Jones County Junior College has added state-of-the-art equipment to enhance the school’s new truck driving program. The L3 Communications TranSim simulator recreates driving scenarios teaching students how to handle problems in a safe, virtual environment.

The school has a semi-truck used for hands-on training, after students learn the basics and practice on the simulator. The simulator is based at the school’s Industrial Services Center.

Instructors Kim Bridges and Sidney Tally, have five students in the current class.

Truck drivers have to constantly be alert and aware of their surroundings, the instructors said. The simulator provides scenarios which can better prepare students, before they hit the road. Instructors can build various situations, like load shifting, bad weather, dogs, people and blowouts to prepare students for the real road experience. JCJC purchased the simulator. The semi-truck was donated by Howard Industries. Endom’s Trailers donated the tractor-trailer.

Nathan Mosley, dean of career and technical education, said the simulator cost approximately $115,000-$120,000.

“It will help us in the long run because it decreases our long-term maintenance costs, like transmission on the semi used which is for hands-on driving,” Mosley said. “The simulator has 200 types of transmission simulations. The simulator will certainly make them safer drivers before they begin training in the real truck.”