The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) received the 2003 national research program of the year award during the 13th annual meeting and exhibition of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America.

ATRI, the research arm of American Trucking Assns., was recognized for its work in developing and putting in place an electronic supply chain manifest technology to improve security and efficiency in the air cargo supply chain.
By integrating a user friendly electronic manifest system with advanced security technologies -- encrypted Internet transactions, smart cards and biometric fingerprint readers -- the ATRI project effectively transmits shipment information, tracks cargo movements and supports the security of personnel access to cargo among shippers and receivers, trucking companies and air cargo carriers.
The project was a cooperative effort between ATRI, the Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Intermodalism, the Federal Highway Administration, the state of Illinois, the Chicago Department of Aviation, the New York Department of Transportation, the New York-New Jersey Port Authority and select vendors of advanced security technology systems.
In addition to increased cargo security, the project showed 56 to 100% reductions in time spent by participants in processing manifests and transferring loads from one mode to another. Reductions resulted from less time spent with paperwork, data entry, arranging and confirming transport, verifying the identities of drivers and tracking cargo.
Cost savings per shipment are estimated at $1.52 for manufacturers, $2.72 for airlines and $3.51 for trucking companies.
The ATRI project has so far been successfully tested with participating manufacturers, trucking companies and airlines in the Chicago-O’Hare International Airport and New York City-JFK International Airport. Testing is currently being conducted in the service areas of Toronto’s Pearson International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport.
The four-day meeting, which was held at the Minneapolis Convention Center, brought together leading transportation policy makers, planners, managers, researchers and manufacturers involved with intelligent transportation systems and how they improve safety, security and mobility of the nation’s transportation assets. Awards recognize the year’s most outstanding accomplishments and innovations in transportation technology.
American Transportation Research Institute and its predecessor organization, the ATA Foundation, have been doing critical transportation studies and operational tests since 1954. ATRI conducts and supports research in the transportation field, with an emphasis on the trucking industry's essential role in a safe, efficient and viable transportation system.