Schneider National Inc. said it will dramatically transform its driver training program over the next two years, incorporating MPRI's motion-based driver training simulator to better prepare drivers for situations on the road.

MPRI, with offices around the world, is a global leader in the supply of ground vehicle and maritime simulation products and services as well as critical incident management and emergency response solutions. The shift makes Schneider National the largest, and one of the first, truckload carriers in the industry to incorporate simulation-based training fleet-wide.
“Using motion-based simulation technology allows us to train drivers for those situations that cannot safely be replicated under our current training methods," said Schneider Vice President of Safety and Training Don Osterberg.
Under the program, Schneider will purchase simulators over the next 12 months for its network of driver training academies located across the United States and Canada. Schneider, one of the only trucking companies in the industry to offer company-paid driver training, is incorporating simulation in its training program as it evolves to an integrated learning model. Currently Schneider's driver training program is primarily instructor-based. However, the new program will incorporate both computer and simulation training in order to expose drivers to a broader range of on-the-road scenarios, including driving in inclement weather, handling equipment failures or navigating heavy traffic.
"Think of it as an IMAX experience for trucking," Osterberg said. "In the simulator, the driver's seat and on-screen images will move, spin and rotate to create the sensation of different driving conditions. It's amazing how realistic simulation makes these scenarios feel."
Osterberg notes that the simulator can even be customized by location, so that a driver in training can experience what it will look and feel like to deliver loads to different types of facilities in various geographic locations.
Schneider National piloted its new integrated learning model, including simulation, in September 2004. Within five months, Schneider saw fewer accidents and a significant reduction in the dropout rate for inexperienced and experienced drivers and fewer accidents.