1. What Is the NMFTA?
2. What Is Motor Freight Traffic?
3. Who Runs the NMFTA?
4. Where Is the Industry Heading?
5. How Does the NMFTA Help Its Members?
6. Limitations of the NMFTA
7. How Does the NMFTA Advance Freight Transportation?
8. Who Can Join the NMFTA?
9. Is Joining the NMFTA Right for You?
10. Key Takeaway

The motor freight transportation industry is massive and provides many opportunities for businesses to focus on specific segments, from truck manufacturers to logistics service companies.

The National Motor Freight Traffic Association is one such company.

Based in Washington, D.C., the NMFTA was established to help motor freight service providers connect with new markets and customers and advise them on new technologies and industry trends.

Read on to learn more about the NMFTA and its role in the motor freight traffic services sector.

What Is the NMFTA?

The National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) is a nonprofit organization of motor carriers, brokers, suppliers, and other individuals and businesses involved in motor freight transportation.

Its members are trucking companies that transport goods across state lines and internationally.

Its primary objective is to facilitate networking and partnerships between freight carriers and those in the supply chain, such as potential new customers like auto transporters.

The NMFTA's mission is to support U.S. businesses by improving the safety and efficiency of the surface transportation system.

They achieve this by:

• Advocating for a robust and modern surface transportation system
• Educating freight stakeholders and policymakers
• Improving the freight transportation system by investing in technology and promoting professional freight forwarding and logistics services.

The association also aims to tackle common industry problems and issues, empowering members to work together to find solutions.

What Is Motor Freight Traffic?

Freight transportation is the movement of goods from one place to another. This can be by air, sea, rail, or road, usually in large quantities and often over long distances.

The National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) works with providers of motor freight traffic services to help them connect with new markets and customers.

Motor freight traffic is transporting goods by road (trucking) or road haulage. Typically, it refers to commercial products put onto a truck or trailer, not those delivered by rail.

Who Runs the NMFTA?

The NMFTA is operated by a team of professional analysts and experts who provide members with the latest news and insights on the freight transportation industry.

An executive committee manages the association made up of members of the board of directors.

Most executives have been in the industry for over 20 years and have held senior positions in large companies such as FedEx, American Airlines, and UPS.

The executive committee is supported by a team of staff members who keep the organization running and conduct extensive research on trends, technologies, and new developments in the industry.

Where Is the Industry Heading?

The freight transportation industry is expected to grow as technology improves, fueling increased service demand.

The industry relies heavily on technological developments for improved efficiency, customer service, and lower operating costs.

For example, blockchain technology has opened new doors for the freight industry.

The technology has the potential to improve security, create automated payment systems, and simplify the tracking of goods through the supply chain.

It will provide more transparency between suppliers, carriers, shippers, and customers.

Another trend is autonomous vehicles, which help transportation companies improve productivity and efficiency by circumventing challenges such as traffic congestion and accidents.

Additionally, autonomous vehicles will boost productivity by delivering 24/7 and providing greater flexibility in scheduling.

How Does the NMFTA Help Its Members?

The NMFTA helps its members through several different activities and services.

One of the organization's primary functions is to help its members increase their reach and visibility by connecting them with new potential clients.

These outreach efforts include hosting trade shows and exhibitions, email newsletters, and posting information on social media.

The NMFTA also works closely with industry trade publications to help promote the work of its members.

The organization's website is another vital resource for members. It houses a host of valuable resources, including articles on statistics and data, a calendar of events, and information on how to join.

As a member of the NMFTA, you receive access to a wealth of benefits that can help your business grow. Here are just a few:

• Advocacy: The NMFTA is an active voice in the industry on behalf of shippers and carriers. The Association advocates for legislative and regulatory changes that benefit its members.
• Benchmarking: The Association publishes metrics and data on everything from average freight rates to industry revenue. This information can help members measure their performance against their peers.
• Research: The NMFTA compiles, analyzes, and publishes data on various industry topics. This research can help members measure performance.
• Education: The NMFTA provides its members with extensive educational opportunities about new technologies and best practices, including webinars and seminars at their annual conference.
• Earn Continuing Education Credits: Participate in the NMFTA's Transportation Executives' Council meetings to earn CEUs.
• Stay Current on Industry Trends: Access the latest professional development and training resources like the NMFTA's Freight Data Book, Transportation Executives' Council meetings, and other publications.
• Network with Industry Leaders: Attend conferences and events hosted by the NMFTA to meet other industry leaders and exchange ideas. This can help foster relationships, improve service, and strengthen the industry.
• Online network: Have access to an online network that allows them to find new customers and partners and post their own ads for free. This makes it easy to find potential partners according to your business needs.
• Motor freight traffic service providers: Offer trucking, rail transportation, and air freight services.

Limitations of the NMFTA

If you're looking for a specific type of business partner or customer, then the NMFTA network may not be as helpful.

Although there are thousands of listings on the network, it can't meet the needs of everyone.

Similarly, you may have trouble finding an NMFTA member who meets your specific needs. The network is designed to help people find business partners, but connecting with one particular person can be difficult.

While the NMFTA membership is free, you may need to pay a fee to attend one of their conferences or seminars. You may also need to purchase a few of their publications to get the most value from your membership.

How Does the NMFTA Advance Freight Transportation?

The NMFTA works to advance the interests of the motor freight transportation industry through education, research, and advocacy initiatives.

The organization regularly publishes studies and research reports on the state of the industry and shares them with its members.

On the advocacy side, the NMFTA regularly hosts symposiums and other events to engage with stakeholders working to advance transportation policies.

The NMFTA also regularly comments on and submits testimony to regulatory agencies and legislative bodies to raise the profile of motor freight transportation issues.

Who Can Join the NMFTA?

Freight transportation service providers, manufacturers and suppliers, and other stakeholders in the industry are eligible to join the NMFTA.

To become a member, one must be involved in one or more of the following activities within the motor freight traffic service sector:

• Freight Transportation includes long-distance, short-haul, and intermodal surface transportation.
• Freight Brokerage involves the procurement of transportation services on behalf of a shipper.
• Freight Forwarding involves the storage, consolidation, and forwarding of goods.

Is Joining the NMFTA Right for You?

As you can see, the NMFTA is a great organization that provides value to a wide range of motor freight traffic service providers.

They will help you connect with new customers and partners and provide you with data and insights that can help you run your business more efficiently.

Their an expansive and easy-to-use network, and you can join for free.

If you're in the motor freight traffic services industry or a larger company, then joining the NMFTA is a no-brainer.

If you're a smaller company that doesn't employ many people, you may find that the NMFTA network isn't beneficial. You'll need to pay a fee to post an ad on the network, which may not be worth it.

You may even want to encourage your employees to join to help them find new partners and customers.

Key Takeaway

The NMFTA is a vital organization that helps keep the motor freight traffic industry solid and healthy. It does this by bringing together its many stakeholders and providing them with the resources they need to be successful.

Similarly, businesses that rely on freight traffic services can also benefit from joining the association as it can help them to find the right partners who can help them to grow and succeed.

However, before you commit to membership in a trade association, it's essential to understand the niches and benefits of each organization and what you plan to get out of it.

Read reviews online, inquire with friends or coworkers if joining is something they would recommend, and read the organization's mission statement.

Or you can reach out to a transportation company to learn more about the industry before deciding whether or not to become a member of the association.

At A1 Auto Transport, we're happy to answer any of your questions about how the motor carrier industry works. Request a free quote today, and we'll be in touch.