Re-assessment of driving simulators for the training, testing and licensing of commercial vehicle drivers.

Simulators have been successfully employed within the military sector and commercial airline industry for over 30 years. Simulation technology may supplement the training, testing, and licensing of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers if its value can be sufficiently demonstrated. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is planning to conduct a simulation validation ("Sim Val") study in fiscal year 2002 (FY 2002) to do just that. In April 1996, FMCSA (the-then Federal Highway Administration) published a research report which discussed the availability and performance of truck driving simulators available at that time. The research indicated that the truck simulators were sufficiently mature to conduct a validation study. Thus the FMCSA developed and published Sim Val Research Design (May 1999). Given breakthroughs in technology in recent years and to gain a better understand of the functionalities of the truck simulator currently available, FMCSA is conducting a truck simulator re-assessment. To help accomplish this work, FMCSA engaged Veridian Engineering. This paper describes the interim results of the re-assessment of truck simulators to ascertain their performance and functionalities in support of the FMCSA SimVal Program. NOTE: This paper contains interim assessments of the simulators discussed. The interim assessments, made by Veridian Engineering and the Expert Team, were reviewed and approved by the respective vendors. Final assessments will be contained in the FMCSA final report.