here is a demonstration about how tough backing and maneuvering in tights places can be

a simulator cannot be downloaded with all the reactions of all the drivers, nor that particular persons reflex actions. no simulator can phantom all road situations, as each snowstorm, ice, fog, rain are different each time, there is no weather etched in stone that God or Mother Nature repeatedly use with each storm.

as i said in a previous posting, "i am NOT familiar with too many schools OR mega companies that have sims"

they are costly, and (to me) just do not measure up to the real world, but are what..??

a mere SIM........or a GAME.....

 

I’m in agreement albeit what I shared about “getting off the fuel and counter steering”. Would love to get out on a skid pad! True experience can Only be gained out here. And part of that is making the decision to shut down Before you put yourself and your equipment in harms way.

If new drivers think for one second they have developed skills as a result of video games then Lord help us all.

 

i'd have liked a skid pad as well...i think (at the time) Schneider was the only company that had one, up there in Wisconsin..??

and there in lays the problem, people "depending" on games (SIMS), GPS to get them out of trouble...

like the jerkwads that buy 4x4 suvs.......they have NO IDEA that those things get them INTO trouble, cuz they take it for granted that with 4x4, they are "safer"

 

Raised in northern MI and have years of winter driving experience in a four wheeler. And Never had 4WD. All you see lining the ditches, medians and snow banks are the new, super expensive 4WD’s after a good storm lol.

I’ve been stuck a few times, just due to huge snowfall, and spun out on ice doing a 180 once yet I was able to keep my vehicles upright and never damaged them or any other property thank goodness.

Yes as far as I know Schneider still has the Pad.

 

We used one as part of our driver training at the Schlumberger facility just outside Kellyville, OK (35.953811, -96.179061), when I went through in 1984. Not sure how long it had been there before that. There is also one at their facility outside Calgary, AB (51.500092, -114.031194). It was built quite a few years ago, but long after I left the company. They have several others around the world.

 

I'd have to say 90% of my stops were places trucks had no business being. Flatbed and tanker. And majority of that were in the population zones.

And tanker was the best. Backing in between 2 businesses with just enough room for a pickup.

 

what's with the numbers buddy..????

 

GPS coordinates.

 

oh...well i ain't about to play navigator.

seemed kinda useless to post them.

 

I see what you guys are saying. A simulator ain't no truck.

But back when I was training, my instructor gave me a toy truck to play with over the weekend. I got a feel for how to back up, what direction to turn the wheel, how quickly things happen...it was a good tool, and my instructor said I was doing much better after practicing in my room for a weekend.

So it's not the end-all be-all, but it can be useful as supplemental training.