October 2024 Newsletter
Dear HVTT Forum subscriber,
Earlier in October, I had the opportunity to travel to Québec City where I met with colleagues at Université Laval, the host organization for HVTT18, May 25 to 29, 2025. This newsletter begins by showcasing several of the exciting features of the upcoming symposium! Please check the HVTT18 website for regular updates.
- Robust technical program: We were pleased to accept 77 abstract submissions and look forward to receiving full papers. We anticipate offering a full double-track program exploring the future of S2MART (sustainable, safe, modern, adaptable, resilient, trustworthy) road freight transport systems. Authors should submit their papers via our on-line portal by November 22.
- Plenary sessions exploring key themes: To complement the technical program, we are planning daily plenary sessions designed to highlight key symposium themes. One session will focus on the challenges of developing resilient road freight transport systems in harsh weather/climatic conditions. Dr. Guy Doré, Professor of Civil Engineering at Université Laval, will share his world-renowned expertise on developing road infrastructure in permafrost regions. We will also hear from Emil Tagho, Vice President of Infrastructure with the Société de développement de la Baie-James, who will discuss road management and freight re-supply efforts to support sustainable economic development of the James Bay territory in northern Québec. Dr. Amy Kim, Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia, will describe experiences dealing with disruptions caused by natural hazard events (e.g., floods, wildfires) that impact multimodal supply chain resilience. A second plenary session will discuss advancements in decarbonizing trucking, with contributions from Dr. David Cebon, Cambridge University, and Dr. Catherine Gosselin, Harnois Énergies. Stay tuned for more updates!
- Unique networking opportunities: Delegates can look forward to an exciting blend of social and networking opportunities throughout the symposium. Reacquaint with colleagues and meet new friends during the opening reception, while being treated to Québec’s quintessential maple sugar candy. Test your truck driving prowess using a state-of-the-art simulator during a fun evening at a local heavy-vehicle driving school. Learn about Québec’s unique historical and cultural significance during the gala dinner at the Museum of Civilization, located in the heart of Old Québec. And be sure to explore the city’s world-class landmarks—with friends or on your own time.
Dr. Jean-Pascal Bilodeau (at right) offered a tour of his laboratory facilities at Université Laval, including this trailer used for pavement load testing.
Check out this canon in Old Québec, with the Château Frontenac in the background.
In other news, decarbonization of the trucking industry continues to be a focus in Canada, as it is around the world. In September, the Government of Québec unexpectedly suspended its eco-trucking program, which provided financial assistance for trucking companies to invest in equipment and technologies intended to help decarbonize their operations. Québec’s Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility noted that the number of applications exceeded the available budget of $30 million for 2024-2025. While indicative of growing industry interest in purchasing electric trucks, reaction to the news highlights the continued importance of government funding in helping the industry meet its sustainability goals.
Meanwhile, a new report by Deloitte suggests that hydrogen-powered trucks—particularly fuel-cell-electric vehicles (FCEVs)—will be critical in decarbonizing the long-haul heavy-duty trucking sector in Western Canada. The report cited fuelling times and range as key advantages of FCEVs over battery-electric vehicles in long-haul applications. Reducing the full cost of ownership of FCEV trucks and the lack of hydrogen fuelling infrastructure are viewed as barriers to implementation.
Finally, the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Trucking Industry Research Committee is gearing up for the 2025 TRB Annual Meeting, held in Washington, D.C. from January 5 to 9. The Committee is excited to roll out its new three-year strategy at its annual in-person meeting. This strategy will focus the Committee’s work on specific topical areas and invite external partnerships with aligned groups. Outside of the Committee’s formal meeting, it is hosting a freight disruptions workshop and two sessions on truck parking and the economics of trucking. The group’s Truck Size and Weight Subcommittee will also meet to discuss ongoing work to develop (and drive funding for) research ideas for the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP). Special thanks to Daniel Haake, Chair of the TRB Trucking Industry Research Committee and Director of Project Delivery, Cambridge Systematics, for this contribution.
A few days ago, we enjoyed perhaps the last 20⁰C day of the season here in Manitoba, before a cold front ushered in more seasonable temperatures with sub-zero lows. The long-range forecast contains hints of snow and the coming winter.
Jonathan Regehr
HVTT Vice President, North America
