History of NaTMEC
The concept for NaTMEC originated with a workshop held in 1974 in Orlando, FL. In 1983, the first National Conference on Weigh-in-Motion was held in Denver, CO. The conference then morphed into the National Traffic Data Acquisition Conference in 1990, and became NATMEC (with a capital A, for “North American”) in 1998 when it was held in Charlotte, NC. In 2020, the conference, now called the National Travel Monitoring Exposition and Conference (NaTMEC), was to be held again in North Carolina; however, the coronavirus pandemic called for a change in plans. Rather than cancel the program altogether, the conference was reinvented as a virtual event for 2021.
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) partnered with the Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium (PacTrans) to host two consecutive conferences: a virtual NaTMEC in 2022 and an in-person NaTMEC in Boise, Idaho in 2024. This was the first time a single organization hosted two consecutive events. The conference planning committee, made up of individuals associated with organizations from across the industry, worked diligently to provide a positive, informative conference full of valuable best practices and innovations. All throughout its history, the Federal Highway Administration has also supported, co-sponsored, or otherwise contributed to planning this event.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is excited for the opportunity to host NaTMEC 2026 in Nashville, TN with organizational support from Vanderbilt University (VU). As with previous NaTMEC events, NaTMEC 2026 will emphasize an exchange of information to help transportation professionals carry out their daily jobs. The 2026 iteration of the event will also have a heavier focus on the “E” for Exposition. TDOT and VU look forward to welcoming NaTMEC 2026 to Nashville, Tennessee!