SOUTH PASADENA, Fla. — The North American Trailer Dealers Association (NATDA) is hoping to enlist the estimated 7,500 dealers that sell light- and medium-duty trailers.

“The auto industry has NADA (National Auto Dealers Association) and the RV folks have the RVDA (Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association). Now the trailer dealers have us and each other,” said Amy Rubenstein, NATDA co-founder.

The NATDA is built around 20 Groups, clusters of 20 trailer dealers that meet to discuss the industry on a regular basis and provide input and suggestions for the direction of the association. The “Core 20” is relied upon to help steer the association.

To date the group has developed a commercial insurance program designed specifically for trailer dealers and are currently working on a unique trailer rental insurance program to give dealers coverage in another lucrative area of their businesses, Rubenstein said.

In addition to developing insurance programs for trailer dealers, the NATDA is developing risk management services that dealers can use to improve their payroll processing and human resources, especially hiring and firing procedures, in an attempt to minimize dealers’ exposure to loss and litigation.

“We have health insurance and employee benefits including 401K programs, and a whole slew of other services, so that the dealers can now offer the same type of programs as large corporations, without having to employ human resource personal,” said Andy Ackerman, NATDA president and co-founder.

The NATDA is also developing retail financing programs designed to increase profits and sales; warranty products designed to safeguard customers and generate more profits for dealers; and floor-plan programs designed to help dealers more effectively show off their merchandise.

“We’re pushing for product and service vendors to provide discounts to NATDA members, and encourage our members to do business with other members,” Ackerman said.

The NATDA also plans to offer discounted shipping programs, credit card processing, a bulletin board and member forum to help NATDA dealers keep in touch and share ideas. The group is also working on a Trailer Appraisal Guide Book (TAG Book) that NATDA officials says will essentially become the standard for the trailer industry. The NATDAs first annual trade show is set to be held in 2008.

For more information on the NATDA visit www.natda.org.