MARCO ISLAND, Florida—The trailer business might’ve stalled after several strong years, but that didn’t prevent a record turnout here for the National Trailer Dealers Association’s 33rd Annual Convention. The gathering, as always, combined serious business with serious good times over three days of market updates, dealer training, and networking—and some golf for a good cause along with plenty of sun and sand.
“I keep asking myself what is normal? We’ve had two very, very good, strong years but now we’re off a little bit,” Richard Bloomquist, recently retired president and chairman of North Central Utility, said during the highly anticipated dealer panel discussion. “So it doesn’t really concern me that I can look out my window now and see trailers—I didn’t see them two years ago—but we’ll get through this. We always have.”
In the annual State of the Association address by the NTDA chairman, Mark Hall of Stoops Freightliner – Quality Trailer Inc. echoed that assessment.
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“We know we have some inventory on the ground, and it’s through everybody working in the industry to help each other that we can get through some of these challenges we’re having in our slight downturn,” Hall mentioned. “[NTDA] will continue to provide you with important tools to help keep track of the ever-changing supply chain and demand conditions in our industry.”
And, just as members must “constantly improve productivity and efficiency,” the NTDA board this year has launched several initiatives to improve the association, Hall explained.
Among the administrative upgrades instituted this year, Hall noted that NTDA has invested in a new customer relationship management (CRM) system that will roll out in 2024, along with a redesigned website. The accounting and credit card processing platform that was launched this year will be folded into the comprehensive site.
“The CRM system and the website will be fully integrated to allow members to update their company profiles, purchase products and services, register for events, and pay invoices,” Hall said. “That will allow Gwen [Brown, NTDA president] to free up some of her time to focus on growing our association. That was a big challenge this year, but we have that going in the right direction. We feel confident that you’ll start to see that in what we do.”
Hall concluded by noting the “honor and privilege” he had to serve as the organization’s chairman.
“The NTDA has grown and will continue to be successful because of you, our members,” he said. “Thank you for your continued support.”
Next year’s NTDA convention will be held Oct. 9-11 at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, California.