Simulation as a Tool for Enhancing Commercial Driver Skills: A Systematic Approach to Tailored Training

To report on the establishment of a Research and Development program for Performance Enhancement using valid applications of High Quality Simulation and Advanced Learning Technologies for the Commercial Driving community. This project is one element of a larger research and education initiative sponsored by both the US Federal and State Departments of Transportation. It is focused on enhancing the performance of transportation operators and other personnel by diagnosis of performance deficiencies and the tailored training and remediation by advanced simulation and learning technology applications. This expanded performance system included a revised version of the VCR into a diagnostic tool that assesses and prescribes tailored approaches to remediation, Continuing Education and additional Specialized Skills training for such topics as safety, dangerous situations, security awareness, hazardous materials, etc. It also expands the target audience, to include small commercial vehicles and emergency vehicles, such as ambulance and police drivers, transit operators, such as city and school bus personnel. This multi-modal approach has the potential to be a significant boost to the cost effective and strengthening of the CDL program by adding a consistency and enhanced stability across the entire commercial driving community. It is a follow on to the successful validation of the Virtual Check Ride research previously reported at DSC EU 2004.