CM Labs Simulations, Inc. has added a new bucket truck simulation curriculum to its utility training portfolio, aiming to close a critical gap in operator preparation for one of the most frequently used and highest‑risk machines in line work.
CM Labs Simulations develops simulation‑based training systems for heavy equipment operations across construction, utilities, ports, industrial sectors, education, forestry, corrections, and defense. Its Intellia Workforce Training System integrates high‑fidelity simulators, curriculum, training management software, and expert services into a single physics‑based platform. With more than 2,000 training system installations in over 50 countries, CM Labs supports organizations seeking to accelerate operator readiness and reduce operational risk.
The company said the curriculum is now available to utilities, contractors, unions, and training institutions.
Developed in collaboration with Altec, the program is the first simulation‑based training offering of its kind for bucket truck operations. It is delivered through the Intellia Workforce Training System, CM Labs’ integrated platform for simulation, curriculum, and training management.
According to the company, the curriculum provides a structured progression that moves trainees from basic controls to more advanced tasks such as outrigger positioning, navigating tight work zones, and performing jib‑assisted lifts. The system incorporates authentic Altec ISO‑Grip controls to help operators build familiarity with the same interface used on real equipment.
“This is an exciting step forward for utility training,” said Lisa Barbieri, Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships at CM Labs. “Line work is among the most dangerous occupations in the country, with electrical power-line workers facing high fatal injury rates. Training organizations have needed a stronger way to prepare operators before they encounter real-world risk. This curriculum helps close that gap with a structured, measurable path to readiness.”
Training organizations manage the curriculum through Intellia Instructor, CM Labs’ training management tool. Instructors can guide learning paths, monitor sessions in real time, introduce equipment or environmental faults, adjust weather conditions, and evaluate performance using objective metrics across multiple simulators. Built‑in reporting tools document trainee progress and provide clear records of training activity across crews and locations.
“Bucket trucks are essential to the work line crews do every day, but some of the most critical skills are also the hardest to practice safely and consistently,” stated Devon Van de Kletersteeg, Product Growth Manager at CM Labs. “Operators need to learn how to position the truck properly, manage unstable ground conditions, avoid contact with live wires, and work confidently in complex field conditions. This curriculum gives training programs a way to build, evaluate, and document those skills without relying solely on access to real trucks.”
The new curriculum extends CM Labs’ broader utility simulation lineup, which includes training for overhead and underground equipment such as the digger derrick, mini excavator, and horizontal directional drill. The company says the combined portfolio gives utilities a connected system for building workforce readiness at scale.
For more information, visit www.cm-labs.com.