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Virtual Driver Training on the Rise
For decades high tech training simulators have been associated with such elite occupations as military and commercial airline pilots, astronauts, etc. Largely this was due to the cost of the simulators and the computers required to run them. Multi-million dollar systems were simply not a practical investment for the vast majority of companies concerned with the bottom line.
That however is changing. Over the past decade computers have increased in power and decreased in price to such an extent that truly immersive simulators have now become a viable training option for many companies. Commercial truck drivers and motor carriers are beginning to see this new generation of simulation technology filter into training curriculums in both driver training schools and in-house motor carrier training courses.
For example, in October of last year (2005), Schneider National Inc. announced that it was buying 50 state-of-the-art driver training simulators from MPRI, a subsidiary of L-3 Communications, and would incorporate them into it’s nationwide training program over the next two years. Plans call for all of Schneider’s 15,500 drivers, both new and veteran alike to get simulator time.
The simulators provide students with an incredibly realistic driving experience. Once the driver buckles in he or she is presented with a full 180 degree outside view that can be tailored to present any type of road or traffic condition imaginable. Images the driver sees in the mirrors are reversed just as they are on the road. The simulator is provided with full motion feedback so that every swerve, skid and pothole is felt by the driver. Vehicle controls such as the steering wheel, brakes and clutch offer the same degrees of resistance that they would in real life.
While the simulators are valuable in training drivers in the routine operations involved in day to day driving, it is in training for emergencies and difficult conditions that they really prove their worth. All types of weather and environmental conditions can be simulated along with their corresponding effects on the vehicle. Icy roads, skids, blizzard caused white-outs can all be thrown at the driver by the simulator operator. Vehicle system failures such as blown tires and brake failures can be programmed to occur at the worst possible time. Simulators make it possible to safely train drivers for situations that simply cannot be replicated in a real vehicle on a real road.
Simulator costs have fallen drastically over the past few years. Full motion units that were almost half a million dollars five years ago are now in the $90,000 range, with some models starting in the $60,000 range. While these costs are probably still prohibitive for smaller companies, they are affordable for larger companies and training schools.
Companies using simulators note that the initial cost of the units is not the only consideration. Schneider for example points to a 25% accident reduction rate for new drivers during their first 90 days on the job. New driver dropout rates during training have also decreased markedly, notes Schneider. Considering that trucking companies spend between $5000 and $8000 to hire and train new drivers, anything that helps reduce the dropout rate can be seen as a positive return on investment. In addition, simulator costs are about $5 per training hour, compared to about $60 an hour for on the road tractor-trailer training.
Today’s all-immersive, full-motion simulators represent the cutting edge of driver training technology. As prices continue to decrease, and realism and features increase, more and more drivers can be expected to have simulator time included in their training. As Dan Osterberg, vice president of safety at Schneider noted, “It’s the way of the future.”
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