Transportation Research Record Template
Writing for Transportation Research Record? This template gives you a submission-ready structure—sections, abstract, and references—so you focus on the research, not the formatting.
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How to Use the Transportation Research Record Template | A Step-by-Step Guide
Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 25 July, 2026
Submitting to Transportation Research Record goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the Transportation Research Record guide for authors before peer review, so formatting, structure, and required statements should be right on the first draft rather than repaired during upload. This template sets that structure up for you.
What is the Transportation Research Record Template?
It is a manuscript shell aligned to Transportation Research Record. It covers front matter, the abstract the journal expects, a body organized to the journal's article types, and a reference list in the journal's required style. Confirm current scope and article types on the Transportation Research Record journal page before you draft.
What's actually in a TRR submission:
Prepare the title, authors, affiliations, and ORCID iDs. Write the abstract to the journal's rule and word limit, organize the body to the article type, and apply the required reference style from the first citation. Complete every declaration (ethics, competing interests, funding, data availability) the Transportation Research Record guide for authors lists, and cite figures and tables in order.
What separates a clean submission from one that gets kicked back:
The common failure modes are formatting or reference style that does not match the guide for authors, missing required statements, and an incomplete portal checklist. Clear all three against the Transportation Research Record guide for authors before you submit.
What does this Transportation Research Record Template include?
The shell mirrors what editorial staff check first: article-type fit, the abstract rules, required declarations, and the journal's reference style. For more detail see the author resources. When your draft is ready, upload it through SAGE Track (ScholarOne).
Steps to Use This Template with Scispace Agent
- Click Start Writing on this page. The Scispace Agent prompt screen opens with the template loaded.
- Use the loaded template, or upload a version your group already uses for TRR.
- Edit the prompt with your topic and article type, and note any requirement from the Transportation Research Record guide for authors.
- Run the prompt. The agent drafts into the correct structure and reference style.
- Use View Outputs to verify required statements and formatting are present.
- Export and submit through SAGE Track (ScholarOne).
Transportation Research Record Template Structure at a Glance
| Element | TRR requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Abstract required, maximum 250 words. The guidelines state: 'The abstract should describe the work and findings and be no more than 250 words.' No specific structure (structured vs unstructured) or mandatory headings specified. No differentiation by article type mentioned. |
| Main text | Section order and length per article type |
| Declarations | Ethics, competing interests, funding, data as required |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | 3 to 5 keywords required. The guidelines state: 'Place 3 to 5 keywords for your paper on your title page.' Keywords are required at the revision stage (not at first submission). |
| References | Chicago Author-Date Style. The guidelines state (effective June 30, 2026): 'The TRR is switching to the Chicago Author-Date Style for references.' In-text citations use author-date format (e.g., Smith 2020; Smith and Jones 2020; Smith et al. 2020). Reference list should be alphabetical, with full author names, hanging indentation, and sentence case for article/chapter titles. At first submission, 'Chicago Author-Date Style is preferred for references, but we will allow any style at first submission.' |
| Peer review | Single-blind peer review. The guidelines explicitly state: 'The TRR publishes original, timely research on all areas and modes of transportation. Peer review is single blind and strives to elevate papers to their highest potential.' |
| Submission | editorialmanager.com |
Quick Tips for Using the Transportation Research Record Template
Read the Transportation Research Record guide for authors once before drafting and once before upload. Draft the abstract after results are stable. Set the reference style before adding citations. Keep a cover letter that states your contribution and fit to Transportation Research Record in under a page.
Best Practices
Skim two or three recent TRR papers to calibrate depth and figure style. Make the novelty clear in the first two pages. Deposit data and code when the policy on the Transportation Research Record journal page requires it. Disclose any preprint or conference version with identifiers in the cover letter.
Before You Submit: Final Check
Do one focused pass against the Transportation Research Record guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through SAGE Track (ScholarOne).
