The event kicks off with a special reception for members of the NATM PAC on June 13th. On June 14th attendees will participate in a brief refresher before teams head to Capitol Hill for a day of meetings with their legislators. The event closes with an opportunity for attendees to hear from federal agencies, peer organizations, and other policy experts about the regulatory landscape.

For those who have never been before, NATM makes the process easy and comfortable! From assigning small teams with a veteran attendee team leader to providing materials, talking points, and pre-event training, attendees are well prepared for the event.

Industry priorities have been set by the Government Affairs Committee and include;

To sign up and make your voice heard, click here. For more information, contact Kendra Ansley.

In March, Congressman Burchett cosponsored and introduced the Trailer Safety Improvement Act (H.R. 6915) along with Congressman Garamendi (CA-03). Alongside the introduction of the Bill, Rep. Burchett’s office noted “in 2021, the United States experienced a 20% increase in car crash deaths. Concurrently, 47% of Americans expressed an intent to travel domestically, recreational vehicle sales increased by 33.8%, and trailer sales jumped 164% year-over-year. The most common cause of trailer accidents is lack of experience. As more Americans travel throughout the country, it’s critically important that they know how to properly use their trailers.”

However, while current law requires each state to operate highway safety programs, programs do not include trailer safety initiatives. H.R. 6915 would amend 23 USC 402(a)(2)(A) to ensure that these highway safety programs include initiatives “to educate the public about proper and safe usage of light- and medium-duty trailers, including required safety equipment and preventative maintenance for safety.”

NATM and its member companies are invested in improving trailer safety, as evidenced by its annual Trailer Safety Week. NATM hopes that with the passing of this legislation, the industry and its users will have improved access to trailer safety information and resources. The Association is continuing to work with Congressman Burchett and Garamendi’s offices as well as other Congressional members as the Bill sees its way to the floor. This legislation is a priority during NATM's annual Capitol Hill Visits.

To sign up as a Trailer Safety Week Ally, click here.

In April, Ford began a recall that includes 391,000 trucks and SUVs from model years 2021 and 2022. The recall includes F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550 Maverick, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator models. The recall is the result of a software error that may cause the trailer brakes to fail.

In brief, a towed trailer equipped with an electric or electric-over-hydraulic brake system may not brake as the software error prevents the brakes from being engaged. Dealers are updating the integrated brake control module software, free of charge. This lack of engagement could increase stopping distances.

To see whether your vehicle has an open recall, you can enter your VIN on NHTSA's website.

"Elevated and persistent inflation, coupled with a sharp rise in interest rates, are among the greatest near-term risks to the U.S. economic system," the Federal Reserve said Monday according to the Wall Street Journal. The Central Bank's Financial Stability Report further stated, "adverse surprises in inflation and interest rates, particularly if accompanied by a decline in economic activity, could negatively affect the financial system."

The Financial Stability Report outlines vulnerabilities in household and business debt, but the Fed maintains these are moderate as the financial status of many households remains improved since the previous stability report. This comes after an 8.5% increase in the consumer price index last year, the highest increase since 1981.

Last week, in a bold and aggressive move, the Fed increased interest rates by half a percentage point, "that largest since 2000" according to the WSJ. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, according to WSJ, said similar half-point increases could be warranted again in June and July.

Despite a sell-off on Monday and plummeting stocks, the Hill reports Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen as commenting "the U.S. financial system has continued to function in an orderly manner." though she warns of continued market volatility. As Shanghai imposes lockdowns on millions and conflict continues in Ukraine, prices continue to rise and continued market volatility is expected according to Yellen.