by Dennis Jones

After a two year industry wide effort, a recent clarification letter from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration last month on the divisible load issue was the first step in a process of being able to transport our homes easier and more efficiently.

As this process went along, it became evident that in addition to relief from a burdensome regulation, the industry finally started to find a national, unified voice. I cannot stress enough that the modular industry is now, more than ever, beginning to reach new markets beyond its traditional regional borders. As we grow, the NMHC can provide the vision to help direct that growth. As we expand, the NMHC will have the national presence to adequately represent the industry not only within the states, but also on a national platform. One of the first goals of the NMHC has been to unify this voice and carry the modular industry onto the national stage.

With an office in Arlington, Virginia, the NMHC’s presence is felt everyday at the federal level. With a network of state associations based full-time in virtually every state capital, the modular industry’s presence is felt throughout the country. This network of associations that rely on and help each other on a daily basis is essential to helping the modular industry grow. Not only are they effective advocates to lawmakers and regulators, but they serve as a tremendous source of knowledge for the modular industry and about the industry, and represent it well while we go about doing our jobs of building homes.

Certainly there is more to do and more to learn to make our network better. That job is never done. But if you haven’t participated or contacted the National Modular Housing Council or the association in your state, I invite you to do so by visiting www.modularcouncil.org. Membership and industry involvement in the NMHC is vital to our success, as well as yours.

I welcome your thoughts and comments. I can be reached at dennisj@r-anell.com

Dennis Jones
Chair, National Modular Housing Council
President, R-Anell Housing Group, LLC