Prime Inc simulator testing?

I don't know the answer to your question but just wanted to agree that a simulator is NOTHING like the real thing. A former company I was at in '09 had one and all drivers were required to test on it. The results were put in your employment file. I passed, but the simulator was one of the biggest jokes in the industry I've ever encountered. Its not even a shadow of the real thing. I sincerely believe its a tool for a company to get rid of any drivers they may want to "weed out" or to "hold back" as the results are largely in part dependent on the tester. It can also to be used to glean a better insurance rate as the company can tout the drivers have been tested and certified on a simulator, so I was told by safety anyway. I've had three steer axle blowouts in my career to this point (no wreck or damage in any even though one was pretty hairy) and the simulator steer axle blowout was absolutely nothing like the real thing. The company I was with at that time is obsessed with having every electronic technolgical device on the trucks and in their possesion that is available.

 

Hey Rambler, do you remember the name or manufacture of the simulator ? I often read on here about these simulator but can't find any info on the web. All that seems to come up is video games.

 

No I sure don't, actually didn't notice if there was a name on it or not.

 

I just googled "truckdriving simulator" only, and got quite a few hits on them.

 

Every new "recruit" has to do this simulator training??

 

Its called Mother Trucker.



I'm kidding of course. I will be in this weekend and see what I can do about getting a manufacture name.

I am in total agreement on the the way these things are kind of a detriment.

Real trucks are used for the CDL exam... However they have seemed to fall back on these simulators for everything else.

Upgrades should be in a real truck when testing. It is the final step before these guys are given their own truck.

I do think the simulators serve their purpose well in its other uses during the Smith System course and student/trainee practice while they wait for their instructors/trainers. The pad is pretty busy with trucks testing out students for the State CDL examAnd the simulators gives the newbies something to work on.

We didn't have them 3 years ago and while our group waited nearly a week for enough instructors, all we could do was practice pre trips while waiting for the pad to clear of exams to get some practice ourselves. Most days we didn't get abyss we were done about 4 or 5 pm... we were low men and besides it was viewed that we had plenty of time over the 5 week period to learn with our instructors.

To the OP, I would request if a real truck could be used... if he fails then yeah he needs to do another 20k team miles.

The upgrade test isn't half as hard as the CDL exam. Straight line back, lane change between offset cones and an alley dock. Avoid hitting a cone and you pass.

My last trainee upgraded 2 months ago. He used a real truck as he was at the Pittston terminal and there are no simulators there

 

If you're talking to me I am guessing they did. I had been there a year when they got the sim and all drivers had to do it..I would say recruits too.

 

Kinda beating a dead horse, but thumpin on dead critters can be fun.

Sounds to me like they are using this sim test as a way for prime 2 keep two people in as many of there trucks as possible. Being those who fail are kept in student status they are more than likely getting paid next to zilch for there work. My guess is a lot of students fail this sim test, and have to put in another 20k miles as a student for training. And thats just the way Prime likes it.