Trucker Buddy and J.J. Keller
Appleton , WI : Tom Grogan drives a big rig, and has been teaching his Trucker Buddy class at Saint Thomas More school about safety around trucks. The second graders in Kelly Landstrom's class have learned to keep clear of a driver's blind spots on the highway and are aware that the stopping distance of an eighteen wheeler is longer than that of a car. But…..can these students maneuver a rig on a computer screen?
Soon they will have a chance to drive a semi tractor trailer in a virtual world created by a local firm, J J Keller and Associates (www.jjkeller.com). Keller has developed a training tool called SAFE-Sim Truck Driving Simulator. ( http://www.jjkeller.com/informationcenters/safesim/home.htm ). This product allows professional drivers to experience hazards and learn how to react to them while sharpening their driving skills.
Keller is bringing the SAFE-Sim driving simulator this Friday, May 21 st to Saint Thomas More's elementary school (8:30 am) to allow the students to test their skill and learn more about the trucking industry. Their Trucker Buddy, Tom Grogan, will bring his Freightliner for the kids to see the inside of a big rig after they attempt to drive one on the computer.
Grogan, who is an owner operator leased to Dart Transit (Eagan, MN) has been corresponding with the students this school year through the Trucker Buddy program, ( http://www.truckerbuddy.org ) which matches professional drivers with elementary classrooms throughout the world. Each week drivers share their experiences from the road, while the students track them on a map and correspond with individual monthly letters of their own. Through this relationship, the students not only learn about trucks and the transportation industry, their geography, writing, reading and math skills are improved.
There are nearly 4000 Trucker Buddy drivers
involved in the nonprofit organization, whose mission is to bring a positive
image of the professional driver to the students, their teachers and parents,
while educating them on safety and sharing the road with trucks. Drivers
or teachers interested in participating may call 1-800-MY BUDDY or sign
up on line at www.truckerbuddy.org .
