This study examined the effectiveness of a driving simulator for entry-level commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driver training and testing. Four training groups of 107 individuals (conventional 8-week certified course, conventional 8-week certified course with 60 percent of driving in a simulator, informal training with friends/relatives, and commercial’s driver license [CDL] test-focused short courses) were followed from training into employment. There were no group differences in Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) road tests. There were group differences in DMV range tests and validated real truck and simulator re-creations of DMV road and range tests. Conventional and simulator groups generally scored higher than informal and CDL test-focused participants. A 4-month follow-up after being hired as a CDL driver indicated no differences in performance, safety, self- or supervisory-ratings. Findings support the use of CMV driving simulator-based training, but simulator-based testing does not appear to be feasible at this point. Cost analysis indicated simulator training using the study simulator was $35/participant less expensive than conventional training. The simulator was examined in a demonstration of extreme conditions and emergency manoeuvres under different vehicle configurations with 48 other drivers. Also provided is a case study of existing implementations of CMV simulator training, indicating benefits, drawbacks, and drivers’ overall opinions. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting