TRL invested in an APEX driving simulator to fight the driver shortage, strengthen training, and reduce its accident rate across its refrigerated tanker fleet based in Aguascalientes.
TRL invested in an APEX driving simulator to confront the driver shortage, strengthen training, and reduce its accident rate.
AGUASCALIENTES, AGS. — In response to Mexico's growing shortage of professional drivers, and aiming to deliver better service to its customers, Translíquidos Refrigerados López (TRL) acquired a driving simulator developed by APEX Simulation & Technology.
The equipment will not only train new talent — it will also deliver continuous training to current drivers, improving their driving habits and reducing highway risk, which in turn strengthens retention.
We are implementing this project to attract new drivers and 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 have faith that, in the short term, we will see the fruits of this investment.
Agustín LópezDirector, TRL
The initiative also targets the small human errors that can trigger serious accidents.
For Agustín López, building good habits starts with the basics — like buckling the seat belt the moment a driver enters the simulator.
"They are small details that, when neglected, can turn into big problems," he added.
For his part, José Miguel Montoya, commercial director of APEX Simulation & Technology, explained that the simulator lets drivers face real accident scenarios, recreating situations that have actually occurred in daily operations.
This not only helps prevent accidents — it also builds a pipeline of new drivers trained from scratch, addressing the deficit of more than 99,000 drivers the country is facing.
The simulator lets us train operators from entry level — warehouse staff or forklift operators — all the way up to fifth-wheel drivers. It also helps companies cut operating costs and prepare their drivers to operate vehicles with the latest technologies, including electric models and the specific configurations our customers are acquiring.
José Miguel MontoyaChief Commercial Officer, APEX Simulation & Technology
Meanwhile, Roberto Carrera, training and after-sales support manager at APEX, detailed how the simulator adapts to each company's needs, recreating real accidents and complex routes with their specific conditions.
We work on two axes: free practice and a structured training plan with 12 exercises designed to attack common problems in Mexican driving, such as overusing the clutch or aggressive driving.
Roberto CarreraTraining and After-Sales Support Manager, APEX
The APEX simulator also measures training effectiveness through safety and efficiency indicators, grading drivers with a traffic-light system and a letter scale that delivers immediate performance feedback.
The simulator also allows flexible training schedules: some drivers dedicate nine to 12 hours a week, while others adjust their time around daily operations.
For TRL, this investment is not just an answer to the driver shortage — it is an opportunity to raise the professionalization of trucking, reduce accident rates, and improve its drivers' quality of life.
