NASHVILLE, Tennessee—Music City is famous for records, and the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers got in on the act, pulling off its most successful Convention & Trade Show to date at the iconic Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center here earlier this year.
The event saw record-breaking attendance, a bustling exhibit hall floor, and a smooth attendee experience—a product of the cooperation, commitment, and flexibility of NATM’s exhibitors, sponsors, and attendees.
A total of 1,507 individuals attended this year’s show—which is less than 10 folks short of overall historical records. Attendees included 363 representatives from 138 trailer manufacturing companies, NATM reported, marking a continued upward trend in participation and interest across the industry.
Bigger, busier, better
The 2025 NATM exhibit hall was packed with energy and innovation, featuring 356 booth spaces, up 10.9% from 2024. A total of 259 companies exhibited, a 12.61% increase over the previous year, including 51 new member companies (up 8.51%).
“The NATM Convention is one of our favorite shows to exhibit and attend,” Ryan Griesemer, sales manager of Ridewell Suspensions, said. “From cutting-edge technology to top-tier services, the suppliers showcase the pinnacle of what the light-and-medium-duty trailer market has to offer. It’s a dynamic environment and participating in such a convention is a testament to the health and vibrancy of our industry.”
Education that matters
The NATM Educational Workshops and Technical Forum sessions, covering an array of industry aspects including manufacturing processes, technology, and sales tips, also were met with enthusiastic praise.
These sessions provided attendees with actionable insights, regulatory updates, and forward-thinking solutions across the trailer manufacturing landscape.
With strong attendance and positive feedback, these learning opportunities remain a cornerstone of the convention.
Showcase highlights
While sponsorship revenue saw a 7.36% decrease from previous years, 29 generous sponsors stepped up to support the event. Their continued involvement and visibility on-site helped elevate the overall experience for all attendees.
As a not-for-profit, the NATM Convention funds NATM’s programming throughout the year including the Compliance Verification Program, Government Affairs Advocacy, and NATM Academy and Trailer Safety Week, to name a few.
The Trailer Trends & Technology Showcase returned, featuring 10 participating companies. The showcase offered a platform for companies to spotlight cutting-edge developments and engage attendees with the future of
the industry.
“The NATM Show is a ‘must’ for LaVanture Products,” said Lisa Rhinesmith, vice president of sales for LaVanture Products. “The quality of attendees is top-notch, and they are mostly decision-makers that know what their dealers/retailers want. NATM show is productive and cost-effective because it saves us time and money. Being able to see all the industry leaders in one location is wonderful! For us, it is great to see so many friends and partners in one place. We truly look forward to this show.”
Harmonious kickoff
New to the 2025 lineup, the Monday Night Dueling Pianos, sponsored by PPG, hit all the right notes. This high-energy event served as the perfect icebreaker to kick off the week, bringing attendees together for a night of music, laughter, and networking before the week’s official activities began.
The piano showdown was a fun and fitting homage to the host city of Nashville, known for its musical roots. NATM announced that this event will return not only for the 2026 Convention, but also at the upcoming fall NATM Trailer Expo.
Mobile success
The official NATM Mobile App, sponsored by H-I-S Coatings, was particularly well received by attendees in 2025. With its streamlined design, live updates, interactive maps, and personalized agendas, the app became an essential tool for attendees navigating the busy schedule.
In fact, the app’s success was so significant—driven by outstanding user engagement and metric performance—that Whova, the mobile app supplier, has already reached out to NATM to develop a case study highlighting the effectiveness of NATM’s event usage on the mobile app.
Back to Fort Worth
As the association looks to 2026 and heading back to Fort Worth, Texas, it does so with momentum.
The growth in attendance, exhibitor participation, and overall satisfaction reflects the strength of our industry and the passion of those who support it, NATM shared.
Stay tuned at www.NATM.com/convention.
About the Author
Kevin Jones
Editor
Kevin has served as editor-in-chief of Trailer/Body Builders magazine since 2017—just the third editor in the magazine’s 60 years. He is also editorial director for Endeavor Business Media’s Commercial Vehicle group, which includes FleetOwner, Bulk Transporter, Refrigerated Transporter, American Trucker, and Fleet Maintenance magazines and websites.
Working from Beaufort, S.C., Kevin has covered trucking and manufacturing for nearly 20 years. His writing and commentary about the trucking industry and, previously, business and government, has been recognized with numerous state, regional, and national journalism awards.