Inc. 1502 W 4th Ave Holdrege, NE 68949 (308) 995-4495 www.allmand.com • Equipment

C.L. Whigham DBA Best Built Trailers 5303 Wrightsboro Rd Grovetown, GA 30813 (706) 863-7380 www.BestBuiltTrailer.com • Cargo, Concession, Custom Design

Commercial Body & Rigging 10425 Plano Rd #400 Dallas, TX 75238 214-440-3175 www.cbrdallas.com • Custom Design, Equipment, Gooseneck , Mobile BBQ/Smoker, Portable Equipment, Utility/Flatbed

Comprehensive Communication Services 15501 State Highway 205 Suite 101 Terrell, TX 75160 (972) 772-2721 www.comprehensivecom.net • Custom Design

Cross Trailer Manufacturing & Sales, LLC 7880 N Highway 6 Waco, TX 76712 (254) 296-8274 • Agricultural/Farm, Cargo, Dump, Equipment, Gooseneck , Landscape, Portable Equipment, Tow Dolly, Utility/ Flatbed

Empresas y Equipos Industriales S.A. de C.V. Av. Libertad No. 150, Zonda Industrial San Luis Potosi, S.L.P. Mexico 78395 +52(444)824-0017 www.seaman-gunnison.com • Equipment

March/April 2015

87


NATM Regular New Member Update

Tracks

Fleet Masters, Inc. 2504 Lexington St Kenner, LA 70062 (504) 466-3431 • RV/Towable

Gicon Pump and Equipment 4300 Garland Dr Haltom City, TX 76117 (855) 538-3299 www.giconpackagedsystems.com • Agricultural/Farm, Custom Design, Equipment, Pole/Pipe/Cable Reel, Portable Equipment, Utility/Flatbed

Grey States, Inc. 178 County Rd 430 Double Springs, AL 35553 (205) 489-1800 • Auto Hauler, Cargo, Utility/Flatbed

Superior Trailers of Georgia, Inc. 3785 Highway 29 N Danielsville, GA 30633 (706) 795-3429 www.superiortrailersofga.com • Auto Hauler, Dump, Motorcycle, Snowmobile/ATV, Utility/Flatbed

n e v i r D

Lark United Manufacturing of Texas, LLC

96 Ranger Rd PO Box 179 Flippin, AR 72634 (870) 704-2634 www.rangerboats.com • Boat

TRIP-EDGE

C-PLOWS

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March/April 2015

Flare-wing, Trip-edge V-Plow

VF-PLOWS: Trip-edge design gives smooth operation and effective protection with a nine-inch high pivot point. Double acting cylinders provide positive moldboard position control. Now available in flared-wing and flat-top configurations.

TRIP-EDGE

SCOOP PLOWS

C-PLOWS: Get the heavy-duty performance of the Hiniker trip-edge conventional plow plus the added versatility of a high performance backdrag plow. An amazing time-saver in driveways, parking lots and loading docks. FULL-TRIP

CONVENTIONAL PLOWS

SCOOP PLOWS: High capacity concave shape captures snow to efficiently clear lots and parking areas. Angles left or right for conventional plowing. CONVENTIONAL PLOWS: 30 inch tall high-curvature blades roll deep snow off quickly and efficiently. Commercial plowers will appreciate the extra strength and efficient design.

TRIP-EDGE

CONVENTIONAL PLOWS

Streme Trailer Mfg., Inc. 3838 South Hwy 287 Waxahachie, TX 75165 (972) 938-7750 www.stremetrailer.com • Agricultural/Farm, Auto Hauler,Landscape, Utility/Flatbed

VF Series

Hiniker offers a comprehensive line of professional grade snowplows to meet the demands of your customers.

Red E Dump Trailers PO Box 1797 Cushing, OK 74023 (918) 225-0044 www.rededump.com • Dump

Windswept Promotions

PRODUCTIVITY

9105 N 137th E Ave Owasso, OK 74055 (918) 853-3533 www.industrialmaks.com • Auto Hauler, Custom Design, Equipment, Utility/Flatbed

Ranger Boat/Rangertrail Trailers

28 Arcadia Way Columbia Falls, MT 59912 (406) 407-1353 www.torridtechnologiesgroup.com • Custom Design

4371 Rt 30 Latrobe, PA 15650 (724) 539-1009 www.windswept.com • Concession

Industrial Machine and Kitting Services, LLC - IMaKS

PO Box 132 McGregor, TX 76657 (254) 840-2321 www.larkunited.com • Cargo, Concession, Custom Design

Torrid Technologies Group

SPREADERS: Snow removal contractors looking for additional profits will find them in ice control. Spread ice control materials quickly and easily with an efficient Hiniker Spreader. Choose OHV gas engine spreaders, or dual-motor electric spreaders with conveyor or auger delivery options.

GAS & ELECTRIC SPREADERS

HINIKER COMPANY 1-800-433-5620 • www.hiniker.com www.NATM.com


Well it finally happened. What happened? My trailer supplier is putting in a company store. Where? The empty car lot down the road. You gotta be kidding. Haven’t you been with them for like 10 years? Yep, I’m tired of battling with my supplier for retail sales anyway. True... So what’s your plan? I’m making the switch to PJ Trailers.

PRODUCTS YOU CAN COUNT ON, PEOPLE YOU CAN TRUST...ALWAYS www.pjtrailers.com


Hey Babe, you on your phone?

Got it right here. Check out the new Carry-On Trailer website. It’s Awesome! Affordable...Available... Hit the dump trailers tab. They got everything! Had no idea! Wait, did you see their parts! OMG!!! All our parts, all our dumps in one location with their factory so close. Practically a neighbor. Lets call them now! We need Carry-On Trailer. Affordable, available...awesome!

A TRAILER IN EVERY DRIVEWAY www.carry-ontrailer.com


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