DALLAS, Tex. — Identifying ways to optimize the supply chain during pandemics, natural disasters and other catastrophic events is the top research priority for the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) for 2007.

The ATRI Board of Directors approved the 2007 research agenda at its Annual Meeting, held in conjunction with the American Trucking Associations’ management conference and exhibition.

In addition to research on preparing the trucking industry for catastrophic response, the board also approved research relating to training standards and impacts on safety; driver fatigue and wellness training; documenting industry operating costs; alternative fuels identification and feasibility analysis; designing a national trucking industry data clearinghouse; and calculating the safety effects of a national primary safety belt law.

The 2007 research agenda is the outcome of the ATRI Research Advisory Committee, a stakeholder group comprised trucking industry executives, academics, government and law enforcement.