How Virtual Reality is Changing Training Programs for Truck Drivers

The truck driver shortage across the country has made business and the government appeal more and more to the younger workforce. In order to tailor even the training, UPS will start implementing virtual reality training to their regiment in the latter half of this month.

How will virtual reality training work?

Virtual reality can create a 360-degree video game experience. While that's primarily how the technology has been marketing, companies have also touted it as a way to train soldiers in the military or as an educational tool that can be used in everything from geography to physics class. UPS will be using it to create common scenarios in truck driving, as well as a way to measure adherence to safety practices like checking blind spots and checking for nearby vehicles. Not only can this piggyback off of potential drivers' experience with VR technology and familiarity with online or game-based driving, the tools can monitor and aggregate driver behaviors to create new training programs.

But, provided this works well, VR training won't just be for new drivers. It will be used to recreate accidents so drivers can analyze what maneuvers are best, and it can be used to emulate poor road conditions for any continuation training. What it offers, in total, is a way to replicate driving conditions that physical training programs can't. UPS is planning on starting VR training in Florida and Georgia this month, and across the country by the end of 2017. For more industry news, and to read about other technologies changing the trucking industry, go to Carolina International.