Truck Safety Simulator

Determining Effectiveness

A study being conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will seek to determine if simulator technology enhances entry level, tractor-trailer driver training, and real-world safety performance. The Truck Simulator Validation Study involves four groups of drivers:

• Long Conventional Group trained in a tractor trailer
• Simulator Group trained principally in a simulator
• CDL-Focused Group trained at CDL Mill Schools
• No-Training Group who trained on their own or informally by a friend or family member

What It Will Determine

The SimVal study will assess the advanced capabilities of the simulator to replicate emergency/evasive maneuvers, extreme operating conditions, and other weather conditions. Another aspect that will be explored will be the potential of using simulators to expand and enhance commercial driver license (CDL) programs.

Future Research

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has already made plans to further its research. It plans to explore the interest, operational impediments, benefits, and costs of using a simulator to enhance the CDL Skills Test. In the future, a simulator could be used to test a CDL applicant before they are tested on the road. It could also be used to expand the CDL skills test, requiring a simulator test where currently there is only a written one.

Contact a Texas Truck Accident Lawyer

If you or someone you love has suffered injury or death due to an accident with an 18-wheeler or other commercial vehicle, you may be entitled to recover damages for your loss. Contact the Texas truck accident lawyers of Williams Kherkher at 800-220-9341 for a free initial consultation.