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High Gas Prices Show the Need for Driving Simulators

Gas prices fluctuate constantly, leaving individuals and organizations scrambling as they deal with higher costs. Companies in the transportation industry often bear the brunt of high gas prices, which can eat into their profits.

Driving simulators can help corporate fleets reduce their dependency on gas, especially when training new drivers. Learn more about how driving simulators are leading the fight against high gas prices by reducing gas consumption during training while helping drivers reduce waste on the road.

Simulators Save Gas During Training

Driving training services can waste a lot of money, especially when companies bring on multiple new drivers at once and allow them to train behind the wheel of real trucks. By contrast, driving simulators use no gas, which can significantly reduce the cost of a training program. 

Costly Training Programs

When factoring in all the costs, training a driver behind a vehicle's wheel can add up. Currently, the average semi gets about 5.6 miles per gallon. If a training program required a new fleet driver to complete 500 miles, which is on the low end for required driving, that driver would use 90 gallons of gas. To complete a single training session for one driver, your company could spend over $400 on diesel fuel at $4.50 per gallon.

Loss of Revenue

But the fuel isn’t the only cost associated with behind-the-wheel training. When a vehicle is used for training instead of transportation, it’s not earning any revenue. The trainer who drives with the trainee also factors into the cost of training new drivers. 

By investing in a driving simulator, your transportation company could significantly reduce these costs. L3Harris’ driving simulators use no gas, but can provide valuable hands-on training opportunities that prepare drivers to get behind the wheel. 

Simulators Save Money on the Road

Drivers who go through training in a simulator learn the skills needed to be safer drivers. Because they have the training, they are more likely to follow the laws while also applying defensive driving skills to protect themselves and your company’s equipment when they're out on the road. 

Safer drivers get in fewer crashes and can typically complete routes more efficiently than those who don’t care much about safety. Allowing your drivers to practice their skills with a simulator can significantly improve their overall safety habits. As a result, your company can save money while protecting its drivers.

Other Benefits of Driving Simulators

Here are five additional benefits that driving simulators can provide.

TranSim™ Truck Driving Simulator

1. Standardized Curriculum

Driving simulators provide the same experience for every student. Each student faces certain scenarios and challenges, creating a more standardized curriculum across your training program. The consistency also creates a standard of excellence across your entire fleet. 

2. Progressive Skill Development

A driving simulator isn’t just for new drivers; veteran drivers can face simulations that progressively become more challenging. Even an experienced driver in your fleet can grow and improve their skills behind the wheel by using the simulator. 

3. Safety

Driving simulators help to create a safe, controlled environment. A driver can take a risk and learn from their mistakes without posing significant risks to their own safety or your company’s equipment and vehicles. 

Simulators often present dangerous driving situations, such as extreme weather or harsh road conditions. Allowing a driver to gain the experience needed to operate a vehicle safely makes it easier for that individual to feel confident when facing a difficult scenario on the road.

4. Scenario Customization

Driving simulators are fully customizable based on the organization's needs. You can easily update and design scenarios to address specific learning objectives or common issues faced by a fleet, a department, or even individual drivers. Your fleet gets the best possible training for their needs, rather than broad or generalized training that isn’t very beneficial. 

5. No Maintenance

Drivers in training often abuse the engines and vehicles they use, simply because they don’t know better. Training vehicles may undergo more frequent trips to the garage for maintenance and repairs. 

When using a driving simulator, a new driver can redline an engine, ride the brakes, grind every gear, and make many other mistakes without harming your valuable equipment. The company saves money by reducing costly maintenance and repairs.

L3Harris Powerful Simulators

Driving simulators from L3Harris can help you save money while providing better training to your fleet. They deliver the features and functionality your organization needs to streamline education and hands-on training opportunities while keeping costs down, even in times of high gas prices.

If you have any questions or want to learn more about these capable, industry-leading simulators, request more information today. We offer detailed product guides, pricing information, and customer support on all driving simulators. 

Driving Simulators

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