From Recognizing Award Winners to Prepping For A Record‐Setting Year
As we head into spring, I am proud to recognize the leaders who set the pace for our industry. At the 2025 NATDA Industry Excellence Awards held at Trailer Tech Expo Powered by NATDA, we honored standouts across every corner of the market, from manufacturing and dealership operations to service, customer experience, and community impact. Congratulations in particular to our Lifetime Achievement recipient, George Fehr of Lamar Trailers, along with Delco Trailers( Manufacturer of the Year), Happy Trailers( Dealer of the Year), and Taskmaster Components( Vendor of the Year), among other deserving honorees.
If you could not attend, you can read more on page 26.
Now, let us talk about what is next. The 2026 NATDA Trailer Show taking place September 1-3 in Nashville, is tracking to be one of our most ambitious editions yet. Exhibit demand is one of the strongest we’ ve ever seen, in fact, Music City Center is nearing capacity, with many companies already expanding their footprints. For dealers, that means more product launches, more hands-on demos, and more conversations that turn into concrete business for the year ahead.
We are also enhancing the onsite experience with new insights and learnings from speakers you won’ t find anywhere else. And because a little fun helps create authentic networking, we will debut an Ultimate Prize Package featuring more than $ 10,000 in cash giveaways on the show floor. Consider it a useful nudge to make every lap of the exhibit hall count.
Here is the bottom line: the 2026 NATDA Trailer Show is the place where the trailer industry comes to get business done. Whether you are a dealer evaluating lines, a manufacturer launching a product, or a solutions provider making online shopping easy and quick, the attend and get more business done in three days than you will all year long.
Finally, a personal note of thanks to everyone who helped make this year’ s awards program meaningful, from the nominators and judges to the teams behind recognizing our finalists and winners. Your work moves the industry forward. I look forward to seeing you on the road, online, and in a few months on the show floor.
Warm regards,
Andria Gibbon, CEM Executive Director, NATDA
6 NATDA Magazine www. natda. org