WHAT IS AITA?
AITA is an association that brings independent truckers and small fleets together to establish a buying group that can command price breaks for its members. Collectively, when individuals band together, they create a group of buyers that many companies want as a customer, and these companies will give pricing concessions to the group that they would not give to the individuals that make up that group. Our goal is to group the buyers together and refer them to the participating sellers, creating a situation that is beneficial to all concerned.
I'VE SEEN SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT SAY THEY GET DISCOUNTS, BUT THERE ARE ALWAYS CONDITIONS OR CATCHES; HOW IS AITA DIFFERENT?
We get businesses to join with us for the benefit of our members and the participating business. We are attractive to businesses because if they are able to service our members nationally, we strive to offer exclusive endorsements and we normally will not seek more than one participant per industry. The larger AITA gets, the more attractive we are as a customer.
WHY SHOULD I JOIN AITA RATHER THAN MY LOCAL ASSOCIATION?
AITA recommends that you join and take part in your local association as well as AITA. Normally, they have a membership fee that covers their administrative costs of operations, but the fee is usually justified. What we offer differs from what most local organizations offer, and you need them both. Most of our services are available online and are designed to save you money. That is our primary goal. Your local association lobbies to protect your legal rights, and to combat the passage of restrictive laws. Some local associations supplement their revenues by endorsements and such, but their availabilities are generally regional. Always remember, your benefits should exceed the cost of membership, or you should discontinue your membership with that association or group.
WHAT ARE THE FEES FOR AITA MEMBERSHIP?
AITA Membership entitles each qualified member to a wide range of benefits from heavy duty replacement part discounts to discounts on load boards, and a host of other savings opportunities.
Membership is available to individuals for the rate of $10.00 per person per year. (This fee is waived if you enroll through an authorized AITA Vendor Partner such as TruckPro, Goodyear, Truckers Edge or any other company with whom we offer discounts.)
Fleet Affiliate Status is available for a fee of $180.00 per year. (This fee is waived if you enroll through an authorized AITA Vendor Partner such as TruckPro, Goodyear, Truckers Edge or any other company with whom we offer discounts.)
The AITA Membership Guarantee: As a member, we will capture rebates from some suppliers that will be passed on to the member. If the member chooses, AITA will waive the fee and withhold the fee from the rebates earned until the proper amount has been withheld, at which time AITA will pass the excess rebates earned on to the member. All rebates are calculated with a 20% admin fee for AITA.
THERE ARE SO MANY PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE, HOW DO I KNOW WHICH ONE(S) TO JOIN?
Simple. Which ones save you more than they cost you? If your benefits and savings do not exceed your investment or membership fees, then you are spending money needlessly. Those are the ones you should drop, while retaining membership in the productive ones.
If you do not get more benefit from an association than you pay to be a member of that association, you are wasting your money.
I THINK I CAN GET BETTER PRICES ELSEWHERE
There will be times that the prices we negotiate may not be lower than the price you pay. If that is the case, then you are fortunate, and you should buy through the least expensive means. Please, let us know when this happens, with details, and we will try to secure the same benefits for ALL of our members. AITA does not expect you to pay more to support us. But be assured, the prices we negotiate are normally far better than the regular prices members pay. Another thing to consider, compare apples and apples. Is there a difference in quality? You normally get what you pay for.