Training
In 2003, the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) was commissioned by the Department for Transport (DfT), via the Road Haulage Modernisation Fund, to investigate the feasibility of a commercially available truck driving simulator tailored to the needs of the UK road haulage industry. |
Since then, TRL has run successful simulator training programmes to improve trainees' driving style in order to increase fuel efficiency. Results in the simulator showed that drivers are able to improve their fuel efficiency between 11% and 25%. Furthermore, the behaviours that drivers' learned through simulator training were transferred to the drivers' real world driving in their everyday work, thus achieving significant and pragmatic fuel efficiency savings on a commercial basis.
The simulator is able to evaluate drivers' performance automatically as it monitors a number of different aspects, including use of the clutch, accelerator, RPM torque and fuel used. This enables an instructor to inform the driver of the aspects of their simulated and real world driving on which they should concentrate to achieve the biggest improvements.
As the truck driving simulator is configurable, TRL can offer training in various areas and is looking towards becoming accredited for CPC training.
To find out more about truck driving simulator training, please contact Nick Reed on +44 (0)1344 770046 or nreed@trl.co.uk
