Magazine for the professional tire industry
Issue link: https://mtd.epubxp.com/i/244093
Editorial Friend or foe? Te RMA says the industry comes frst R emember when the relationship beics that drive important and engaging dialogue tween the two largest associations in throughout the year. I look forward to helping our industry was contentious? We had to guide those discussions." the former National Tire Dealers and Retreaders Selleck says the RMA has several priorities. Association (NTDRA) on one side, and the "One is our continued pursuit of state legislation Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) on to prohibit the sale of unsafe used tires. We'll be the other. active on this issue in at least four states in 2014. Tire dealers versus tire manufacturers. You "The RMA will also continue to advocate know what that is like. Sometimes you get along. strongly for responsible scrap tire management By Bob Ulrich laws and regulations. It's imperative that we do Sometimes you don't. Times have changed, however. Te NTDR everything we can to ensure that both legacy and the American Retreaders Association morphed into and new scrap tire piles are cleaned up; that regulations the Tire Industry Association (TIA), which includes both on scrap tire haulers and businesses are enforced; and that tire dealers and tire manufacturers. Te RMA benefted states work with industry to promote economically viable from new leadership in the form of CEO and President markets for end-use tires." Charles Cannon. Environmental regulatory eforts will be monitored They don't always agree, but the associations have closely by the RMA in 2014, according to Selleck. worked well together of late, especially when it comes "For example, California has issued a regulation requiring to helping craf national and state legislation. Ridding companies doing business in the state to evaluate the use the afermarket of unsafe used tires and promoting the of chemicals in products, and this could be unnecessarily necessity of state vehicle inspections are two of the issues disruptive to many of our member companies. Additionally, they have supported jointly. the EPA is taking a more active role in chemical regulation "We are very encouraged by our increasingly positive that may have a broad efect on U.S. businesses overall." working relationship with RMA," says Roy Litlefeld, TIA's Another priority for RMA will be to urge the National executive vice president. Highway Trafc Safety Adminis"Whether it is working together tration to issue a proposed regulaon legislative issues on the federal or tion on the long-awaited tire fuel state levels, sharing information, or efciency information program speaking out on industry issues in the and rating system for consumers, media, our industry is speaking with he says. "It was back in 2007 that a united voice, and we are making RMA successfully championed a diference. And the tremendous legislation that required this rulesupport that RMA members are making, so we obviously have an giving to TIA in the development, interest in seeing it through to funding, and expertise of our training completion." programs is producing the best industry training programs Selleck describes the RMA's relationship with TIA as in the world." "strong, collegial and efective." As dealers, you are probably more familiar with TIA "Te RMA board of directors strongly believes that the than with the RMA, which is made up of eight domestic, industry as a whole is best served by a healthy working and fercely competitive, tire manufacturers. I asked new relationship between RMA and TIA. During my past two RMA Chairman Pete Selleck, who also is chairman and years as a member of the RMA board, I have been pleased president of Michelin North America Inc., to explain what to see the important improvements made in how TIA and his job entails, and what lies ahead for the organization. RMA interact. We want that to continue. "Certainly, the two organizations won't agree on every "Te RMA chairman presides over the board of directors and helps to facilitate the discussions that take place around issue, every time. But in those situations, we want both the issues addressed," says Selleck. "Te RMA consists of organizations to fnd consensus where it may exist. In the those tire manufacturers who have a manufacturing pres- end, RMA and TIA will be close allies on more issues ence in the United States — Bridgestone, Continental, than not." ■ Cooper, Goodyear, Michelin, Pirelli, Toyo and Yokohama. If you have any questions or comments, please email me "Each RMA board member has the ability to raise issues for board consideration, so there's an ongoing slate of top- at bob.ulrich@bobit.com. 'RMA and TIA will be close allies on more issues than not,' says Selleck. 4 MTD January 2014