Celebrating Trailer Safety Week as Dealerships

Trailer Safety Week (TSW) is an annual nationwide awareness campaign launched by the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) aimed at increasing awareness of the importance of trailer safety, educating end-users about proper trailer maintenance and usage, and creating a stronger alliance between stakeholders of the industry, including trailer dealers, manufacturers, and end-users. Last year alone, TSW reached hundreds of thousands of individuals.

First launched in 2018, TSW sought to help bridge the gap of communication between trailer manufacturers and end-users. Talking about the importance of trailers built to meet required Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) can be daunting as end-users do not understand the complex regulations governing compliant trailer manufacturing. They recognize that they would not purchase a car without seat belts, but they do not understand that buying a trailer without key safety features can be just as dangerous. End-users are vastly under-educated on the proper use of trailers, and it is crucial to utilize the connections that dealers and manufacturers have with consumers in order to raise awareness of proper towing techniques and maintenance.

Getting involved in this important industry campaign shows potential customers that the dealership is a leader in the industry and truly committed to trailer safety. By joining this trailer safety movement, impress customers and instill confidence in the company’s dedication to safety. Participating in TSW is easy!

Becoming an Official Trailer Safety Week Ally is a wonderful opportunity for companies who want to be involved in the safety movement but don't have significant time to invest. The TSW team provides Allies with the official Trailer Safety Communications Kit to promote their involvement in Trailer Safety Week and to share information about safe trailering practices. This digital kit includes:

• Pre-crafted social media posts
• Downloadable Trailer Safety Week graphics
• A blog post
• And much more!

Promoting the dealership’s involvement with Trailer Safety Week is a breeze with this jam-packed kit. The content can even be customized to include content specific to the dealership’s typical customer.

TrailerSafetyWeek.com also houses a free towing safely guide to ensure trailer users have readily accessible safety information at their fingertips. Wow your customers by highlighting this free safety resource that reminds them your dealership is looking out for them and their well-being long after they leave the lot. Topics include:

• Hitching
• Loading
• Trailer Maintenance
• And more!

Now especially, safe trailering practices are important. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is cracking down on compliance violations, and two recent accidents have brought to light the importance of safe trailering practices. One accident, previously covered in an article on behalf of NHTSA, resulted in a fatality due to inappropriately connected safety chains between the tow vehicle and towed unit which led to disconnection on a highway. More recently, safety chains saved a couple dangling nearly 100 feet above a river.

Safe trailering practices save lives, and with millions of trailers — used by businesses, local governments, and individuals — traversing the nation’s roadways every day, it is crucial to ensure that trailers are being towed safely for the sake of everyone on the roads. NATM calls upon trailer dealers to join the movement in making roadways safer one trailer at a time.

Learn more at www.TrailerSafetyWeek.com/interest, email TrailerSafetyWeek@natm.com.