Virtual Reality Is the New Reality for Truck Driver Training

New drivers reporting to a United Parcel Service training facility strap on a virtual reality headset as part of their basic safety exercises. The 360-degree street scene projected inside the headset helps drivers learn UPS's mandatory technique of looking left, right, then left again before proceeding through an intersection. The virtual roadway also teaches drivers how to spot and avoid pedestrians and potential hazards.

Package delivery services and other trucking companies are revamping driver training to reach a generation that grew up playing video and online games. Virtual reality is the latest tool, joining trucking simulators and augmented reality systems that carriers are starting to adopt.

Because digital technologies can capture user data, companies may eventually use them to measure how effective the tools are compared with previous training methods. "Without a doubt, this is the future of driver training," said Dominic Dobson, a former race-car driver and cofounder of a company developing VR-based driver training.

Expanding the Hiring Pool

Tech-based training such as VR could help carriers combat a persistent driver shortage by widening the pool of candidates. Companies might be more willing to hire new graduates of truck-driving schools if simulations help trainees sharpen their skills, said Lucas Mowrey, safety director at Grand Island Express, a refrigerated carrier.

"We're kicking around the idea of redoing those standards to assume a little more hiring risk and using the simulator before they get into a truck," Mowrey said.

Innovations such as VR could also be used for remedial training — leading a driver back through the actions that led to an accident so they can learn how to avoid a similar situation in the future.

UPS Scales Up VR

UPS added VR to the week-long basic course that all new package delivery van drivers attend before setting foot in a real truck, rolling out headsets across its network of training centers. The simulations were built to be hardware-agnostic and replaced touchscreen-based safety modules the company had used for years.

Trainers expect drivers to embrace the approach because it resembles video games. "They'll engage more, and that will make them a better driver and make us a safer organization," one on-road supervisor and driver trainer said. UPS also planned to analyze data from the devices to see how the technology improves training.

Falling Prices, Wider Adoption

Price cuts for VR equipment could encourage more carriers and delivery services to follow suit, as headset makers continue to lower costs. One vendor's software connects a headset to a motion platform to produce a 360-degree view in a way that builds muscle memory and makes users less likely to get sick.

VR isn't the only option for simulating a big rig. Some carriers have opted for other approaches because VR still gives some people motion sickness. Grand Island Express, for instance, bought a full simulator that includes a truck seat, shifter, steering wheel, pedals, touchscreen dashboards, and three 55-inch screens standing in for the windshield and side windows.

"I think this is much more adaptable than throwing someone into VR that's never been into anything like that," Mowrey said — especially for older drivers using the machine to refresh their skills.

Source: Trucks.com