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Units Transportation Research Board Technical Activities Division

Oversight Unit

Technical Activities Division

The Technical Activities Division (TAD) provides a forum for transportation professionals to share and advance research. Through standing technical committees and thousands of volunteers, TAD addresses emerging issues and supports TRB’s mission. TAD staff and volunteers organize conferences, webinars, and TRB’s Annual Meeting—the world's largest conference of its kind. It also conducts annual field visits with state DOTs, universities, and industry. TAD disseminates research via the Transportation Research Record and Transportation Research Circulars. Staff experts in transportation, publishing, logistics, and operations oversee and support all volunteer activities.

In progress

Any project, supported or not by a committee, that is currently being worked on or is considered active, and will have an end date.

News and Updates

Register for the 2026 TRB Annual Meeting

Announcement

Registration is now open for the 105th Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, taking place Jan. 11-15 in Washington, D.C. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with thousands of colleagues at the world’s largest gathering of transportation professionals.

2025

About Events Projects Publications/Resources News and updates

Featured Resources

MyTRB

External Resource

Connect to, engage in, and support various TRB activities; attend TRB webinars; take full advantage of your attendance at the TRB Annual Meeting; and much more through the MyTRB portal. Create your MyTRB account today and get started!

TRB Weekly

Promotional/Outreach Material

A free, customizable email newsletter, TRB Weekly keeps readers up to date on TRB activities and highlights select transportation research initiatives at the federal and state levels, as well as within academic and international transportation communities.

TRB Webinars

External Resource

Your gateway to the latest insights and innovations across the transportation industry. TRB’s webinar program connects you with experts sharing cutting-edge research from TRB Standing Technical Committees and Cooperative Research Programs. Plus, earn valuable professional development credits.

Transportation Research Information Documentation (TRID) Database

External Resource

Comprising approximately 1.5 million records—including journal articles, conference proceedings, technical reports, and books—the Transportation Research Information Documentation (TRID) database stands alone as the most comprehensive bibliographic resource for transportation research. It provides a single, organized source for discovering information on published and ongoing research worldwide.

Research Needs Database

External Resource

TRB’s standing technical committees spot emerging issues and develop research needs statement designed to spark studies that tackle real-world challenges in transportation.

Research In Progress

External Resource

The Transportation Research Board's Research in Progress (RIP) Database contains information on more than 10,000 current or recently completed transportation research projects. RIP records primarily are projects funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation and State Departments of Transportation. University transportation research also is included in the database.

TRB Publications

External Resource

TRB disseminates transportation research results and technology information through an extensive array of publications

Transportation Research Record

External Resource

Transportation Research Records contain technical papers that have been accepted for publication through a rigorous peer-review process referred by TRB standing committees.

Technical Activities Division Publications

Transportation Research Record

External Resource

Transportation Research Records contain technical papers that have been accepted for publication through a rigorous peer-review process referred by TRB standing committees.

TRB Webinars

External Resource

Your gateway to the latest insights and innovations across the transportation industry. TRB’s webinar program connects you with experts sharing cutting-edge research from TRB Standing Technical Committees and Cooperative Research Programs. Plus, earn valuable professional development credits.

Conference Proceedings

External Resource

Conference Proceedings contain papers, presentations, and summaries of discussions from conferences, workshops, and symposia convened by TRB

Transportation Research Circulars

External Resource

Transportation Research Circulars present technical material considered to be of immediate interest to the transportation community.

Research Pays Off

External Resource

Research Pays Off articles highlight research results that provide innovative, cost-effective solutions to important transportation-related problems.

Recent Publications

See all 9 publications

Intermodal Chassis Provisioning and Supply Chain Efficiency: Equipment Availability, Choice, and Quality

Consensus

2024

Reforming the Coast Guard's Certificate of Compliance Program for Liquefied Gas Carriers: Promoting Efficient Implementation and Safety Effectiveness

2024

The Coast Guard's Next Decade: An Assessment of Emerging Challenges and Statutory Needs

2023

Strengthening U.S. Coast Guard Oversight and Support of Recognized Organizations: The Case of the Alternate Compliance Program

2021

Options for Improving the Safety of DUKW Type Amphibious Vessels

2021

Modernizing the U.S. Offshore Oil and Gas Inspection Program for Increased Agility and Safety Vigilance

2021

External Resource

Research Pays Off

External Resource

Research Pays Off articles highlight research results that provide innovative, cost-effective solutions to important transportation-related problems.

Transportation Research Circulars

External Resource

Transportation Research Circulars present technical material considered to be of immediate interest to the transportation community.

Conference Proceedings

External Resource

Conference Proceedings contain papers, presentations, and summaries of discussions from conferences, workshops, and symposia convened by TRB

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