In May 2025, Université Laval hosted the 18th Heavy Vehicle Transport & Technology (HVTT18) symposium in Québec City. The international symposium tackled current challenges in the development of S2MART road freight transport systems, ensuring they are Sustainable, Safe, Modern, Adaptable, Resilient, and Trustworthy. UMTIG was proud to participate in this symposium, which traces its origin back to the inaugural International Symposium on Heavy Vehicle Weights and Dimensions in 1986, hosted by the Roads and Transportation Association of Canada at that time. UMTIG’s founder, the late Professor Emeritus Alan Clayton, participated in that first symposium.
Jonathan Regehr served as Program Chair, working closely with General Chair, Dr. Julien Lépine and his team at Université Laval, to deliver a dynamic and collaborative four-day event. In addition, Babak Mehran, Phani Patnala, Jyoti Mandhani, Nasim Deljouyi, Homa Motavallian, Janak Kharel, and Naveen Balla, represented UMTIG at the symposium. The program featured four presentations by UMTIG. Babak discussed UMTIG’s research on modelling truck traffic operations in adverse road-weather conditions. Jyoti and Phani presented papers related to electric truck adoption and regulation. Nasim’s presentation focused on challenges of synthesizing freight origin-destination data.
In addition to a robust technical program, the symposium included hands-on learning opportunities (truck driving simulations and a tour of a trailer manufacturing facility) and exciting social events, including a one-of-a-kind gala in the heart of Old Québec City.
