• Enhanced Safety: A risk-free learning environment where learners can practice and rehearse key learning material as many times as they need to, without the need for a costly physical training course or having to experience the situation in a real-life driving situation and be unsure of what the correct action is.

• Accessibility: The application can be accessed remotely, allowing trainees to participate from anywhere with an internet connection. This accessibility expands opportunities for individuals unable to attend traditional training facilities due to geographical constraints or scheduling conflicts, and allows unlimited users to access the comprehensive training course as many times as they want to, without the logistics requirements of scheduling a physical course between different truck drivers.

• Improved Skill Retention: Immersive learning experiences lead to higher levels of skill retention compared to traditional training methods. By providing realistic driver simulations and interactive modules, Nutrien’s training application enhances knowledge retention and application in real-world situations for their drivers.

Nutrien Interactive HGV Training Modes

Training Phase – The user goes through the driving experience with accurate driving animations and pauses during key moments where users receive voiced instructions highlighting all details which need to be taught for any specific moment depending on the module. The driving is mostly on-rails during this phase for the user to observe the consequences of incorrect actions, and then correct actions before moving to the next phase.

Practice Phase – Instantly after a training phase is completed, the practice phase begins, placing the user into the beginning of the scenario to complete it without automatic hints/directions. If a user fails a segment of the scenario, they are given a hint and rewound to try again until they can reach the end successfully.

Assessment Phase – The player goes through all 7 modules, receiving no hints whatsoever, and if they fail, they get skipped to the next step or scenario. This acts as a final test for the user and all data is tracked in Nutrien’s LMS.

The 7 Hazard Modules

Hazard 1: High center of gravity turn 1 (Semi with Tanker truck)

When a high center of gravity vehicle takes a turn at too high of a speed, it will cause a hazard and tip over. Curve speed limit signs display a higher speed limit to what truck drivers should follow, and truck drivers with high center of gravity of vehicles should aim for an even lower speed to what the s-curve speed limit sign says.

The driver will understand the hazards associated with taking turns and s-curves at an inappropriate speed due to high center of gravity of different vehicles, specifically while being immersed in a truck driving simulation of one of Nutrien’s semi trucks with tankers.

Hazard 2: Level Railroad Crossing

There are many guidelines to follow when crossing a railroad crossing, and drivers don’t always follow proper procedure due to lack of training or confusion in the moment.  This module aims to train drivers to look both ways during train crossing – no matter what the lights and barriers are doing, and to stop a good distance from the track. It also ensures they know they shouldn’t change gears when crossing, to avoid stalling. They must follow these rules when crossing the track:

• Stop your vehicle within 50 ft of the tracks.

• Don’t stop the vehicle closer than 15 ft from the tracks.

• Always listen, and look both left and right, directly before crossing the tracks.

• Never change gears while crossing the track.

• Drivers must know they can completely clear the tracks and cross arms on the opposite side. Do not cross if traffic is present or if intersection is too close to tracks.

Hazard 3: High center of gravity turn 2 (Fertilizer truck)

When a high center of gravity vehicle takes a turn at too high of a speed, it will cause a hazard and tip over. Curve speed limit signs display a higher speed limit to what truck drivers should follow, and truck drivers with high center of gravity of vehicles should aim for an even lower speed to what the s-curve speed limit sign says.

The driver will understand the hazards associated with taking turns and s-curves at an inappropriate speed due to high center of gravity of different vehicles, specifically while being simulated in a fertilizer truck.

Hazard 4: Securing Cargo Pre-Trip Simulation

Drivers will sometimes not properly secure their cargo according to all Nutrien Ag Solutions guidelines.

The driver will understand all the requirements of securing cargo on their trucks, to reduce the chances of causing a hazard with fallen cargo.

Hazard 5: Cargo Hazard Simulation

Drivers will experience a simulation of a cargo hazard and be taught all the necessary steps they are expected to take in response to the unfortunate incident of a cargo hazard on the road.

Hazard 6: Narrow Farm Entrance

In this scenario the trainee is driving a tandem ammonia trailer attached to the pickup truck. A tractor unit pulling a 44’ tandem ammonia trailer turning right off a grid road onto a narrow field approach.

The farm entrance is narrow and has steep edges. It’s a risk that the farm trailer could get stuck having a wider turn arc than the truck. The driver will be taught and tested on taking the appropriate steps for making a correct and safe approach into the farm.

Hazard 7: Soft Verges on a Narrow Road

Heavy goods vehicles have a risk of rolling over when going into soft verges that may not be able to support the weight of the vehicle. Driver trainees will experience a simulation and learn the correct steps to take if they are on a narrow road with a soft shoulder and there is a second vehicle needing space.

Want to learn more about driver Safety Training and how you can upgrade your HGV courses?

Research has already shown that VR training massively increases the effectiveness of safety training. We believe that you can achieve similar results at a lower cost by going for the same type of gamified training in a desktop or web application, it’s not as immersive as VR training, but achieves similar goals and bridges the gap between traditional training and VR training for amazing value.

SHIIFT believes using video game technology to create immersive desktop simulations for HSE training can effectively increase engagement and skill retention in all types of training for workplace safety or driver training across different industries. You can read more about our immersive desktop simulations here.

Or schedule a demo with us to have a deeper dive into how we can take your training courses to the next step with our revolutionary bespoke training application development, whether you need immersive driver simulations, virtual reality training, engaging videos, or anything else!