The TRA mission is to enhance the alignment of road transport research at European and national levels, involving not only researchers, but also industry, policy-makers and end-users. The slogan of the conferences is Greener, Safer and Smarter Road Transport for Europe, with the main theme selected for the TRA2008 being: Creating an Innovative Road Transport for Europe. This addresses two objectives related to the dissemination of results of road transport research and support for TRA2008.

The first objective is to enhance integration of the New Member States, Candidate and European Neighbourhood Policy Countries into the European road transport research area. These countries have not contributed much to the present European activity in the field. This Coordination and Support Action ('CSA') provides tools to support the participation of delegates from these countries to actively contribute to TRA2008 and become more involved in European research projects and the application of their results.

The second objective is to directly support TRA through activities that raise awareness of the event and to reinforce its profile as a major European and internationally important conference.

This was in accordance with the TRA mission, which is not to be just another conference but rather to become the major meeting event for all road transport stake-holders. Thus, the CSA supports 'ambassadors' to undertake awareness raising missions, to explain the opportunities and benefits for different stakeholders including public authorities, industry and researchers. The partners in the CSA are the three local organisers and the FEHRL, a European association in the area of road research.