TRB_LaTeX_tex

A LaTeX template for preparing papers for the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting.

This is a lightweight version of the earlier TRB LaTeX + R/Sweave template.

• The previous version was built for workflows combining R, Sweave, and LaTeX.
• This version is designed for those who need a straightforward LaTeX-only template for TRB papers.

The template uses external shell commands for the word count feature (via texcount). You must compile with the -shell-escape option. For example:

latexmk trb_template.tex -pdf -pvc -shell-escape

Note: texcount requires Perl. Install a Perl interpreter such as ActivePerl.

Usage

1. Copy trb.bst and trbunofficial.cls into your project directory.
2. Update your preamble in trb_template.tex to supplement those already in trbunofficial.cls.
3. Run latexmk with the -shell-escape option (see above). latexmk automatically recompiles when source files change.
4. If using version control (recommended), commit the template files to your repository.

Troubleshooting & features

Enable shell-escape in TeXstudio

If you are using TeXstudio, enable -shell-escape:

1. Go to Options → Configure TeXstudio → Commands → pdflatex
2. Update the command to:

pdflatex.exe -synctex=1 -interaction=nonstopmode -shell-escape %.tex

Main .tex file name flexibility

The template automatically detects the main TeX file name for word counting. If you rename your main file, no changes are needed in trbunofficial.cls.

This works by including:

\usepackage[realmainfile]{currfile}
\quickwordcount{\currfilebase}

Word count rules

The total word count includes:

• Title page text (except the footnote)
• Paper body
• References

Excluded:

• Title page footnote
• Text inside tables (each table is counted as 250 words, regardless of content)

See TRB’s guidelines

Automated submission date

The included latexmkrc file ensures the submission date on the title page auto-populates according to TRB’s event clock: https://trb.secure-platform.com/a/page/TRBPaperReview/trbamfaq#due

Overleaf

This template is also available on Overleaf: https://www.overleaf.com/latex/templates/transportation-research-board-trb-latex-template/jkfndnnkkksw