Back to Innovation Homepage
Fasten Your Seatbelts: Virtual CDL Training is Shifting Into High Gear
With thousands of truck driving jobs unfilled across New York, the Department of Labor is taking an innovative approach to get more skilled operators behind the wheel. Through an exciting partnership with the Trucking Association of New York, we've rolled out a cutting-edge CDL simulator program to accelerate career training.
The Ultimate Test Drive for Truckers
Picture being able to experience the cab of a big rig from the comfort of a DOL Career Center. That's the power of our state-of-the-art CDL simulators, which provide a hyper-realistic virtual environment to develop truck driving skills before hitting the open road.
Already installed in Albany and Utica, these simulators immerse trainees in scenario-based exercises like:
- City driving and navigating tight urban environments
- Handling hazardous weather conditions like snow
- Proper techniques for operating snowplows
- Night driving practicums
- And more real-world simulations
By 2024, additional simulators will arrive in Manhattan and Buffalo to expand access in high-need regions. But no matter where you kickstart your CDL journey, you'll benefit from a risk-free, affordable way to gain vital experience.
A New Lane for Partnership
To maximize the program's impact, DOL is also collaborating with the DMV, DOT, Thruway Authority and DOCCS. These partnerships will integrate the simulators into CDL curriculum development, testing procedures, and create pathways for justice-involved individuals to secure trucking jobs.
New York's truck driver shortage has been a longstanding roadblock. But with CDL simulators in our workforce development arsenal, we're shifting into a higher gear of job training and living out DOL's mission to pave pathways to success for all New Yorkers.
Continue exploring UPGRADE Innovations