Schneider National Inc., the largest truckload carrier in North America, trains its 15,000 drivers and independent contractors in a small room that looks like an IMAX theater. In this room, trainers for the company take new drivers through simulations of driving on rainy back roads and snowy mountain highways. Driver trainees can also practice backing a truck onto a tight strip mall loading dock and experience what it feels like to go into a severe skid, lose control, and be involved in a collision.

More companies are turning to interactive gaming as a way to train new employees and to help veteran employees brush up on their skills. For occupations where the risks involved are high, simulations can allow for life-like training without the risk. They can also save employers money in the long run by preparing trainees for the possibilities involved. Clark Quinn of Quinnovations says that simulations yield impressive learning results. He says that learners learn better when they are engaged in the process and when they can apply what they are learning to their actual job environment. He says that gaming meets both requirements.

Simulation technology has been around for decades and has been used mainly by the military and in commercial aviation for training because the cost of the applications was so high. As development costs have come down, units that once sold for a few million dollars are now under $100,000 making the training a more viable option for other applications as well. The technology is being adapted to games that allow employees to rapidly develop skills for service situations.

Experts say the best choice should offer the learner the chance to retry scenarios. They should also tie into the business environment and reinforce the message that is specific to the company, whatever it might be. The training must also be customized to the learners and their job if it is going to have an impact.