The year isn’t half over, but the trailer industry has already felt a wide
breadth of changes that could affect the industry in a variety of ways.
A new ELD mandate is affecting trailer manufacturers across the United
States, which could result in a shortage of drivers. Renegade Transport’s
Robert Anderson dives into how this may affect you in Will the New ELD
Mandate Affect Dealerships? (Page 14). New tax legislation has muddled
the waters regarding proper filings. We’ve tried to clear the water as much
as possible with David Wiggins’ article, Dealerships and the Tax Reform Act
of 2017 (Page 24).
With all the changes affecting the industry, it’s become more important than
ever for dealers to diversify their offerings. If your service or parts center
isn’t pulling in the numbers it needs to, you could feel significant effects
in your overall dealership revenue. In our piece, Manufacturer Backlogs
Create Great Opportunities (Page 10), we discuss just how important it can
be for your dealership. We’ve also reached out to several industry experts to
provide you with 9 Tips to Improve Your Dealership (Page 42) to help fine-
tune some items you may have not even thought about.
With the changes to the industry, we feel it’s become increasingly important
to give dealers a voice to their manufacturers. So, we’ve introduced the 2018
NATDA Dealer Satisfaction Report, a confidential survey that allows dealers
to rate manufacturers in eleven key categories. With this information,
manufacturers can adjust their operating behaviors to better serve you.
Another level of engagement for you, as a dealer, is through our 2018
NATDA Trailer Buyer’s Guide. This year, over 113 manufacturers participated.
Dealers have access to almost every manufacturer in the country and
a directory with the newest trailers in the industry. Through our online
portal, we delve even deeper with direct links to social channels, websites,
products, dealer networks and more. You even have the ability to e-mail the
sales team directly.
There’s a lot of developments happening in our industry. Whatever way you
choose to keep up with it, I recommend due diligence in figuring out ways
to increase your dealership’s revenue pipelines. If you have any questions
over some of the aspects we delve into in this edition of NATDA Magazine,
please let us know by calling 727-360-0304.
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NATDA Magazine
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