MPRI, an L-3 Communications company and developer of vehicle and maritime simulator products, services and turnkey training facilities, has joined forces with a leading manufacturer of motor coaches to produce a state-of-the-art motor coach driving simulator. This agreement with Motor Coach Industries (MCI) of Schaumburg, Ill., a reseller of MPRI simulators, will eventually lead to the most realistic simulated driving experience available for drivers of intercity coaches, the company says.
The MCI coach simulators offer diverse training experiences in a virtual motor coach environment closely resembling the driver’s area of an actual MCI coach. Its features can assess and improve driver performance in a variety of scenarios including traffic, mountains, dusk and poor weather conditions.
“We are pleased to offer the market a coach driving simulator designed exclusively for operators with MCI models,” said Ken Russell, MCI vice president of aftermarket support. “Many others in related industries that use a driver training simulator are experiencing exceptional results including in driver retention and fewer accidents.”
Realistic simulator training decreases the need for on-the-road instruction, resulting in reductions in training time and fuel consumption, and a boost to training efficiency. MCI officials expect the first trainees to complete training as early as the third quarter.
“We worked closely with MCI to customize our simulator for the most realistic virtual motor coach experience available anywhere,” said Terry Tucker, senior vice president, MPRI. “That’s the approach we take with all our clients, and we’re proud that we’ve designed simulators for training in vehicles for industries from the military and law enforcement to long-haul freight and private fleets.”
