Truck Simulators in Scotland and England

The Minister for Transport and Communications, Tavish Scott MSP, today launched Scotsim, the first project of its kind in Scotland, designed to research and evaluate the use of truck simulators to deliver driver training particularly for fuel efficient and safer driving practices. The programme managed by TRL, is an initiative of the Scottish Executive funded by the Scottish Road Haulage Modernisation Fund.

Scotsim features two high fidelity full mission simulators designed and built by Thales in fixed and mobile configurations. The fixed simulator is located at Bellshill and is targeted at the Scottish haulage community in the central belt area. The mobile simulator – the first of its kind to be used in the UK, will visit a number of regional locations throughout Scotland, enabling a broader cross section of the Scottish haulage community to access high-tech driver training.

Scotsim will provide some 700 Scottish truck drivers and their companies with the opportunity to assess the benefits of simulation training. The launch today, in the presence of senior representatives of the Scottish and UK logistics and freight transport industry, signals the start of a training programme which is anticipated to run through to March 2006.

Participants in the project will be pioneering individuals and organisations interested in testing the application of new technology to deliver one of the key future solutions for truck driver training. Each driver will undertake a range of training scenarios and receive automatic direct feedback from the simulator itself. Interpretation and guidance on better driving practice will be delivered by trainers from Ritchies Training Centre, one of Scotland’s leading commercial vehicle driver training companies. They will use the system to review driver performance and diagnose training needs using a range of capabilities and features of the simulators, such as multiple replays, to provide expert feedback on individual performances.

Commenting at the launch, Tavish Scott MSP said: “I am delighted to unveil the first truck simulator in Scotland and the first mobile truck simulator in the United Kingdom, which have been funded by the Scottish Executive through the Scottish Road Haulage Modernisation Fund. I hope Scottish road hauliers will grasp the opportunity this project provides to improve driver skills, reduce their fuel costs and use the simulators as a valuable tool for staff development.”

Pat Hayes, TRL’s Group Manager for Simulation and Logistics at TRL, added: “TRL is delighted to have led this initiative on behalf of the Scottish Executive. We believe that simulator technology has a strong role to play in delivering the professional drivers of the future and in enhancing the skills of those currently employed in the Scottish road haulage industry. Simulation has the potential to play a key role in satisfying the demands of forthcoming legislation. It is

Dr Susan Sharland, CEO of TRL, and

Tavish Scott, MSP, at the launch.

a sophisticated tool that could be used to great effect in improving driving standards. This programme will significantly increase the industry’s understanding of this new technology and how best it can be applied.”

Companies wishing to participate in the programme should contact the Scotsim dedicated hotline 0845 606 6532, fax on 0845 606 6534, email on info@scotsim.co.uk or visit the Scotsim website www.scotsim.co.uk

TRL Limited currently operates the UK’s first full-mission truck simulator – TRUCKSIM – www.trucksim.co.uk

This facility is located at TRL’s Simulation Training and Research (STAR) Centre in Wokingham, Berkshire.