New technology is allowing Northwest College to put more drivers on the road.
The Northwest College Center for Training and Development, in partnership with Eastern Wyoming College and Laramie Community College, is now offering a new non-credit program where individuals can earn their Commercial Driver’s License. In additional to the traditional method of obtaining a CDL – on the road practice with a certified instructor – the program will also utilize Northwest College’s “mobile classroom” – a 34-foot enclosed simulator.
The simulator, manufactured by L3Harris Technologies, will allow students to gain additional practice without ever being behind the wheel of an actual vehicle. Student drivers will first learn the basics of driving a truck including shifting gears, braking and parking without the added stress of being on the road. The simulator can even adjust weather and road conditions to better prepare students once they actually begin driving. And it will be able to simulate every type of vehicle that required a CDL to operate.
The curriculum of the program is still being developed by the three colleges, and will hopefully be in practice soon.
