Value of Membership
What SMA has to offer.
Our Mission
To Promote, Education and Protect the Moving Industry.
Benefits of Membership
SMA members enjoy a wide array of benefits, many due to their relationship with Texas Trucking Association (TXTA), that translate directly into bottom line savings, including:
Representation at the Capitol
Through regulatory and legislative advocacy and involvement at the local, state and national levels, SMA advances the interests of movers and truckers operating in Texas.
Industry Experts
SMA and TXTA have staff with decades of experience in dealing with compliance, regulatory and operational issues. Our experts are literally only a phone call away.
Moving Forms Approved by TxDMV
SMA has household goods moving forms available for order at discounted prices. Three different moving service contracts, proposal for service, inventory, additional services and addendum to the moving services contract, the “cube sheet”, “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move in Texas” and the Joint Military/Industry Table of Weights and Depreciation Guide are available through SMA. Forms may be ordered as generics or may be ordered with your company information imprinted as required by TxDMV.
Intrastate Texas MAX 3B Tariff
Available for application only by SMA members. The household goods Tariff Max 3B was issued effective November 1, 2008 cancelling in full the SMA Max 3A tariff issued April 1, 2000. The Tariff Max 3B provides maximum rates and charges for the transportation of household goods as defined by the Texas Transportation Code Chapter 643. The tariff along with updates can be purchased only from SMA. Max 3B is on file with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles as the lawful rates of SMA member participating carriers. All Texas household goods carriers must have an individual tariff on file with TxDMV if not a participant in the SMA Max 3-series tariff.
Pinnacle Mover Program
A certification program developed by the Southwest Movers Association specifically for the moving industry. The primary goal of the program is to promote and recognize professional competence and adherence to ethical standards on the part of movers operating within Texas. This premier program was started by SMA in 2001, and at this point in time, the standards set therein are being copied by several other state moving associations in the U.S.
Educational Programs: In-House and On-Line
SMA provides educational workshops and seminars throughout the year to enhance professionalism for its members. The programs are offered at the SMA headquarters as well as online at Thomason Moving Training, LLC; www.movingtraining.com.
Publications
Members receive a weekly e-newsletter; an executive summary of breaking news called MOVEFacts. In addition, an annual membership directory and biannual magazine, The Bulletin, are added features of SMA membership. MOVE Alerts are issued through email to members as circumstances arise and provide members with immediate updates on urgent and pertinent information.
SMA Foundation Scholarships
Each year, the SMA Foundation awards thousands of dollars for scholarships to college students affiliated with SMA member companies. The foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to building a long-term funding source for our industry’s education programs. Contributions to the foundation are fully tax deductible.
Conference Seminars
Southwest Movers Association sponsors an annual conference and exposition in different locations throughout the state. The conference offers training and technology seminars as well as a member tradeshow. The two-day conference allows participants to take advantage of all seminars as well as other on-going activities. The conference offers a unique opportunity for networking and socializing with your peers in addition to outstanding education.
Certification Program
SMA members receive their Certified Movers Professional (CMP) and Certified Claims Analysis (CCA) through the American Moving and Storage Association.
Consumer Complaint Resolution Program
Effective in 1999, the consumer complaint resolution program was reassigned to TxDMV. When SMA receives a complaint from a consumer and the mover is a member of SMA, the staff of SMA gives the mover a courtesy call about receiving the complaint. Complaints about non-members are referred directly to TxDMV. When complaints about a member continue to be received, a review of the member’s compliance with the ethics requirements of membership will be made and if found to be continually lacking, membership in SMA may be terminated with board approval.
Love’s Diesel Fuel Discount Program
A simple one-page application to TXTA will save six cents per gallon on diesel fuel at the pump when you stop and fill up at Love's Travel Stops using one of the following cards: Comdata, EFS, Tcheck, Fleetone, Wright Express, Love's Express.
In addition to the diesel fuel discount, receive a $10 per tire rebate on Michelin tires when purchased at Love's Travel Stops. If you are a member of TXTA's National Michelin Account Program, you will receive these savings in addition to the already discounted tire price.
Michelin Tire Discount Program
Through a unique partnership with Michelin Tires, SMA members of all sizes are eligible for substantial discounts on quality truck tires. Buy Michelins from your current dealer and pay member-only discounts; this fiscal year, members have saved more than $2 million. Prices also extend to breakdown purchases made on the road, away from home. A complete line of Michelin products including re-treads and light-truck tires are offered.
Savings on Insurance
TXTA’s TRUCKGroup insurance, offers Workers Compensation with first dollar to large deductibles and All States; Occupational Accident Insurance with high limits, two or three year benefit periods along with first dollar coverage with driver rates for both company and independent contractors starting below $100 per month for preferred risks; Physical Damage for both company and independent contractor equipment along with various deductible options, self-insured retentions and custom designed features to assist in owner operator recruitment and retention; Non-Trucking Liability with monthly reporting and various limits available.
Specialty Advertising Products
SMA and TXTA partner with companies like Rocca Productions to offer members discounts. Rocca Productions is an emerging leader in the branded merchandise sector who works with multiple quality-approved vendors looking for superior products and value, saving customers an average of 40 percent off direct-order prices. When association members order from Rocca, they will donate five percent of the purchase price back to SMA and TXTA. Stop by Rocca’s website www.roccaproductions.com
Safety and Maintenance Conferences
Each year, TXTA produces a safety conference and a maintenance conference in Kerrville. Designed for safety and maintenance professionals, the conferences are some of the largest and highest quality produced by any state trucking association.
Safety and Maintenance Certification Programs
Working in cooperation with the University of North Texas, TXTA provides continuing education and certification programs for professionals in the area of trucking safety and truck and trailer maintenance.
Compliance Products
All the items truckers need to meet federal and state regulatory guidelines, including log books, inspection reports, accident kits, driver qualification files and much more are available at member discounted prices. Custom logbooks for members are available at substantial volume discounts.
Group Discount Programs
Members are eligible for a variety of group discount programs, including UPS, and 1 to 2 day service on MVRs.
Same-Day MVRs
TXTA offers same day Motor Vehicle Reports (MVR)
for Texas licensed drivers. MVR requests received before 2:00 p.m. can be processed and faxed or emailed to you by 5:00 p.m. the same day. Don’t delay hiring a driver for two or three weeks while waiting on an MVR report; know if you can hire him on the date he applies.
Drug and Alcohol Consortium
In a partnership with HireRight, members are eligible to participate in a DOT compliant drug and alcohol testing consortium, including a random test pool, managed by medical and compliance professionals who understand the trucking industry. All this comes at special member discounted prices.
UPS Overnight Deliveries
United Parcel Service and TXTA have teamed up to provide SMA members with dependable, quality, guaranteed delivery service at some of the lowest prices available to the occasional shipper! Members are eligible for discounts on next day air letters, next day air packages, second day a.m. letters and packages and worldwide express. Save 14-28 percent on next day air packages, 14-28 percent on UPS commercial ground services and 14-28 percent on worldwide express.
Drivers Legal Plan
Drivers Legal Plan® was designed in 1991 by trucking company executives who recognized unnecessary traffic convictions were going to have a deep and detrimental effect on their companies' safety profiles and driver retention records.
The concept is simple: make the highest quality legal representation available to the driver force, and make it affordable. That makes Drivers Legal Plan® the effective alternative to the insurance/referral agencies that charge drivers substantial, commission-laden premiums, yet may deliver inconsistent counsel.
Serving the Southwest Since 1917
