Established in 1964, NTEA – The Work Truck Association represents more than 2,100 companies that manufacture, distribute, install, sell and repair commercial vehicles, truck bodies, truck equipment, trailers and accessories. Buyers of work trucks and the major commercial truck chassis manufacturers also belong to NTEA.
The Association provides the commercial vehicle industry with truck engineering and compliance expertise, market data and industry intelligence, government advocacy, education and training, professional development, and business resources. Through decades of direct engagement with commercial vehicle manufacturers, upfitters, suppliers, fleets, truck dealers, chassis manufacturers and government agencies, NTEA has developed specialized expertise in the technical, regulatory, market, and business issues affecting the work truck community.
NTEA also produces major commercial vehicle industry events, including Work Truck Week, Future Truck Summit, Commercial Vehicle Upfitting Summit and Executive Leadership Summit. These events bring together vehicle upfitters, manufacturers, commercial fleets, suppliers, chassis OEMs, truck dealers, technical professionals, and business leaders for education, product and technology exploration, market intelligence, and industry collaboration.
The Association maintains its administrative headquarters in suburban Detroit, with dedicated government relations offices in Washington, DC, and Ottawa, Ontario. View staff directory.
Mission and vision
NTEA exists to further the knowledge, growth and profitability of the work truck industry. The Association is recognized globally as the undisputed resource and advocate for the North American work truck industry. The following overarching areas of focus represent the Association's organizational direction:
- Market data & industry trends
- Vehicle engineering & compliance
- Advanced vehicle technology & fuel
- Government regulations & advocacy
History
NTEA has proudly served its membership and the work truck industry since 1964. The Association was formed principally as a sales and marketing organization for a small group of truck equipment distributors. The Truck Equipment and Body Distributors Association (or D/A as the NTEA was first named) served its original members from Cincinnati, Ohio. A series of management seminars was the new Association's first scheduled activity. In 1967, a full-time executive was hired, and in 1978, the Association selected a suburb of Detroit, Michigan, the heart of the nation's automotive industry as its headquarters.
At its annual convention in Las Vegas in 1979, the Truck Equipment and Body Distributors Association officially became the National Truck Equipment Association. In March 2014, the Association announced the opening of its first location in Canada - a Government Relations office in Ottawa - to serve an important role in addressing the increasing challenges presented by international marketplace dynamics.
From its humble beginnings, NTEA has grown to become the exclusive representative of the commercial truck body and equipment industry. More than 2,100 distributorships, manufacturing firms, suppliers and various industry-associated companies are NTEA members.
NTEA's suburban Detroit location allows management and staff engineers to work directly with the major truck chassis manufacturers on product and specification changes. This close relationship strengthens NTEA's function as an information center and liaison between the chassis manufacturers, body and equipment manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, related industry firms and end users.
View a slideshow of photos contributed by NTEA members. These historical images of their businesses through the years showcase the work truck industry’s evolution from the 1960s to modern times.