Simlog Blog
Simulation for training, as we know it today, began back in 1934 when Ed Link sold his “Pilot Maker” to the (USA) Army Air Corps to help train people to fly the first airplanes. But simulation for training people to operate heavy equipment in forestry, construction, mining, and material handling, continues to be something “new”, and so this blog is meant to help you learn more.
The fact is, after more than 25 years as Simlog’s President (and Founder), and 15 years of work before that in engineering and university research, I’ve developed a unique perspective on what’s really important (and what’s not), and so I hope that you’ll find these entries informative.
Paul Freedman, Ph.D., P. Eng.
Aug 31
2026
2026
All around the world, operator certification is growing in importance to make heavy equipment operations safer by imposing (minimum) standards on what you need to know and what you need do at the controls of real heavy equipment such as forklifts (powered industrial trucks). Think about cars. When you “know (...)
Aug 8
2026
2026
Employers everywhere are struggling to “find” operators for their heavy equipment to replace the people who are retiring or moving away, and to add new people to operate the new equipment that you’re adding to your fleet. And that’s why this ought to sound familiar: “It’s hard to find operators. We’ll (...)
Jun 12
2026
2026
Operator training is the foundation of forklift safety [1]. And whether you’re working with lift trucks or any other kind of heavy equipment, being safe “means” no incidents, no accidents. And that’s why a good equipment operator is always, first and foremost, a safe equipment operator. The fact is, for every $1 spent (...)
May 1
2026
2026
Starting with the “Link Trainer” back in 1929, motion has been an important part of simulation to help train pilots to fly airplanes. And that’s why a “Full Flight Simulator” is equipped with a motion base that moves in all directions, to create sufficient realism. Nonetheless, many years of (military) (...)
Mar 31
2026
2026
Time was, it took real strength to operate the controls in the cabs of heavy equipment. But with everything computerized these days, anyone with two hands and two feet (and eyes and ears) can do just fine, male or female, big or small.