Luna Community College’s Contract Education Department has purchased two CDL and five heavy equipment simulators. The simulators’ value is over $500,000.
Luna CDL administrator Tracy Morales says that the funding for the simulators came from state appropriations and the Wildfire Resiliency Training Center USDA grant.
The CDL simulators consist of Class A, Class B, and passenger training modules with the heavy equipment simulators having modules to teach excavator, skid steer, backhoe, grader, dozer, forwarder, harvester, and wheel loader.
“I think this puts Luna on the map for training cutting-edge technology in CDL and heavy equipment driving training,” says Morales.
Morales has been at Luna for nearly three years.
“We continue to graduate good quality people,” says Morales. “We have hired Tayari Pacheco full-time and he has a good background in both areas.” With the anticipated enrollment increase, the college looks to add several instructors.”
Morales says that the simulators will be used to train local communities.
“We will use it to train people in preparation, mitigation, and restoration for those affected by the wildfire,” says Morales. “Our goal with this department is to provide the latest in technology training. In general, these simulators are going to be a huge boost for this area. Luna has never offered something like this before.”
An open house has been tentatively scheduled for Friday, Aug. 16 at the college where community members will have an opportunity to learn more about the new simulators and the CDL and Heavy Equipment program.
For more information on Luna’s CDL or Heavy Equipment program, you may call 505-454-5308 or 505-454-2533. You may also email Morales at tmorales@luna.edu or cdl@luna.edu.
###
Luna’s Karen Wezwick demonstrates the CDL and Heavy Equipment simulator.
