welcome

This is the 11th International Forum for Road Transport Technology (IFRTT) Heavy Vehicle Transport Technology (HVTT) symposium, designed to provide an open exchange of ideas and discussions amongst legislators, road administrators, academics and consultants, vehicle manufacturers and suppliers, transport organisations and transporters. Our venue is the historic State Library of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia. Built during the gold rush in the 1850’s this library and its world significant collection is a worthy backdrop for the 11th Heavy Vehicle Transport Technology Symposium.

Countries around the world are faced with the challenge of handling a growing freight task in a way that meets community expectations. Road transport operators and their customers aim to maximize their productivity and minimize their costs. Communities demand better environmental outcomes and safer operating environments. Suppliers are developing new technologies for both vehicles and infrastructure. Governments are facilitating growth by funding infrastructure, introducing new regulations, managing congestion and other externalities. All expect better outcomes, yet many demands compete, and tradeoffs are necessary.

This four day symposium will focus on the key drivers of change, and how these can influence future developments and Government policy formulation in the heavy vehicle domain. Key areas of the symposium include environment and energy, vehicle technology and design, safety, congestion management, infrastructure design and operation, standards and regulations, community issues, logistics issues, productivity, heavy vehicle transport policy and freight volumes and trends. Together with the planned plenary sessions and other opportunities to exchange ideas with fellow attendees, this will be a truly excellent heavy vehicle transport technology conference.

We will have attendees from around the world and of course from Australia, with almost 70 technical papers to be presented and debated. There will also be six plenary sessions, as well as an excellent evening program with a Government reception, conference dinner and a casual dinner. As a bonus there is also an opportunity to stay a few more days and enjoy the International Truck Trailer and Equipment Show to be held in Melbourne for the three days immediately following our symposium.

We look forward to meeting you in Melbourne in March 2010