"Is The "T" Word Image Correct?"
by Maury Tiernan, Geary Pacific Corp.

Should we refer to our industry product as "trailers?"

Webster's Dictionary defines trailers as a vehicle designed to be hauled by a tractor. Some state's regulatory agencies classify our product in departments that regulate specialty trailers. The Yellow Pages list our products under three headings: buildings, mobile offices, and yes, trailers. That is some very good marketing on their part to convince an industry we need to be listed in three different paid locations (That's a subject for a future article).

At last years American Institute of Architects (AIA) Annual Convention, the architects who passed the MBI exhibit booth asked what we did? I proudly replied, "The Modular Building Institute is a trade association involved in the manufacturing and distribution of commercial factory built structures." The majority of the architects responded back, "Oh, you mean trailers!" I puffed out my chest again and commented, "Our ancestors built, sold, or leased trailers. Today our industry provides single and multi wide mobile offices, portable classrooms, multi story facilities, and specialty structures from 4' x 4' guard buildings to diners to hospitals." Most architects had no idea our industry did anything but mobile offices or portable classrooms. Also most architects believed portable classrooms were, in general, an inferior product. We differentiate ourselves from mobile homes, right? So why would we want to categorize our product as a "trailer?"

If we would like the rest of the world to believe we do more than "trailers," then we must eliminate this inadequately descriptive term from our industry vocabulary.