Emergency vehicle driving simulator benefits

Simulation training allows practice of critical decision-making skills and reinforces positive decision making, situation and spacial awareness in a realistic, risk-free environment.

Practical training - Enhances initial cadet training, refresher training and driver assessments allowing you to conduct practical real-world training, on different terrains and for different road and atmospheric conditions.
Reduce accidents - Our customers have significantly reduced preventable accidents as well as reduced severity of the accidents.
After action reviews - Training scenarios recorded with the ability to analyze, instruct and reinforce proper responses and techniques.
Reduce equipment costs - Minimize maintenance and damage to emergency vehicles. Training on the simulator keeps frees up your emergency vehicles for service.
Improve driver retention - Complete, consistent, objective feedback on performance gives drivers the skills and confidence to drive more safely and more efficiently.
Flexible delivery options - Include fixed-site installation in a building or fully mobile training unit in a trailer or truck. Trailer options available to outfit in a mobile driver training unit complete with on-site classroom and instructors.

Cost effective simulation-based training system for firefighters and emergency responders

The Driver Training Solutions FireSim™ accurately simulates emergency vehicle operations adjusting to size, weight, turning radius, tire and suspension characteristics to suit the emergency vehicles that it simulates.

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Value added training capabilities

Students can choose between various fire truck apparatus, first responder or EMT vehicles with optional interchangeable driving station for E350 ambulance.

Create and train in various medical, fire or hazmat response scenarios.

Realistic graphics to teach scene size-up and staging of apparatus

Practice collision-avoidance techniques while driving to the scene of a fire.

Train drivers to anticipate hazards with emergency response techniques for all types of driving situations.

Allows fire departments to screen and qualify potential hires and improve new-hire and career-employee driving skills.

Combine classroom instruction, computer-based training and interactive simulation with coaching by skilled industry professionals.

Reduces training time.

Industry experts concur one hour of simulation training is the equivalent of up to four hours of “behind-the-wheel” instruction.

Prepares your drivers - through specific scenarios - to handle extreme situations without risk to personnel or property.

Best-in-class driving simulator features

Touchscreen interface for intuitive control of the system settings and training scenarios
Instructor operator station (IOS) included for effective management of training objectives, scenarios and malfunction simulation.

Scenario difficulty can be adjusted to accommodate any experience level.

Easily reproduce and rehearse unique driving situations.

Numerous scenarios cover a wide variety of training objectives.

Vehicle, autonomous traffic and environment libraries cover a wide variety of geographic settings and conditions.

After action review (AAR) and playback capability.

Collection and reporting of scoring data.

Performance assessment tools and replay/de-brief software enhance training effectiveness.

Our reconfigurable Glass Dash allows the PatrolSim™ to load different vehicle types (synthetic gauges and instrumentation giving greater flexibility and upgradability).

Change the weather conditions (rain, snow, ice and fog), road/traffic environment to urban, suburban, rural, mountains, motorway, desert, and lighting conditions to day, night or twilight.

The Glass Console allows the instructor control of the simulator via touchscreen at the operators console (OpCon) and gives operators simple and quick control to change vehicle type.

High fidelity visual system

High resolution visual display system with 4K-ready LED LCD displays.

A sharp and visually accurate 180° field-of-view creates an immersive driving environment.

State-of-the-art simulation software delivers sharp visuals to enhance learning objectives.

Enhanced graphics engine capability enables population of more vehicles and objects per scenario.

Modern, concurrent vehicle design

Users can choose from a variety of predefined emergency vehicle configurations using different fire trucks, fire engines, ambulances, battalion chief trucks, etc.

Force-loaded steering provides real-time feedback to augment muscle memory in situations such as a tire blowing, hitting the curb or sloshing liquid loads.

Emergency vehicle cab creates a realistic learning environment that includes a driving seat, steering wheel, brake, clutch and accelerator pedals to enhance realism and achieve better learning retention.

Realistic emergency vehicle transmission.

Realistic vehicle dynamics including 21 DOF vehicle model.

Additional features

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Replay Studio™ After-Action review software

Overview	Driver Training Soltuons Replay Studio™ gives you the tools you need to perform a thorough review of the training session while gaining valuable lessons learned. The Replay Studio™ camera records every action, reaction, and nuance of a driver’s physical performance while training on the simulator. Once the session is complete the instructor can simultaneously replay video feedback of the driver, and scenario playback of the simulation to review how a student reacts physically as well as mentally to the situation.
Benefits	Video feedback of the driver, scenario playback of the simulation, vehicle state and 3D views are all synchronized for seamless replay. View replay on a separate system to free up the simulator for training. Change 3D view quickly by dragging with the mouse. Train one student or an entire classroom by replaying the video to illustrate proper and improper driving techniques.
User interface	The interface is designed to give you all the information you need to assess both the driver’s performance and vehicle’s state during a training session. The SimTile panel reports ongoing scenario and driver information. Its vehicle indicators help assess handling dynamics. They continuously monitor steering-wheel position, brake, clutch, accelerator, speedometer, RPM and other variables. The detailed Play-by-Play screen lists events and violations. Clicking on the event or violation takes the replay directly to that point in the simulation, enabling the instructor to quickly move from one event to the next. The Sliding Rule feature gives the instructor total control of video replay. Rewind or fast forward to the exact point of interest in slow motion detail. Video feedback of the driver is so tightly synchronized with the 3D scenario and simulator views that there is no skipping or lag time between the two. For example: It allows an instructor to review the driver’s scanning technique - where the driver was looking at the time of an event or violation.

SkillSet™ performance assessment

Overview	Driver Training Solutions SkillSet™ software tests the driver’s response to tough situations. Through proper driving assessment and training, drivers can improve their decision-making process and become skilled at recognizing and managing risk.
Benefits	Instantly replay, review, and discuss a driver’s performance. Clearly define criteria to facilitate a fair and consistent evaluation. Consistent, tangible results across multiple instructors. Tailor training to improve individual aptitude or group certification. Instructors spend more time training and less time capturing results. Group reports facilitate evaluation of individuals, relative to the group. Bottom line: Improved safety training will reduce accidents and increase your ROI.
Assessment measurement features	Startup and shutdown procedure, space management, turning, backing and speed management. Learning management system, enabling the instructor to schedule classes, preload student data, review performance and incorporate data from other simulators.

Scenario Builder™ development software

Overview	Create your own scenarios quickly and efficiently, with no computer programming experience needed. Driver Training Solutions Scenario Builder™ software allows you to customize scenarios to enhance your driver training curriculum. It’s an effective, affordable way to screen new drivers. Just click, drag, and drop. It’s that simple.
Features	Build customized scenarios in under 30 minutes. Build geotypical scenarios for accident remediation, employment prescreening for new drivers and targeted training for existing drivers. Easily and affordably create training content for classroom presentations. Add new challenges to accommodate any experience level. Control the sequence and timing of event triggering. View scenarios from any angle, including top-down view for vehicle positioning. Create scenarios on a separate PC and transfer the information to the simulator with a flash drive. Compatible with any standard desktop or notebook PC with 3D graphics capability.
Benefits	Object library - We have an extensive library of over 300 objects for you to add to your scenarios: trucks, cars, trees, pedestrians, signage, and much more. This vast selection allows you to truly customize each training session. Real-world environments - Choices include suburban, freeway, rural and driving range settings. Optional environments include urban, swamp, driving track and skid pad. Dynamic features - To challenge your operators, choose from: vehicle types, weather patterns, visual stimuli and events.

FAQs

How does FireSim™ enhance safety for firefighters and the community?

FireSim™ allows emergency vehicle operators to train for urgent response driving without real-world risks. Driving a 40-ton fire engine through traffic at high speeds is one of the most dangerous parts of a firefighter’s job. In fact, vehicle crashes are the second leading cause of on-duty firefighter deaths, with roughly 30,000 firetruck crashes each year in the U.S. FireSim™ directly tackles this problem by letting firefighters practice critical driving skills (like navigating intersections on a red light, defensive driving with lights and sirens, and steering around hazards) in a realistic but controlled environment. They can make mistakes and learn from them in the simulator rather than on the street. The result is a dramatic reduction in fire truck accidents once they’re in the real vehicle. Your crews will respond more safely to incidents, protecting themselves, their fellow responders, and the public. Simply put, FireSim™ helps ensure everyone arrives at the scene and returns home safely.

What cost savings or ROI can a fire department expect from FireSim™?

The ROI can be very compelling. Emergency vehicles are expensive assets; avoiding just one major crash (say a pumper rollover or a collision with civilian vehicles) can save hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage and legal costs. Beyond the vehicle, there’s immense value in avoiding firefighter injuries or civilian harm that can result from accidents. FireSim™ helps eliminate those costly events. It also contributes to savings by reducing wear and tear on your fleet during training. Instead of taking a fire engine out for driver training (burning diesel, putting miles on it, and tying it up from service), firefighters train on the simulator. Over time, that means lower fuel costs and less maintenance on your trucks. While it’s hard to put a dollar figure on lives saved, the financial bottom line is clear: fewer accidents, less downtime, and longer vehicle service life make FireSim™ a wise investment for any department. Many municipalities find that their insurance providers look favorably on simulator training as well, potentially lowering premiums or grants available for these initiatives.

Is the FireSim™ training experience realistic enough to prepare drivers for emergency response?

Yes – it’s incredibly realistic and specifically tailored to emergency driving. The FireSim™ simulator uses a faithful replica cab of a fire truck (with a driver’s seat, steering wheel, air brake pedal, siren/horn controls, etc.), so the physical environment feels familiar to firefighters. The visual system projects an immersive 180° or wider view of the road, allowing trainees to practice scanning mirrors and maintaining situational awareness just like in a real truck. Trainees experience the weight and handling of a fire engine, including slower braking, wide turning radius, and even the surge of water in a tanker, all modeled through advanced physics. They’ll practice responding with lights and sirens, weaving through traffic where drivers may not always yield, and positioning the rig on scene. The simulator can throw curveballs like a pedestrian running in front of the truck or a car that doesn’t yield to the siren, forcing the driver to react appropriately. By repeating these exercises, firefighters build the muscle memory and calm mindset needed for actual emergencies. When they do drive the real vehicle under lights-and-sirens conditions, they often comment that “it felt just like the simulator,” which is the ultimate validation of FireSim’s realism.

Can FireSim™ train drivers on different emergency vehicles and scenarios (engines, ladders, etc.)?

Definitely. FireSim™ is versatile and can be configured for various equipment in your fleet. Whether you want to train on a standard pumper engine, a ladder truck, a tanker, or even an ambulance, the simulator’s software can emulate each vehicle’s unique size and handling characteristics. This means your trainees can learn the nuances of, say, a long aerial ladder truck versus a smaller rescue unit. The scenario library is equally rich; you can run urban responses (navigating city traffic and tight streets), rural responses (high speeds on country roads), code-3 emergency runs during rush hour, night driving scenarios, and more. FireSim™ also covers special situations like school buses on the road, distracted drivers, slick roads in winter, and GPS routing challenges. Instructors can customize scenarios to reflect recent near-miss incidents or specific problem intersections in your area, making the training highly relevant. In short, FireSim™ provides all-around emergency driving preparation, adaptable to whatever vehicles and response scenarios your department needs to train for.

How can we learn more or see FireSim™ in action for our department?

We invite you to contact Driver Training Solutions to discuss FireSim™ in detail. Our team can provide a full overview of the simulator’s features. You’ll be able to evaluate how well it replicates your vehicles and the driving scenarios you care about. We’ll also walk you through implementation logistics (space requirements, any installation needed) and financing options or grants that might help fund the purchase. DTS is passionate about firefighter safety. Our approach is collaborative and consultative, not just selling equipment. So please reach out with any questions; we’re here to help you enhance your driver training program with FireSim™ if it’s the right fit for your needs.

FireSim™ Series 8 First Responder Simulator