Alexandria, VA -
L-3 MPRI, a global leader in airport ramp, ground vehicle, and maritime simulator products as well as training services and turnkey training facilities, and United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE: URI), the world’s largest equipment rental company, today announced that they have kicked off a driver safety initiative designed to improve and promote safety among United Rentals drivers.
The year-long program, which recently began, will train 4,250 drivers at approximately 70 locations across the United States and Canada. MPRI’s mobile training facilities, comprised of two trailers each containing two TranSim VS™ IV driver training simulators and classrooms, are dispatched to United Rentals facilities where MPRI authorized employee certified instructors guide students through a two-hour course on close-quarter maneuvering and distracted driving.
Designed by MPRI, the custom curriculum was developed by workforce education experts to meet the unique needs of United Rentals’ CDL and non-CDL drivers. The course challenges drivers to be aware of surroundings and demonstrate finely tuned skills in maneuvering vehicles within close quarters. Drivers also practice following detailed instructions while performing complicated vehicle maneuvers. Scenarios such as receiving cell phone calls and text messages, navigating with a map binder and drinking hot beverages are incorporated into the simulated experience to highlight the hazards of common drive-time activities.
The program also includes a rodeo-style driving competition. After completing the class, each driver will compete in a simulator-based contest. Various elements of their performance will be scored as drivers conduct intricate vehicle operations and navigate obstacles. Based on their scores, the top CDL and top two non-CDL performers from each of nine regions will be awarded prizes and qualify for the final rodeo competition to be held at United Rentals’ Dallas.
“United Rentals is at the forefront of driver training. By utilizing our world-class Training Systems Group, they are delivering a total training solution that includes custom curriculum development, human performance assessments, advanced distributed course development and state-of-the-art simulation-based training,” said Dennis Corrigan, senior vice president and general manager of MPRI’s Training Systems Group. “The result will be a driver force that experiences fewer accidents and is mindful of safety at every turn.”
“This marks the third MPRI-led driver training program we have conducted, and previous programs garnered very successful results — including a 42 percent reduction in accidents following the space management course,” said Heidi Rawe, senior director of sustainability for United Rentals. “Through this original curriculum and unique rodeo-style competition, we look forward to further strengthening our drivers’ commitment to safety.”
The TranSim VS IV provides high-fidelity, real-world driving environments that can be customized for various markets including trucking, snowplow, bus, ready mix, fire, police, EMS and the military. Featuring state-of-the-art software that delivers lifelike graphics via a three-channel plasma screen, drivers are immersed in myriad driving conditions in a risk-free setting. Force-loaded steering provides real-time feedback to augment muscle memory in situations such as a tire blowout or sloshing loads, and users can choose from more than 140 transmissions, 240 engines and 33 axle ratios to simulate nearly any vehicle type.
About United Rentals
United Rentals, Inc. is the largest equipment rental company in the world, with an integrated network of approximately 562 rental locations in 48 states, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. The company’s approximately 7,500 employees serve construction and industrial customers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners and others. The company offers for rent approximately 3,000 classes of rental equipment with a total original cost of $3.7 billion. United Rentals is a member of the Standard & Poor’s MidCap 400 Index and the Russell 2000 Index® and is headquartered in Greenwich, Conn. Additional information about United Rentals is available at unitedrentals.com.
About MPRI
Headquartered in Alexandria, Va., MPRI is a recognized global leader in national security, law enforcement, the environment, international development and public health programs – both domestically and abroad. All of MPRI products, people and programs are governed by the division’s commitment to quality and ethics. For further information, please visit the company’s Web site at www.mpri.com.
Headquartered in New York City, L-3 Communications employs over 66,000 people worldwide and is a prime contractor in aircraft modernization and maintenance, C3ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) systems and government services. L-3 is also a leading provider of high technology products, subsystems and systems. The company reported 2009 sales of $15.6 billion.
To learn more about L-3, please visit the company’s web site at www.L-3Com.com.
Contact:
MPRI, an L-3 division
Rick Kiernan
Vice President, Strategic Communications
(703) 664-2687
[email protected]
Holly Wolfe PR
Holly Wolfe
Principal
(207) 251-3107
[email protected]
United Rentals
Heidi Rawe
Sr Director, Sustainability
(972) 554-3981
[email protected]