By John Kearney
According to the American Trucking Associations, we have upwards of 50,000 fewer drivers than we need now, a total that could reach 160,000 by 2028. Not only that, average driver age in the over-the-road trucking industry is around 50.
So, we need young people, and lots of them. One piece of good news is that today’s young people have been surrounded since birth by digital technology, including highly realistic video games. They’ll adapt very well to simulation training, which is increasingly recognized as essential.
ATS has developed a number of patented processes designed to make simulation training even better and more effective, one of which is our On QTM simulation motion device. Typically, the disconnect in simulation has been that the driver does not feel what they’re seeing on the screen. On QTM provides haptic feedback in the form of longitudinal motion cues for accelerating and braking, and lateral cues for turning, which creates a much more immersive experience.
That capability will, we think, be particularly useful as both new and experienced drivers encounter what’s coming next: electric-powered trucks. The physics of electric vehicles, particularly when it comes to curves and turns, are not exactly the same as for diesels. ATS is part of the testing for heavy-duty electrical trucks that’s being done at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, not far from our development center in Vista.
We’re proud of being at the forefront of driver training technology, and we look forward to helping the trucking industry evolve. Our goal is to produce more skillful, safer, and better-prepared drivers—no matter how their vehicles are powered.
For More Information
Advanced Training Systems has revolutionized the design and manufacture of high-tech simulators to improve driver training and create both better drivers and a safer world. In addition to hundreds of driving schools, we provide equipment and support for major shippers who do their own training, as well as customized solutions for those with particular training needs. For more information or to schedule a demo, please contact us here.