Get Involved in Standing Committees and Task Forces

What are Standing Committees and Task Forces?
TRB’s standing committees and task forces are communities of individuals who share an interest and expertise in transportation.  With more than 200 committees, almost every transportation mode and topic is represented in the Group and Section structure in which all standing committees and task forces are organized.  Each committee proposes research, shares research findings, sponsors special activities, and provides a forum for transportation professionals to discuss today’s and tomorrow’s transportation issues.

Task forces are similar to standing committees; however they are convened for a specific purpose and for only a specific time-period. 

Why should I get involved?
Serving on TRB committees provides you with an opportunity to contribute to advancing the state of the art and the state of the practice in transportation.  You will participate with individuals from around the world with diverse backgrounds, including industry, academia, consulting, and the public sector.  This broad representation provides a chance to contribute, to learn, and to interact with others who share your passion for transportation.

There are no dues or fees associated with participation—only the time you voluntarily contribute to the committee activities and travel expenses to attend occasional meetings.

How do I get involved?
Once you have reviewed the standing committees and task forces, you can:

• Contact the committee chair or TRB Staff Officer by email to learn of current activities in which you may wish to participate.
• Participate in committee meetings, which generally are open to anyone who wishes to attend.
• Volunteer to serve as a reviewer of research papers, to work on a committee project, or to give a presentation or preside at a session of the TRB Annual Meeting, a webinar or a specialty conference. 
• Express your interest in joining as a formal member of the committee at the first opportunity. Membership requires a formal process; however, participation in committee activities is not limited to members.  Active participants who are not members are called “friends” of a committee.  Chairs look at the list of active “friends” when an opportunity for membership arises.

What are the benefits to you and you organization to be involved?
TRB committee activities provide significant benefits including networking with the professional community, receiving valuable and timely information about ongoing research, and contributing to the broader transportation community.  Appointed members of committees are also eligible to receive a discounted registration rate to the TRB Annual Meeting, a complimentary subscription to TR News, and a 25% discount to printed bookstore orders (not including Transportation Research Records). 

Most Requested Information 

TRB Technical Activities Division Staff Directory

Brochure on getting involved in TRB standing committees

Video on getting involved in TRB standing committees

Responsibilities of committee membership

List of committee chairs and their contact information

Search for standing committees and task forces

Websites maintained by standing committees

New Committee Members Orientation
(Tutorial Webinars and Recordings)

Resources for committee communications coordinators