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Ben Winter
2025-2026 NTEA Board Chair
Vice Chairman/Business Development Transfer Flow (Chico, California)
We are approaching the end of another busy year in the commercial vehicle industry. We’ve taken every change in stride, and proven innovation and growth are at the core of our community. As we head into the new year, we’re well positioned to capitalize on opportunities to grow, connect, and keep moving our industry forward.
I want to remind you that NTEA membership includes a variety of benefits, with many new and improved offerings launching in the past year. Following are some of
the highlights of 2025.
All-new ntea.com
In May, the Association launched the all-new ntea.com, a reimagined digital experience built to help the work truck community find insights, resources and solutions — faster and easier than ever before. Enhancements include:
- Smarter search: Expanded search capabilities and filters let you quickly zero in on what matters
- Topic-focused browsing: Search by key industry topics and explore related content in just a few clicks
- Fresh look, streamlined feel: Enjoy a cleaner design, more intuitive navigation and enhanced user experience
Events
- Work Truck Week® continues to grow. A verified 16,413 industry professionals from 31 countries and all 50 U.S. states gathered March 4–7 at Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis for Work Truck Week 2025, breaking last year’s attendance record of 15,790. Work Truck Show exhibit space was sold out, with 549 companies filling the exhibit hall and New Exhibitor Pavilion with the latest commercial vehicles, equipment and technology.
- Held during Work Truck Week 2025, Green Truck Summit featured intensive programs on clean energy trends for commercial vehicles and operational insights for vocational truck fleets.
- NTEA held its 2025 Executive Leadership Summit in September in Ypsilanti, Michigan — offering a forum to explore important commercial vehicle trends, forecasts and insights.
- The Association hosted the upfitter community and commercial vehicle chassis manufacturer technical and engineering experts at the 2025 Commercial Vehicle Upfitting Summit at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Sandusky, Ohio.
- In October, NTEA opened registration for Work Truck Week 2026 (March 10–13) in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Education and resources
- Available to survey participants in the first and third quarters of 2025, the Business Conditions Survey Report was provided to help distributors and manufacturers better anticipate the upcoming market and gain insights into expectations regarding hiring, sales levels and business strategies.
- In March, NTEA released the 18th edition of Truck Equipment Handbook, the work truck industry’s most comprehensive pocket guide for commercial vehicle components and equipment.
- In August, NTEA launched an updated State Mud Flap Requirements Guide, which details mud flap and splash guard regulations for trucks, buses, and trailers across all 50 states and Washington, DC. This guide, available at no cost to members, includes an interactive state list and direct links to official state resources, making it easy to navigate specific requirements.
- In September, NTEA released Power Takeoffs: The What, Where and Some of the Why. This new digital publication provides an overview of PTOs, outlining what they are and why they’re important in commercial vehicles, with details on types, applications, and key considerations for proper selection and use.
- In November, Lincoln Electric launched the Welder Training and Qualification Program for Individuals, a three-day custom training program for those interested in becoming qualified welders. Attendees practiced specific welds to prepare them for the qualification tests. NTEA members can earn Member Verification Program (MVP) credits for taking this course.
Government advocacy
- Federal and California truck emissions regulations took center stage this past year. NTEA joined the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) in suing California over its truck fleet electrification rules. Recently, California agreed to repeal the regulations subject to this lawsuit.
- NTEA is working with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on truck emission issues. Currently, NTEA is supporting a review of greenhouse gas and mileage regulations. As governments continue looking toward emission-reducing technologies, NTEA advocates for rules that allow for capable, available, and affordable commercial trucks.
- The Association is in close contact with the Canadian government as they work to address both the change in U.S. policy on zero-emission vehicle mandates and new tariffs.
- NTEA regularly works with the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to educate them on the high level of domestic production within the work truck industry and how tariffs are likely to affect various segments of the industry.
- Catalytic converter theft remains a problem, potentially affecting anyone with chassis inventory on-site. The Preventing Auto Recycling Theft (PART) Act has been reintroduced. The new legislation covers diesel particulate filters, diesel oxidation catalysts and catalytic converters, calls for more substantial penalties and would require parts marking and recordkeeping to reduce theft.
On behalf of the Association’s Board of Directors and NTEA staff, I want to wish you a happy new year. I can’t wait to see what we accomplish in 2026.