CANCUN, Q. ROO. – Within the framework of the Canacar National Convention 2026 , APEX Simulation and Technology was present with its proposal to professionalize its operators to reduce accidents, fuel and maintenance.

The challenge is urgent: Mexico is short more than 99,000 truck drivers, according to data from the International Road Transport Union (IRU) . To address this shortage, APEX is working with training centers such as ICAT, CECATI, and CONALEP, which are already training new drivers using APEX simulators: they learn to drive a tractor-trailer, handle risky situations, and operate efficiently before ever driving a real truck.

Members of the National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) , including carriers, fleet owners and managers, experienced driving in the APEX Heavy Transport Simulator.

The simulator allows training for high-risk situations without exposing vehicles, cargo, or personnel. APEX recreates real-life accidents from each client’s operations so that the operator can experience them in a controlled environment, and its operator telemetry—braking, acceleration, fuel consumption, and safety errors—turns each session into a measurable training plan.

“Fleets that invest in professionalizing their drivers are the ones that make the difference in safety and costs today. The simulator allows them to practice what can’t be rehearsed on the road and measure each driver’s progress with data,” highlighted José Miguel Montoya, commercial director of APEX.

Among the indicators that can be measured and have a direct impact on operations with the implementation of APEX simulators are:

• Accident rate: between 15% and 50% less.
• Fuel: between 1.5% and 5% savings.
• Maintenance: between 15% and 20% less.

In Formula 1, no driver takes to the track without having completed hundreds of simulator runs, and in aviation, no pilot takes off without their certified simulator hours. “A truck driver moves tens of tons every day, transporting cars and families: they deserve to be trained with the same rigor . Our goal is for simulator training to be the standard in the trucking industry, not the exception,” emphasized Ramiro Fidalgo, CEO of APEX.

The APEX Heavy Transport Simulator integrates a fully immersive, enclosed cockpit with 4K televisions , a three-degree-of-freedom motion platform, a realistic steering wheel, shifter, pedals, and instrumentation, and an instructor station with live monitoring. Its software includes over 100 vehicles, is configurable with the makes and models of each fleet, and features biometric fingerprint registration to identify each operator.

With over 10 years in Mexico, APEX trains operators from the country’s leading fleets. In the trucking industry: Estafeta, Tresguerras, Fletes México, TUM, HG Transportaciones, TRL, Transportes JSV, and Royal Transports, which will install its new simulator next week. In the private transportation sector: Coca-Cola FEMSA, Grupo Bimbo, PepsiCo, PEMEX, Danone, Lala, Soriana, Liverpool, Coppel, and Bachoco, as well as state governments and police academies.

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @GrupoT21

El cargo APEX presented professionalization strategies for operators to Canacar members apareció primero en T21.

PepsiCo Foods reported the implementation of a forklift simulator-based training program at its main logistics centers in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey. This included the acquisition of three Apex Simulators simulation systems that will allow operators to train under controlled conditions and with precise performance metrics

“Forklift simulation has become a key tool for companies seeking to raise their safety standards and operational efficiency. Training in virtual environments allows for the development of critical skills, reduces risks, and significantly optimizes operator preparedness before entering real-world operations,” said José Miguel Montoya, Commercial Director of Apex Simulators.

The forklift simulator reproduces warehouse scenarios where operators can more safely develop their skills with loading and unloading maneuvers , operation in confined aisles, and simulation of real warehouse conditions.

The simulators also feature advanced telemetry that records every movement of the operator, facilitating objective evaluation and the identification of areas for improvement. In addition to providing training in safety protocols , they help strengthen the learning curve of future forklift operators and identify areas for improvement. Implementation in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey allows the company to standardize training processes nationwide. This ensures that operators receive standardized training , optimizes training time, and reduces risks during training. The project also contributes to strengthening the industrial safety culture by integrating preventative practices from the earliest stages of training.

The company highlighted that these types of initiatives reflect the evolution of industrial training towards more technological, measurable models focused on risk prevention , which positions simulation as a key component for the transformation of operational training in the country.

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @GrupoT21

El cargo PepsiCo Foods strengthens training with APEX forklift simulators apareció primero en T21.

Driver training in the trucking industry is entering a new phase at Harinas Elizondo . With the addition of an Apex simulator , the company has strengthened its strategy to raise safety and efficiency standards in food distribution, according to Octavio Ramírez, general manager of Elicarga .

The simulator features configurations that include “Kenworth T880 tractor trucks with Cummins X15 engines for configuration with food-grade hoppers, dry vans, and even large trucks. The tool brings operators closer to real-world operating scenarios,” explained José Miguel Montoya, Commercial Director of Apex Simulation and Technology.

Montoya commented that the company’s differentiator is its after-sales system, which he described as the most robust in the simulation market in Mexico.

With technicians distributed in different cities across the country, Apex ensures permanent support to keep the equipment operational.

Customizing the simulators allows operators to face real-life scenarios from their daily work, from distributing flour to customers to optimizing fuel consumption.

“This level of detail in the programming ensures that operators achieve practices close to the reality of the roads and attain greater autonomy in driving,” Montoya added.

Harinas Elizondo ‘s technological investment aims to directly impact the professionalization of approximately 200 operators who are part of its transportation division, Elicarga.

Apex simulators offer more than 200 programmable real-time scenarios, where it is possible to modify parameters such as asphalt type, weather conditions, time of day, as well as unexpected mechanical issues in the engine or clutch.

These environments replicate critical road situations, increasing the responsiveness and sensitivity of operators to risks .

During the implementation process, Eduardo Islas, head of logistics at Elicarga, emphasized the importance of having a team that allows for simulating adverse conditions in a safe environment.

He emphasized that, by practicing in the cabin, operators can make mistakes and correct them without risk, which accelerates learning and increases confidence when joining the road.

The simulator ‘s programming is designed to recreate both fleet configurations and the most common critical situations in daily operation.

“It’s about transferring reality to the simulator so that the operator faces the same complexity as on the road, but with the advantage of doing so in a controlled environment,” he explained.

The new equipment will strengthen the training of operators from its earliest stages, by providing a controlled environment that combines theory and practice.

The methodology includes a week of classroom training , with eight hours a day dedicated to technical and safety fundamentals, followed by a month and a half of practical training in the simulator and with real vehicles.

This scheme will allow for gradual progress: operators of small units will be able to train to handle fifth wheels, and later specialize in double articulated vehicles .

The goal is that upon completion of the process, participants will be ready to fully integrate into the company’s cargo operations.

With this investment, Harinas Elizondo and its transport arm consolidate a continuous improvement model, with the support of Apex , that encompasses safety, efficiency and quality in the supply chain, key elements in the distribution of food products.

Comment and follow us on X: @GrupoT21

El cargo Harinas Elizondo impulsa la profesionalización con simulador Apex apareció primero en T21.

AGUASCALIENTES, AGS. – In response to the growing shortage of operators in Mexico and with the goal of offering better service to its customers, Translíquidos Refrigerados López (TRL) acquired a driving simulator developed by APEX Simulation and Technology .  

This equipment will not only train new talent , but will also provide ongoing training to current operators, improving their driving habits and reducing road risks , which will strengthen retention efforts. 

“We are implementing this project to attract new operators and be able to offer more and better services to our customers. We want our drivers to have more training, more rest, and more time with their families. I am confident that, in the short term, we will see the fruits of this investment,” shared Agustín López, director of TRL. 

The initiative also seeks to address the small human errors that can lead to serious accidents.  

For Agustín López, it’s essential to develop good habits from the most basic point of view, such as fastening your seatbelt when entering the simulator.  

“These are small details that, when neglected, can turn into big problems,” he added. 

For his part, José Miguel Montoya , commercial director of APEX Simulation and Technology, explained that the simulator allows operators to face real-life road accident scenarios, recreating situations that have occurred in daily operations.  

This not only contributes to accident prevention, but also helps develop a pool of new drivers from scratch, addressing the country’s shortage of more than 99,000 drivers . 

“The simulator allows for training operators from entry-level, such as warehouse workers or forklift drivers, to fifth-wheel operators. It also helps companies reduce operating costs and prepare their drivers to operate units with the latest technologies, including electric models and specific configurations that our customers are acquiring,” Montoya emphasized. 

Meanwhile, Roberto Carrera, training and after-sales manager at APEX, explained that the simulator adapts to the needs of each company, recreating real accidents and complex routes with specific conditions.  

“We base our practice on two pillars: free practice and a structured training plan with 12 exercises designed to address common problems in Mexican driving, such as excessive clutch use or aggressive driving,” he explained. 

The APEX simulator also measures training effectiveness through efficiency and safety indicators , which rate operators using a traffic-light-type system and a letter scale, providing immediate feedback on their performance. 

In addition, the simulator allows for flexibility in training: some operators may dedicate nine to 12 hours per week , while others adjust their time based on daily operations. 

For TRL, this investment represents not only a solution to the shortage of operators, but also an opportunity to increase the professionalization of transportation, reduce accidents, and improve the quality of life of its drivers. 

Comment and follow us on X:  @GrupoT21 

El cargo TRL takes the road with Apex to train new operators and improve road safety apareció primero en T21.

THE JUMP, JAL. – The company  Productos de Consumo Z (PCZ) has taken a significant step towards the professionalization of its transport operators with the acquisition of a high-tech APEX simulator .

At the opening ceremony, José Miguel Montoya, Commercial Director of APEX Simulation and Technology, highlighted the benefits of this advanced tool.

“These simulators allow us to recreate situations and risk factors so that the operator becomes familiar and can avoid them. Inside the cabin, operators will find all the necessary elements: steering wheels, pedals, instrument panel and gear lever,” Montoya commented.

The APEX simulator can recreate various weather and traffic conditions , such as rain, hail, snow, day, night, wind, and different levels of road congestion. In addition, it presents realistic scenarios that include highways and industrial areas, offering comprehensive and safe training for operators.

“We seek to reduce accident rates and maintenance costs. With the simulator, we will be able to analyze areas of opportunity in driving, such as acceleration, use of the clutch and speed changes. This analysis will allow us to improve the efficiency and safety of our operators,” said Eduardo Haro, PCZ national fleet manager.

The idea of ​​implementing this simulator arose in response to the need to reduce accidents and high maintenance costs. In that sense, the training process will begin with small groups of six to seven people for personalized attention.

“We will start with the familiarization of the team, then we will advance to training in delivery areas and finally we will form local, foreign and semi-foreign groups. Thus, the drivers will know all the operations and their particularities,” explained the PCZ fleet manager.

Likewise, Eduardo Verdín, in charge of training, commented that they hope to train 100% of the driver staff in three months.

“The expectation is to have better conditioning of the personnel and know their capabilities before sending them on the road. This process will benefit both the company and the drivers, guaranteeing better performance and safety in operations,” Verdín said.

For her part, Patricia Quintero, PCZ insurance and management administrator, reiterated that with the acquisition of the simulator the main expectation is to reduce accidents, since incidents increased significantly in 2023 , so they will seek to reduce these numbers.

El cargo Productos de Consumo Z Modernizes Driver Training with APEX Simulator apareció primero en T21.

Grupo Merza, a Mexican company dedicated to the distribution and trade of consumer products, has reached a significant milestone in modernizing the training of its transportation operators with the opening of its Operators’ School, equipped with the APEX transportation simulator.

This step aims to transform the way the company prepares its drivers, promoting greater safety and efficiency in its logistical operations.

José Juan Villareal, Road Safety Manager at Grupo Merza, emphasized the importance the company places on the development and professionalization of its operators.

“The goal is to train 100 to 150 operators per year, recertify already trained operators, and develop more operators in different units,” Villareal said.

The APEX simulator acquired by Grupo Merza is a state-of-the-art tool designed to accurately simulate driving conditions in various circumstances.

Some of its most prominent features include:

1. Realism in simulation, meaning it reproduces realistic driving scenarios, from different weather conditions to emergency situations.
2. Advanced technology, equipped with cutting-edge technology, provides an immersive experience with high-resolution controls and displays that simulate the cabin of a cargo truck.
3. Expandable classroom that facilitates its transportation and use in different locations, allowing broader access to training.

Furthermore, the implementation of this simulator brings numerous benefits both for Grupo Merza and its operators, such as:

1. Improvement in training, as operators can practice and refine their skills in a controlled environment before facing real-world driving, reducing the risk of accidents.
2. Continuous training, allowing for updated and tailored training to new regulations and driving techniques.
3. Cost savings, minimizing expenses associated with vehicle usage and fuel during training, as well as reducing wear and tear on the truck fleet.

Marte González, an instructor at Grupo Merza, commented, “For Grupo Merza, training is important; we prioritize safety above all with our state-of-the-art equipment.”

The use of the transportation simulator will have a significant impact on Grupo Merza’s road safety and operational efficiency, thus allowing for the reduction of accidents and road risks by having better-trained drivers.

It also enables route optimization; operators can practice specific routes and maneuvers, improving efficiency in goods delivery.

Regarding sustainability, it promotes virtual training, reducing the need for practices in real vehicles, thereby decreasing the company’s carbon footprint.

José Miguel Montoya, Commercial Director of APEX Simulation & Training, congratulated Grupo Merza “for this visionary decision that will contribute to the professionalization of primary and secondary transportation drivers.”

The acquisition of this simulator allows both companies innovation and security. This investment benefits the operators and has a positive impact on the efficiency and sustainability of the company’s logistical operations.

Comment and follow us on X:  @GrupoT21

El cargo Grupo Merza Opens Operators’ School with Apex Simulator apareció primero en T21.