New CDL simulator helps address Nebraska’s truck driver shortage

VALENTINE, Neb. - With the trucking industry employing one in 12 Nebraskans, it ranks as the third-largest industry in the state. However, a shortage of approximately 60,000 drivers is creating challenges, according to the American Trucking Association.

To help fill the gap, Mid-Plains Community College has launched an entry-level driver training program, which includes a mobile CDL simulator designed to give students a hands-on experience of driving a semi-truck. The program, which began in February 2022 following new federal regulations, typically takes about five weeks to complete and has already produced around 200 graduates.

"Nationwide, there's a huge shortage of truck drivers. Nebraska is no exception," said Jeff Smeltzer, business and community education coordinator at Mid-Plains Community College.

To encourage more students to consider trucking as a career, the college is taking its simulator to area high schools, allowing students to test their skills in a virtual environment before committing to the program.

“It’s a great career and a lucrative career as well,” Smeltzer said.

Valentine High School senior Miguel Roberto was among the students who recently tried out the simulator.

"This is my first time driving a semi," Roberto said.

The simulator not only teaches students how to operate a semi-truck but also demonstrates potential dangers on the road. 

“We can put drivers in an unsafe situation in a safe manner,” Smeltzer said. “We can put a driver on black ice, have deer run in front of a driver, or cause a tire to blow.”

By bringing the CDL simulator to high schools, Mid-Plains hopes to spark more interest in the trucking industry and help address the growing need for qualified drivers in Nebraska.