The Northwest College Center for Training and Development is seeing a lot of success this semester with its CDL program, which was re-established this year after several years in hiatus. With its new state-of-the-art simulator, it’s a versatile program providing skills that are in high demand in the job market.

The simulator, which runs in a mobile 24-foot trailer, can imitate the dashboards of many different types of vehicles including Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks, ambulances, fire trucks and school buses.

“Basically, anything that might happen in a real truck we can simulate here,” said Christi Greaham, NWC training and development specialist.

The system replicates numerous different driving conditions, including rain, sleet, snow, sun glare and high winds. They can jack the winds up high enough to simulate a rollover. It can also replicate scenarios, such as an approach to an accident, an overheated engine or a tire blowout. Smoking brakes can be seen in the sideview mirrors.

“Certain things you just can’t do out on the road,” said the program’s CDL instructor, Brian Beavers.

For instance, “we really can’t blow out a front tire on a truck just so students can see what it feels like,” Greaham added.

They can set up a simulation on city streets or a rural highway, complete with animal crossings. The company that makes the machine sells them in Australia, so it’s theoretically possible to test students’ ability to maintain control when a kangaroo hops across the road.

The driver’s seat is mounted on motors that replicate the motions inside a real cab. So, for example, to train students on how brakes respond when hauling liquid-filled tankers, the seat will roll forward as the liquids in the virtual tanker spill to the front of the tank when the vehicle abruptly stops.

The motors also recreate the feel of running over speed bumps and driving down the median. The steering wheel also shakes in response to conditions.

In addition to allowing students to safely and cheaply crash the truck, the simulator can also offer training on how to use a manual transmission, allowing students to grind gears and make mistakes that could be costly on an actual truck. It can even simulate impairment to show students how a couple of beers can impact reaction times.

“I’ve even run over people on the simulator,” Beavers said.

After a simulation is complete, the computer gives a detailed readout of the student’s performance, including their average speeds, collisions, how closely they followed other vehicles and other data for the instructor to assess his or her performance.

It’s an impressive education tool. The truck, trailer, simulator and supplies were funded with a $196,500 grant through the Wyoming Works program and a $13,000 grant from the NWC Foundation.

The simulator doesn’t take the place of actual on-the-road driving. The school has a truck with a 46-foot belly dump, and the students perform about 36 hours of road time.

“The simulator just helps them feel confident with the truck. It doesn’t take the place of their driving hours,” Beavers explained.

The class has had far more interest than space, as there are a lot more jobs available than there are CDL drivers. NWC can currently only take four students per semester. For the driving hours, three students ride in the cab, while one student trains in the driver’s seat, with the instructor riding in the passenger seat next to him or her.

Trends in education are shifting, and more students are looking for the kinds of direct routes into marketable skills that a CDL program provides. Before the semester started, Greaham had three orientations for potential students. All three were booked up.

One student in the class let his CDL expire 15 years ago, Beavers said. He’s currently employed, but he can advance in the company with the credential.

“The CDL is always something, even if you don’t want to do it for life, you can fall back on it,” Beavers said.

Since the simulator unit is mobile, it’s possible for the school to bring it to worksites, which opens the door for partnerships with area employers. Gresham said some employers are taking a look at that possibility.

Beavers said the demand for a CDL is also likely to increase. Lawmakers are considering requiring a CDL to drive large vacation RVs and horse trailers.

“This class will explode at that point,” Beavers said.

Instruction is tailored to individual student’s needs, so they can prepare the students for HAZMAT, multiple trailer and tanker endorsements.

The class takes about eight to 10 weeks to complete, and then the students must take their driving tests at the TSA locations in Billings. Altogether, with about 12 weeks of training and testing, the students get their CDL.

“If you take this course, we’ll prepare you for the rest of it so you can drive a truck,” Beavers said.