When you launch ETS2 for the first time, you don’t own a truck yet. The best way to begin is by taking Quick Jobs. These let you drive trucks owned by other companies. You don’t pay for fuel, tolls, or repairs. It’s the safest way to build starting capital and gain experience without any risk.

Keep doing Quick Jobs until you reach Level 2–3 and have enough money or bank access to expand. This phase teaches you the basics: how trucks handle, how the economy works, and how long hauls differ from short trips.

Once you unlock the bank, you’ll see two loan options: €100k and €400k.
Skip the €100k, it’s not enough to set up properly. The €400k loan is the one you want. With it, you can buy your first truck and still have money left for expansions.

Which truck should you buy?
Don’t blow money on a fancy, high-end truck right away. Go for something affordable and reliable, like a used Iveco Stralis or Renault Premium. They’re cheap, sturdy, and good enough until you start generating steady income.

Owning one truck means you’re still doing all the work yourself. The real money comes when you hire drivers to work for you.

Here’s how to do it:

• Use the bank loan to buy 2 trucks (yours + one for a hired driver).
  
• Upgrade your starter garage so it can fit more trucks.
  
• Hire drivers from the recruitment agency. Don’t stress too much about their starting stats drivers improve over time.

At this stage, you’ll notice something important: while you’re out driving, your hired driver is also making money. This is the first step toward passive income.

Once you have your first hired driver working, the game becomes a cycle:

• Earn money from jobs.
  
• Buy another truck.
  
• Hire another driver.
  
• Expand your garage when it’s full.

This loop turns your single-truck operation into a fleet. The bigger your team, the more money rolls in, even while you’re offline (if you park and rest, drivers still complete jobs).

Pro tip: Don’t overextend with loans. Repay them steadily, but keep expanding as long as your drivers’ income covers the repayments.

When you own your first trailer, you get more control over jobs. But here’s the truth: owning a trailer doesn’t instantly make you rich. Freight Market jobs (where companies provide the trailer) often pay better early on.

So when should you buy trailers?

• Once you’re financially stable and want consistent control over the kind of cargo you haul.
  
• Specialized trailers (like refrigerated or flatbeds) open higher-paying contracts.
  
• If your drivers also use owned trailers, they’ll bring in more per job.

For maximum profit per kilometer, look for jobs over 250 miles and focus on High Value, Fragile, or ADR cargo once you unlock those skills.

Early game, stick with cheap used trucks just to get rolling. But as your company grows, reinvesting in stronger trucks pays off:

• More engine power = access to heavier, high-paying cargo.
  
• Newer trucks save fuel and reduce repair costs.
  
• Drivers in upgraded trucks complete jobs faster and earn more.
  
• Better reliability keeps long-distance jobs profitable.

Strategy: Start cheap, then upgrade steadily. Don’t buy the most expensive Scania right away aim for balanced trucks that unlock higher-value cargo and make your fleet more efficient.

Every level you gain gives you skill points. Spend them wisely, because they affect your income long term.

Recommended order:

• Long Distance: Unlocks longer, better-paying routes.
  
• High Value Cargo: Adds more lucrative jobs.
  
• Fragile Cargo: Boosts pay even further.
  
• Just-in-Time Delivery: Unlocks urgent and important jobs.
  
• ADR: Dangerous goods bring very high payouts later.

Your hired drivers also level up. Assign them the same skill order so they maximize their earnings.

Where you place garages matters. The first one is set in your chosen starting city, but as you expand, think about location.

Best early choices: Central cities like Berlin, Paris, or Vienna. These hubs connect to many routes, which means more job options for your drivers.

In the early game, it’s actually more cost-effective to buy new garages in different cities rather than upgrading your starter HQ. Here’s why: upgrading your starting garage costs the same as buying a new one, but your HQ always reserves one slot for you. That means an upgrade only gives you 2 new driver slots, while a brand-new garage gives you 3. So, prioritize buying new garages in central hubs first (Berlin, Paris, Vienna, etc.) and leave upgrading your starter garage for later once you’re cash-rich and looking to scale faster.

• Avoid crashes and speeding fines they eat into profits fast.
  
• Keep fuel in check: don’t overfill at expensive stations near borders.
  
• Rest properly fatigue simulation will force expensive fines if ignored.
  
• Don’t hoard cash reinvest in trucks, trailers, and garages.

Q: What is the fastest way to make money in ETS2?
A: Start with Quick Jobs until you unlock the €400k loan. Use it to buy two trucks (one for yourself, one for a hired driver). Hire drivers early, expand garages, and let them generate passive income while you keep driving.

Q: Do better trucks earn more money?
A: Yes. Upgraded trucks have more engine power, access to heavier cargo, and save on fuel/repairs. Drivers with better trucks finish jobs faster and bring in higher income.

Q: Should I buy trailers in ETS2?
A: Not right away. Freight Market jobs (where companies provide trailers) usually pay more early game. Buy your own trailers later for control and access to specialized, higher-paying cargo.

Q: Where is the best place to buy garages in ETS2?
A: Buy new garages first, since they give you 3 driver slots for the same price an HQ upgrade only gives you 2. Start with central hubs like Berlin, Paris, or Vienna. Upgrade your starter garage later when you’ve got extra cash.

Q: What skills should I level up first?
A: Long Distance → High Value → Fragile Cargo → Just-in-Time → ADR. This unlocks higher-paying jobs faster.

Q: How do I expand my company in ETS2?
A: Follow the growth loop: earn money → buy trucks → hire drivers → expand garages. Repeat until you run a full fleet across Europe.

Q: Can I run ETS2 like a real business?
A: Yes. Think of trucks as assets, drivers as employees, and garages as hubs. Reinvest profit into upgrades and expansion, and your revenue snowballs into millions.

Building a trucking empire in ETS2 isn’t about grinding the same job endlessly. It’s about making smart business decisions. Follow this roadmap and you’ll go from rookie driver to company boss, running one of the most profitable fleets in Europe.

Drive safe, manage smart, and happy trucking!




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