A new strategic collaboration brings dealers, manufacturers, and education closer together
What This Means for Dealers
INDUSTRYUPDATE
NATDA and NATM Align to Strengthen Industry Events and Dealer Education
A new strategic collaboration brings dealers, manufacturers, and education closer together
What This Means for Dealers
The collaboration delivers clear, immediate benefits:
Stronger events with more concentrated attendance and higher‐value education Direct access to manufacturer expertise on standards, safety, and compliance Fewer overlapping shows, reducing travel strain and time away from the dealership More coordinated education, designed specifically for dealer operations A clearer industry roadmap for training, compliance, and professional development
Together, NATDA and NATM are focused on delivering success and growth to the entire trailer industry.
In a move designed to deliver greater clarity, efficiency, and collaboration, the North American Trailer Dealers Association TM( NATDA) and the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers( NATM) have announced a strategic industry collaboration aligning flagship events, education, and resources.
The partnership brings together two organizations that serve distinct— but deeply connected— segments of the trailer industry. By leveraging NATDA’ s dealer‐focused events and education alongside NATM’ s leadership in manufacturing standards, safety, and compliance, the collaboration will create stronger, more unified experiences for dealers, manufacturers, and vendors.
Aligning Flagship Events
As part of the alignment, NATM will not host the NATM Trailer Expo scheduled for October 2026, and NATDA will not host Trailer Tech Expo in 2027. Instead, both organizations will concentrate their efforts on coordinated education and event programming designed to strengthen attendance, elevate content, and reduce industry fragmentation.
Beginning this September, NATM will deliver a dedicated dealer education track at the 2026 NATDA Trailer Show in Nashville, bringing manufacturer expertise, compliance guidance, and standards‐based education directly to the dealer audience.
“ By aligning our flagship events and education efforts with NATM, we’ re creating a more connected experience for dealers— bringing manufacturer expertise, standards, and education directly into the spaces where dealers already gather and learn.”
— Andria Gibbon, CEM, Excutive Director, NATDA
Building Momentum Beyond 2026
The collaboration at the 2026 NATDA Trailer Show marks the beginning of a broader, long‐term alignment. Starting in 2027, NAT- DA and NATM plan to expand cross‐event participation and coordinated education efforts, with a continued focus on dealer training, compliance, and professional development.
“ This agreement with NATDA allows NATM to expand its reach with dealers while maintaining our focus on compliance, safety, education, and manufacturing excellence.”
— Alex Stowe, Executive Director, NATM
The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to strengthening connections between dealers, manufacturers and vendors and supporting the long‐term growth of the trailer industry.
56 The Haul www. natda. org