Professional Driver Development

Courses and Services

MTI offers a range of courses and options for using the simulator facilities. Course offerings range from Test Drive designed for individuals considering a career in truck driving on up to Custom courses for specialized requirements. When available the simulator can be “wet leased” to companies that wish to carry out their own training (subject to instructor training). And the simulator can even be used for Corporate Teambuilding exercises and other promotional activities.

PDD090 – Test Drive
PDD100 – Driver Evaluation
PDD105 – Personality Profile
PDD110 - Backing
PDD210 – Space Management
PDD220 – Fuel Management
PDD400 – Adverse Conditions
PDD420 – Welcome to Canada Mountain Training
PDD500 – Simulator Wet Lease
PDD510 – Simulator Operations
PDD520 – Advanced Simulator Operations
PDD600 – Custom Training
PDD900 – Big Rig Experience


» PDD090 –Test Drive

Ever wondered if you have what it takes to be a professional truck driver?

MTI's Test Drive is an intensive 2 day program to introduce you to the career of truck driving and to assess your potential for a successful career in the trucking industry. After completing the Test Drive program you will know what it's like to be a professional truck driver, what it's like to drive a Big Rig and you will have an assessment of your ability to become a professional truck driver. For more information on the Test Drive program check out the DriveMTI website.


» PDD100 – Driver Evaluation

Primary benefits – driver retention, accident reduction, fuel management

One of the keys to having good drivers is to hire the best available. Hiring drivers is not an easy task and, unless you have a tractor and trailer available, doing a skills evaluation is difficult. Even with a tractor and trailer it is not easy to assess the driver’s skills when you are directing where they should go and watching traffic yourself. Doing the assessment in the simulator takes all the guesswork out of the process – plus you don’t have to take a rig off the road. The simulator will run the driver through a standard set of tests and provide an objective printed report on how he or she did.

With the evaluation results you are in a great position to decide whether to make the hire and what Development training will most benefit the driver.

The Driver Evaluation includes the following components:

• Backing
• City Driving
• Freeway Driving

The driver is tested in each of these areas and report is provided on his/her performance.

Contact us for further information.


» PDD105 Personality Profile

The PDD105 Personality Profile is an option that can be added to the PDD100 Driver Evaluation. The PDD105 is a validated trucker personality profile based on testing results from hundreds of drivers. The profile tool includes sections on factual knowledge, intelligence and personality. Each candidate is compared to the historical database of candidates and assigned a ranking. The test is very useful in identifying potential problem drivers as well as the exceptional candidates.

Contact us for further information.


» PDD110 – Backing

Primary benefit – accident reduction

The Backing course is designed as an upgrade course for drivers that require extra instruction and practice time. A variety of simulated scenarios provide the driver with extensive experience backing in difficult conditions. They can practice manoeuvring in tight quarters without risking damage to valuable equipment.

Contact us for further information.


» PDD210 – Space Management

Primary benefits - accident reduction, fuel management

Following too close is a leading cause of accidents and it also leads to inefficient driving habits. Teaching the dangers of following too close is very difficult to do without taking major risks on public highways. The MTI simulator is the ideal, safe environment for demonstrating the dangers of following too close. Drivers really learn when they experience the heart stopping realization that they are about to have a collision. Nothing helps them to understand like the humbling experience of doing it wrong followed by instruction on how to do it properly.

Managing the space around the vehicle is the best defensive strategy for drivers under all conditions. Controlling a “buffer zone” of space around your vehicle creates a safe driving environment and increases the time you have to react when hazardous situations arise.

The Space Management course keeps your driver and equipment safe and your company’s reputation intact! When the student has completed this course they will be able to implement the principles of space management in defensive driving. Specifically, they will be able to describe and practice space management as it applies to driving on urban roadways, highways and expressways. They will demonstrate their ability to maintain space on all 6 sides of the vehicle. (in front, the sides, the rear, underneath and on top).

Contact us for further information.


» PDD220 - Fuel Management

Primary benefit – lower fuel costs

Every minute of every day that your trucks are moving they are consuming fuel. Fuel is one of the biggest expenses for carriers and it is one of the few that is directly controllable by training drivers to drive more efficiently.

Studies have shown that the average driver improves his fuel economy by 2.8% after taking a simulator-based Fuel Management program. Some drivers have improved as much as 7.5%. With annual fuel bills of $100,000 per truck the savings are enormous.

The Fuel Management course teaches the driver the principles of progressive shifting and speed management. The simulator provides the opportunity to practice and master these techniques to achieve tangible results in real day to day driving.

Contact us for further information.


» PDD400 - Adverse Conditions

Primary benefit - accident reduction

Snow, ice, rain, wind, steer tire blowouts, jackknife - are your drivers ready to deal with these challenges?

With the MTI simulator-based Adverse Conditions program your drivers will experience all of these conditions and learn how to drive in a safe and responsible manner. The simulator allows them to experience these difficult conditions in heart-pounding reality.

Your drivers will learn what can go wrong if they exceed safe speeds for the conditions or if they react the wrong way. MTI's experienced instructors will demonstrate how to maintain control in difficult conditions and reinforce the learning with multiple simulator sessions. Nothing imprints learning like directly experiencing the results of driving safely for the conditions. Don’t let your driver’s learn by risking their lives and your equipment, the MTI Adverse Conditions program is a must-take course!

Contact us for further information.


» PDD420 - Welcome to Canada – Mountain Training Program

Primary benefits – accident reduction, specialized skills in mountain driving

The Welcome to Canada course is designed to teach experienced drivers from other countries how to safely operate a transport truck in the mountains of Canada.

There are several variations of the course from a simulator-only course to a multi-day mountain experience that includes several days driving in the mountains of British Columbia and several days on the simulator. Regardless of how many years experience a driver may have the mountains of British Columbia represent a major challenge to a driver that does not know how to safely negotiate major descents. MTI was created to teach Mountain Driving and our Welcome to Canada programs are the best in the industry. Why take a chance on an accident? Prepare your drivers to safely negotiate the mountains. Once they have trained here in the Kootenays they will be ready for anything.

For more on Mountain Training options contact us.


» PDD500 - "Wet Lease"

MTI's simulator is available for rent to qualified organizations that wish to use their own instructors. Your instructors will be trained on the simulator (see PDD510) and once certified can operate the simulator. Wet Lease time is subject to availability. For further information contact us with details of your requirements. Note: MTI can also provide classroom and other facilities to make your training a success.

Contact us for further information.


» PDD510 – Simulator Operations

The Simulator Operations course is a pre-requisite to renting time on the simulator on a Wet Lease basis. Any organization wishing to rent time without an MTI instructor will be required to have a trained Simulator Operator on site at all times. The Simulator Operations course covers the basics of running the simulator and all necessary safety and operating procedures applicable to using the facility.

Contact us for further information.


» PDD520 – Advanced Simulator Operations
The Advanced Simulator Operations course includes instructions on using the Scenario Builder to create custom scenarios and on training techniques specific to working with a tool like the simulator.

Contact us for further information.


» PDD600 - Custom Training
MTI has years of experience in teaching drivers to safely and efficiently drive transport trucks. We would be pleased to work with you on a custom course to fit your current curriculum or to deal with specific issues. MTI has access to a wide variety of training courses and can work with your team to develop the training you require.

Contact us for further information.


» PDD900 - Corporate Functions
Occasionally MTI will make the simulator available for corporate functions such as client appreciation nights or corporate team building exercises. Prices depend on availability.

Contact us for further information.

‘Printer Friendly’ PDF version of this page