Frequently Asked Questions

1. Q: Where do I find the link to begin the submission process?

A: The link will be available in the upper left corner of the NCHRP home page while the submission process is open. The system is available 24x7 through the submission period, barring unexpected downtime.

2. Q: How do I log in?

A: Log in with the username and password of your MyTRB user profile.

3. Q: When I logged in with my MyTRB information, I realized that I need to update it. How do I do that?

A: You'll need to update this information in your MyTRB user profile. Here are the steps:

1.      Log out of the Problem Statement Submission Portal by clicking the logout link in the dashboard panel on the left.

2.      Navigate and log in to MyTRB.

3.      Make your changes, save, and exit MyTRB.

4.      Navigate back to the NCHRP Balloting System using the same link you used before and log back in with your MyTRB credentials.

You should now see the Submitter Information page updated with your correct information. As long as you did not change your email address, all your previously entered information will be there for you. If you must change your email, please contact us MyTRB@nas.edu.

4. Q: I need to change my email address. How do I do that?

A: Please contact us at MyTRB@nas.edu BEFORE you change your email in MyTRB. If you change your email, you will not have access to any of your work in progress or submitted problem statements.

5. Q: How do I start a new problem statement submission?

A: After you log in, click the "Submit" link in the menu, or use the link "Start a new submission” in the center of the page.

6. Q: Does the system auto save?

A: Yes, however to start the auto save cycle, you must press SAVE one time after entering information into the form. After that, the system will auto save approximately every 2 minutes. You can press SAVE as often as you want.

7. Q: Why can't I edit my user profile information while I’m filling out the problem statement form?

A: This information is pulled from your MyTRB user profile. Here are the steps to update information in your MyTRB profile:

1.      Log out of the Problem Statement Submission Portal by clicking the logout link.

2.      Navigate and log in to MyTRB.

3.      Make your changes, save, and exit MyTRB.

4.      Navigate back to the NCHRP Balloting System using the same link you used before and log back in with your MyTRB credentials.

You should now see the Submitter Information page updated with your correct information. As long as you did not change your email address, all your previously entered information will be there for you.

If you need to change your email address, please contact us at MyTRB@nas.edu.

8. Q: What is the difference between a submitter and an author?

A: Anyone can author or co-author a problem statement. Submission (logging in, filling in the online form, and clicking on “Save and Finalize”) can only be done by persons from the following organizations: state departments of transportation, the American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials (on behalf of a committee or council), and the Federal Highway Administration. Note that each of those organizations may have their own internal policies for those who may submit a problem statement.

9. Q: Do I have to complete my submission in one continuous session?

A: No. You can start and stop as often as you need to until the submission deadline at which time the portal will close and any unsubmitted or incomplete problem statement will be deleted. You need to SAVE at least once to activate the auto save feature.

10. Q: Can I edit a problem statement after I submit it?

A: No. You can only view it or download it as a PDF. If you need to make a change before the deadline, contact us at MyTRB@nas.edu.

11. Q: If I start a problem statement, can another person complete and submit it?

A: No. An “in-progress” or incomplete problem statement cannot be transferred to someone else. If a submitter is unable to complete the submission, another eligible submitter will have to log in and begin – and complete – a new submission.

12. Q: Can I enter multiple problem statements in a single session?

A: Yes. When you reach the end of the online form and click on Save and Finalize. you will be given the option of starting another submission. You can do this as many times as you want. You can also leave an incomplete problem statement and start another at any time.

13. Q: When does the system time out? How long do I have to submit a problem statement once I begin?

A: The system will not “time out” while you are working. If you close your browser, you must log in again.

14. Q: Do I have to complete and submit a problem statement before I begin another one?

A: No. There is no limit to how many “incomplete” problem statements you can have at one time. Your personal dashboard will display all your problem statements. You select which one to work on. If you want to go from one to another during one work session, simply click the link to see all your incomplete applications.

15. Q: Can I let someone else view my work in the system before I submit it?

A: No. No one else can access your problem statement before or after you submit it. You can download your problem statement as a PDF before you submit it and you can share that PDF with others, but no one else can log in and see your problem statements.

16. Q: How do I download a PDF of my problem statement as a draft document?

A: Navigate to “Incomplete” applications within your dashboard. Locate the problem statement you want in PDF and click “Print” in the action column on the right. Check your Downloads; the problem statement will be available as a PDF to download.

17. Q: Can I bulk-download all my problem statements?

A: No, you must click “Print” for each problem statement you want to download as PDF.

18. Can I see other problem statements that other people are inputting or have submitted?

A: No. You can only see your own.

19. Why does the word count increase when I paste text from Word? How can I fix this?

A: When you paste text from Word, hidden characters and formatting can inflate the word count. To fix this, paste the text into Notepad or another plain text editor first. This will remove any hidden characters. Then, copy the cleaned text from the text editor and paste it into the form.

Screenshots

Login

Log in with the same email and password you use for MyTRB. 

Homepage

This is the page you see after you log in. It contains timeline information, links to downloadable templates and detailed instructions, and offers the navigation for the system.

Home: this page. 

My Account: access your work or log out 

Help: onscreen help from NCHRP 

Submit: This link, prominent in the top navigation, will take you into the submission process.  

Submit link in navigation

Clicking Submit in the navigation brings you to this page where you can review past submissions (all in one view) or begin a new submission. 

My Problem Statements (also called “Dashboard”) 

Follow the dropdown menu My Account --> My Problem Statements to arrive at this page. Here you may see your work, review (but not update) information in your profile, or log out.