The Emerging Standard in Simulation for Training Heavy Equipment Operators

How Omaha Public Schools Implemented Simlog's Forklift Personal Simulators for OSHA Operator Certification in a Transportation, Distribution and Logistics Program

Simlog's Forklift simulator is the only simulator that was truly designed for vocational programs, and that provides the scope, depth and realism of skills training required in a vocational curriculum.

Simlog's Forklift Personal Simulator was first identified by at ACTE Career Tech Visions in Las Vegas in 2013. In 2014, faced with increased enrollment numbers, and having only one real forklift, OPS purchased two Forklift Personal Simulators for Bryan High School through Simlog’s educational systems reseller in Nebraska, Moss Educational and Industrial Training Solutions .

Each Forklift simulator station is set up on a desktop PC equipped with a big screen display and speakers, all supplied by Moss as a turnkey setup. Each simulator station uses table-top mounted simulator controls that include four industrial strength USB-ready Replica Controls Forklift Levers, and a “Logitech G27 Racing Wheel” consisting of a steering wheel, a three -pedal unit and a gear shifter.

“The simulators have been an excellent addition to the program” explains Joshua Hogrefe, TDL Instructor at Bryan High School. “In Nebraska, you cannot have a forklift operator license until you are 18 years of age. To keep the kids going, I train them on the Forklift simulators, and when they are ready to go on to the real forklift, I have nothing to worry about.”

“In comparison with the previous year when none of the kids were on the simulators,” continues Hogrefe, “my anxiety is now gone, and the kids’ confidence has increased immensely.” Since the acquisition of Simlog’s Forklift Personal Simulators in April 2014, in preparation for the 2014 – 2015 school year, Bryan High School and the TDL program have been able to deliver over 1,000 hours of total simulator-based training to 120 students throughout the school year, for students in grades 9 to 12.

Key highlights of this success story:

  • TDL Academy with 120 students and only one real forklift.
  • Simulator lab with 2 Simlog Forklift simulator stations.
  • Over 1,000 hours of total simulator time per year, grades 9 - 12.
  • Students self-start and self-manage their simulator time.
  • OSHA forklift certification in the Advanced grade 12 class.
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