The SATC was born in 1982 out of a need to transfer knowledge and build capacity within the transport sector. The forerunner to the SATC was the Annual Transport Research Conference organised by the National Institute for Transport and Road Research (NITRR) of the CSIR, where papers were presented revealing the progress of research in South Africa. Originally known as the Annual Transport Conference the SATC has always had strong support from the Department of Transport with the Minister of Transport being the Conference’s honoured patron. The Conference organiser's role is to ensure relevance of the conference content in the debate of the day. There is a call to enter research papers, which begins in the first half of the year, with only the top papers being selected to feature at this prestigious conference. Essentially all subjects presented at the SATC are based on research papers that are strictly reviewed and selected by the Technical Committee during March. The Southern African Transport Conference attracts 700 delegates each year. Everyone in any way connected with transport is invited but it will be of particular interest to funding agencies, municipal, provincial and national government, parastatals, policy- and decision-makers, academics, researchers, students and professionals active in the planning, construction, manufacturing, logistics, operation and safety of passenger and freight transport, road traffic, rail, maritime and aviation.