| A study from the Department of Transportation has | | | | professional drivers is enormous. |
| concluded that simulator training has numerous | | | | For example, an hour in a simulator of this quality is |
| benefits. Despite these facts, simulators have been | | | | roughly equal to 40 hours of training on the road. The |
| viewed by the trucking industry as marginally effective | | | | software along with its hi-definition surround |
| and too costly. These perceptions were not too far | | | | environments provide a totally realistic sound and 3 |
| off the mark. Up to this point the simulator industry has | | | | dimensional motion actuators can position a student in |
| not had a workable platform that incorporates a | | | | a variety of challenging situations including "virtual |
| lesson plan as part of the simulator package. Those | | | | accidents". This cannot be done in a real truck on the |
| who chose to use the technology were left to their | | | | road. |
| own devices and paid too much. | | | | The simulators of today are not toys but provide the |
| Today however with high tech hardware becoming | | | | highest level of training experience. They transform the |
| more affordable along with a fully integrated driving | | | | quality and quantity of driving professionals throughout |
| curriculum included in the simulators, professional | | | | the world, setting new standards for driver safety and |
| drivers can afford the benefits of this level of training | | | | performance similar to the one that currently exists in |
| usually reserved for pilots. | | | | the aviation industry. |
| Former top engineers at CAE who have backgrounds | | | | It is time that the trucking industry realize the benefits |
| in aviation training have included this necessary | | | | of simulators whose initial investment may seem a little |
| component as part of the systems which now allow | | | | high, but they pay for themselves over and over with |
| instructors to follow along and make evaluations of | | | | fuel savings, lives saved, lower insurance premium, no |
| their students based on best practices, without having | | | | wear and tear, no pollution and regular software |
| to develop or write a curriculum. Re-training modules | | | | upgrades that keep up with the industry. |
| have also been included. They teach drivers how to | | | | Remember our hero "Sully" who landed his plane |
| take advantage of progressive shifting (also known as | | | | safely on the Hudson river? He could not have done it |
| "eco drive") thus conserving fuel up to as much a 15%. | | | | if he had not trained on simulators!! |
| The potential of this valuable tool for educators or | | | | |