ATITALAQUIA, HGO.- The  Hidalgo State Institute for Job Training (ICATHI) celebrated its 31st anniversary in a ceremony that was marked by the delivery of a fifth wheel simulator from the company  APEX Simuladores  to the Atitalaquia campus. 

“ We are going  to formally inaugurate the fifth-wheel simulator project, and we hope that this simulator inspires us to transform our reality. Because when we work together, the productive sector and the government, we build a better future for Hidalgo,” said Jorge Israel Acosta Benítez, Director General of ICATHI .

The APEX simulator will allow aspiring truck drivers to practice complex maneuvers in safe, virtual environments . In an interview with T21, Acosta Benítez indicated that the simulator aims to recapture the spirit of men and women who love to travel the roads and whose dedication is a commitment to the ICATHI community . 

“It’s a very valuable experience, and it also allows us to respond institutionally to a request made at the first liaison committee meeting for this transportation zone. At that time, they asked us for support with a simulator, and today we can fulfill that commitment,” Acosta explained. 

At the handover ceremony, Claudia Sandoval Ramírez, the municipal president of Atitalaquia, emphasized that the simulator represents an opportunity for improvement . 

“ This team represents a great opportunity to strengthen the capacity of our citizens, preparing them to integrate into a key sector for the economic development of our region,” Sandoval shared.

During his address, Héctor Martínez Castuera , coordinator of the  State Decentralized Organizations of the Institutes for Job Training (ICAT) , emphasized that highways cannot be conceived “without the support of federal freight and passenger transport,” and that continued work on training is necessary. He added  that this type of training helps alleviate the existing shortage of drivers .   

“ The sector has a need,” explained Luis Ruiz, the  general director of Federal Motor Transport , “ to serve approximately 90,000 drivers nationwide. In our area, the  CECATIS  and  ICATHIS centers have 673 units across the country with the capacity to provide this training, and with the support of business owners and transportation associations, we can try to meet this demand ,” Martínez stated .   

For her part, Jessica Alfaro, representative at the event of the  National Chamber of Freight Transportation (Canacar) , referred to the benefits of the training program with the simulator. 

“This has greatly benefited us due to the current national shortage of operators. Operators no longer train themselves as they once did; now we have to invite them, convince them, and train them—and train them in a safe manner to guarantee their professional development,” Alfaro pointed out. 

He emphasized that the simulator facilitates the learning of trainee operators, who have no experience driving a fifth-wheel unit, preventing the change from driving a car from being too abrupt . 

Regarding the functionality of the simulator, José Ramón Nájera, head of the IT department at ICATHI, highlighted that its main purpose is to help operators overcome their fear of driving large vehicles . 

“With this simulator you already handle dimensions, you lose the fear, you already have the theory, the practical aspect and the knowledge; the only thing missing is applying it in real life,”  Nájera explained . 

Furthermore, the new equipment offers a much more realistic experience by accurately reproducing the dimensions, movement of the trailer, and cargo handling . In addition, its software- based operation allows for regular updates tailored to the institute’s needs, representing added value for student training.  

For his part, José Miguel Montoya, Commercial Director of APEX Simulation and Technology, a leading simulation solutions company in Mexico, commented: “ At APEX we will continue working to implement this type of fully immersive cabin simulators in more  ICATs ,  CECATIS  and  Conaleps  nationwide with the aim of addressing the  shortage  of operators and contributing to professionalization in  Mexico . ” 

Currently,  the fifth wheel operator training program has  a  projection of reaching a production of almost 200  operators  annually  between the Atitalaquia and Mineral de la Reforma facilities within two or three years . 

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