symposium highlights

Balancing competing needs in heavy vehicle transport technology

This four day symposium will bring together some of the best technical, policy, safety and environmental experts from around the world. It will span the range between transport technology and transport policy and demonstrate the role of technology in shaping future policy.

The four days will feature technical sessions on braking, road wear relationships, and the performance of ‘road-friendly’ suspensions. Others will discuss heavy vehicle compliance including electronic log books, electronic route compliance and operator accreditation to ensure vehicle condition and compliance with mass regulations. Policy sessions will include discussion of the link between growth in road transport and GDP growth.

Plenary sessions will focus on key policy issues including:

• Outcomes of the OECD/ International Transport Forum Working Group on Heavy Vehicles: Regulatory, Operational and Productivity Improvements
• Application of performance-based standards in Canada and Australia including the use of more flexible regulation of heavy vehicles
• Heavy commercial vehicles around the world
• Tradeoffs – how to balance community, safety and environmental imperatives along side the need for improved productivity and access for freight movement

Melbourne as a venue is superb, with the official accommodation only a few minutes from the historic conference venue at the State Library of Victoria which is in the heart of the city.