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Constructive criticism is always welcome, but treat others, and me as you would want to be treated, and we'll all get along just fine.

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As mentioned above, this is not a racing game, and you shouldn't treat it as such. You're simulating the life of a trucker, so you'll need to think like one, and learn some basic trucking Do's & Don'ts.

When you have money to spare (Gas & Repairs), take some time out to explore the map. This sim has a lot of detailed features, and sights to see. So take a break, and reward yourself with a little tour.

Also, everyone likes a smooth operator. This goes for you truckers too. Learn how to maneuver your truck smoothly. Accelerating, stopping, and turning smoothly is essential to any trucker, the company you work for, the owners of the product you're transporting, and others that you share the highways, and roads with.

* The game is not going to teach you every single aspect about trucking, nor is it intended to, but it does give you a lot of the basics for picking up a load, and going from point A to point B, minus the paperwork, and other mishaps that can happen along the way. So I made this little guide to reflect the game, and my own experience.

This isn't ETS 2. There is no US Law (Federal, State, or Local), that requires a governor/speed limiter on our trucks. While some company's may require it, it's not the law according to the US Dep't of Transportation. State, and Local Authorities, don't have jurisdiction over the US DOT. Also, in real life, they can not fine you for a DOT offense unless they are part of Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE), which ultimately answers to the DOT. I've seen a lot of this misinformation going around on the forum by, "Wannabe Lawyers/Truckers." It's just not true.

It's your company. You decide as to whether you want a limiter or not. As a owner/operator for Mayflower, I didn't have a limiter, and the company back then didn't require one, nor did my or their insurance carrier. Allied, JB Hunt, National, Schneider, United (and many others) also have their fair share of owner/operators that didn't require a limiter either.

Owners of trucks tend to be more responsible drivers. Why... because it's their investment they are protecting. Trucks can cost as much as some homes. Wouldn't you take care of, and protect your home?

I was a real life 'OTR Trucker' for Mayflower (Electronics Division), in the 80's & 90's. I was trained, and obtained my CDL through them. This was a 6 week hands on training. Due to the high value of the equipment hauled, you had to have a perfect driving record to be in this division.

I owned my own truck. So I speak from experience here, and I'll explain things in laymen terms. Take it for what it's worth. OTR means 'Over the Road' trucker, not a local trucker. I've been from one end of the US, to the other, and owned my own Kenworth W900, at the cost of $154K. Back in the day I made 6-8% of my total haul (depending on what I was carrying), which was typically no less than $175K of electronics. I'll let you do the math.

These are in alphabetical order. It's only what I could come up with at the time.

While backing up, you must remember that turning the wheel right, will make your trailer swing left, and turning left, will make your trailer swing right. Again, as in turning on the roads, don't over compensate. Small adjustments work better than wildly turning the wheel out of frustration, impatience or panic. Practice it, and remember it. Watch it yourself, and see (see backing up tips below).

Learn to come to a smooth stop by just coasting, and tapping on the brakes, and not slam on them at every yield, stop sign, or red light. This will save you tons of money in the game. You need to learn this with your truck going up, and down hills. It's not as hard as you may think with practice. The engine break is also a useful tool. Learn how to manage it effectively.

When it's inclement weather, or going downhill... I suggest that you go 10+ MPH lower than the posted speed limit. Especially when traveling on those winding curves. You'll thank me later. Should you live. Also, don't forget to turn on your headlights.

Stop looking at the scenery. You're not out with the family on vacation. Do that when you become familiar with your truck, and surroundings. Pay attention to signs, speed limits, and what the traffic is doing. If you start seeing brake lights, then heed their warnings. You're a professional trucker, and are suppose to see what others don't.

Don't think that just because you can, you're immune from fault. Look before you leap, and turn your right signal on. Some company's don't allow 'Right on Red' but you can abide by city/state laws. You are required to know these laws, and obey posted signs. If you can make that right turn without disrupting the flow of traffic, then do so if that city/state allows you to. Some signs will say 'Except Trucks' but I haven't seen one in this game.

Also, remember that some cities, like Boston, Chicago, New York & Philly don't allow that. At least not when I was driving. Right on red is ONLY when posted, but I'm getting ahead of myself. I'm hoping that SCS takes that into consideration when we get those DLC's, and not think that the entire US is based upon Arizona, California, and Nevada.

When I was trucking, you had to stop at every train crossing, whether there's a train, or not. Especially HazMat trucks. It's the law. Remember it! Although I'm guilty of just slowly rolling past them many times, but only with a good field of vision. However, I can't count how many times those R/R Crossing lights, or gates weren't working. Especially in isolated areas.

WARNING:
The game puts up a wall at the very moment the crossing lights are activated. Be careful, and watch your speed when approaching these crossings.

When I was driving, the law stated that truckers must have their headlights on during inclement weather, tunnels, and from Sunset to Sunrise. Running lights/parking lights don't count.

My advice for the game... leave you headlights on at all times. At least until you can confidently remember to do this.

These American trucks are big, and have a large turn radius. So if you're coming from ETS 2, with those short cab-over trucks, you'll have to adjust yourself for these big boys. Not to mention your load weight, and speed factor. So adjust accordingly. Don't over compensate. Many run into trouble here. Remember, just because your cab is going to make it nicely while turning at intersections, does not mean your trailer will.

When turning at highway speeds, learn to hug the outside of your lane in the turn to keep your trailer from drifting out of your lane. You'll need to get use to using your hood as a marker on the roads when traveling. Pick a spot that helps you know you're in lane while going straight, then pick key spots with the hood that lets you know you're in lane while turning on curves. Left, and right are not the same, so adjust accordingly.

You will become use to all of this as you drive. Your forward part of the trailer will essentially follow your cabs rear wheels in a turn, so watch your trailer when turning, and make adjustments, because the rear of your trailer won't follow in the same manner. Even worse if it's a long trailer. Learn to swing out appropriately with your cab, and ease into the turn slightly turning the wheel as needed. It sounds hard, but will become easy as you go. Practice this a lot.

Learn to use them. That's what they're there for. Truckers especially, have to use them for everything. When turning from side-streets/avenues approaching an intersection, depot, or lot, you should let drivers know about 2/3 of the block, and 1/4 of a mile approaching an off-ramp from the interstate/highway.

Do not turn off your turn signal until the rear of your trailer is in the same lane as your cab.

My rule of thumb is: If I can clearly see the road, or lot as to where I need to go, then that's the time I turn my signal on.

Always, always, ALWAYS, keep your eyes on your trailer. It is a part of your truck, but most importantly... it's your money maker. If you watch your trailer while driving, loading, and unloading, then 80% of your problems won't happen.

Pay particular attention to the ones listed below. They're there for a reason.

Yellow Speed Limit Signs are typically posted before a curve are meant for truckers or large RV's/Trailers. Just because the speed limit may be 70, this doesn't mean your Truck/Trailer can whip into that curve doing 70.

Orange Signs are typically posted for Road Construction/Maintenance. Slow down.

White Speed Limit Signs with Top & Bottom speeds are for Cars (top) & Truckers (bottom).

I recommend that you create a profile, and call it something unique to you. This way you can take some time learning about what your truck can, and can not do. This is where you don't have to worry about messing up. Save if you like, and restart if need be. There's nothing wrong with that. We've all started somewhere.

When you first start the game, you already have a load. For this load, you have oodles of time (5-6 hours I think) to drive around your city, and experiment with your truck before you have to deliver your load. Take advantage of this. The game time moves a lot slower in cities, as you're driving at slower speeds. Take some time on those two lane streets, and practice turning, and braking.

After you've had some fun, and delivered your default load, pick up some short load destinations. You'll get accustomed to driving your truck this way. Once you're done, and feel confident in driving your truck, then create another profile with whatever name you see fit, and begin your career.

In the game I'm doing about 60-65 MPH when 70 is the posted speed limit. So don't listen to those that tell you you'll get a ticket in the game. It's simply not true. I've been using this mode since I started ATS.

This doesn't mean you can fly around sharp curves like a car at the posted speed limit. So use your common sense, and drive like it's your own truck, because it is, according to this game. All your truck repair expenses will depend upon YOUR driving habits.

If you're a brake-slamming, curb-jumping, guardrail-cleaning, pole checking type of trucker... then expect to incur some steep repair expenses.

Also, if you're the impatient type of person that can't handle some of the more precise maneuvers a trucker must do on a regular basis, then perhaps this sim isn't for you. You have to pick up your load, and deliver it. At some point there are going to be difficult, and tight situations that will require your utmost attention. Experience & Patience is the only way around it.

Driving a truck is not the same as driving your car for a family outing. You're now a 'Professional OTR Trucker' and you have to act, and think as such. You've got to have your eyes everywhere. Your cab, your trailer, and the road. You need to see things before they happen. Learn to anticipate the traffic situation. Learn what your truck is capable of, and most importantly, what it is not. It takes experience, and there is no other teacher for this.

Stop being in such a hurry. Don't chase lights... you'll lose more than you'll win, and the ones you lose are costly. There is no load worth wrecking, because you thought you wouldn't make it on time. Never, in all my time trucking did I ever have a flat time to be somewhere. Not even in this games "Just In Time" deliveries, did I ever have to rush, and drive like the Crew, or GTA. Get out of that habit.

As said earlier, if you plan your trip correctly, and start with a fueled, repaired truck, and rested body, then there's no trip you can't do on time. So if you wreck your load, and/or truck by driving like a maniac, then tilt your mirrors toward you, and the person you see, is the one to blame, and no one else.

Remember, this is traveling without a load (AKA, Dead-Heading), and accelerating/braking are much more quicker. Therefore, you have to be a little easier on the pedals. I suggest you bob-tail for a while when you get your own truck, and have the money to spare for gas/repairs. You need to get a feel for your truck without a load. It's a big difference.

When changing lanes in general, you are to keep your signal on until your trailer is completely in the lane your cab is in. This is because while your cab is in lane, your trailer isn't, and the driver behind you doesn't know what your intensions are.

There's no penalty in the game, but you are not allowed to change lanes in an intersection.
When turning in the intersection, you should end up being in the same lane you started from. Turning left, stay in left. Turning right, stay in right. You'll soon find out why if you keep drifting into other lanes.

One exception to this rule is when your next turn is a very short distance from where you're turning from that you can extend to that lane. Just be sure you check your mirrors, and you can do so safely.

Learn to swing your cab wide while making hard 90 degree turns, or your trailer will ride the curb, knock down poles, traffic lights, hit cars/pedestrians, or even swing on to on-coming traffic with a left-hand turn. Especially those narrow two lane roads, and even more if you have a long trailer.

When following other trucks, keep your distance. Your vision here is limited. Be prepared to stop, maneuver when need be, and see the road ahead. I like to be about two trucks or more behind on the highways.

For goodness sake, use them. Each one has a different function, for different situations. Learn how to adjust, and use them to your advantage. Entering highways, I liked using the hood, and lower-left mirrors. You get a great view if you set them up properly.

I've seen many drivers drift out, especially on curves. Don't be one of them. As with the mirrors above, also use your hood as key points to tell you you're in lane. A drifting trailer/truck, is a dangerous one!!

If you see a fellow trucker trying to get on the highway, and safety permits, slow down a bit, and/or change lanes to allow them access. Give them a blink with your headlights to let them know it's OK to enter. This was done hundreds of times for me, and I always returned the favor.

Once you play this sim, and drive responsibly, as if you were really in a truck, and take heed to all the advice given here, then you should have no issues. If you still have issues in certain areas, then keep practicing them until you get it right. This is really not that hard, so don't make it so.

So if you have a desire of being a real trucker, then practice these Trucking Rules & Tips.

For those that don't know it, your trailer, and cab don't have to be perfectly straight to activate the unload mechanism in the game. I've 'L' parked dozens of times in this game, and in real life. All that matters is that your trailer is where it needs to be. Not your cab.

If you favor a mirror, or eye more than the other, then use it to align your truck to hookup, or drop your load. Every trucker has a favorite line-of-site, and there's nothing wrong with it. Just remember to glance at your other mirror to make sure you don't hit something, or someone.

Haste Makes Waste. If you've planned your route correctly, with rest, and fuel stops, then there should never be a reason to panic, and drive like a nut. Calm your butt down. Even on those 'Just In Time' loads, I've never had to resort to that kind of driving.

Know where you are, and where you have to go. Then plan your rest, and refueling stops. This gets easier as you purchase your own truck, and get a bigger fuel tank. Nothing is worse than finding out that you're so close to your destination, and you're almost empty on fuel, or too tired to continue, without those services close by.

Since the update for the larger map scale, the 'Route Planner' becomes even more important.

Treat this as a construction area. Slow down before you hit the city limits, then maintain 30 MPH. In my opinion, you get plenty of warnings. IE: Small green City Limit signs, traffic, more buildings, and brake lights galore.

When you see construction ahead, you can expect the speed limit to drop to 35 MPH, or less. Be ready for it. Most of the time, you can see those flashing yellow lights, or orange warning signs long in advance, IF you're paying attention.

For game purposes, if you put on your 'Hazard Flashers' the traffic behind you will keep their distance, making this a good chance to get on some of those crowded highways. Your left signal will work too, but it takes longer. Riding the shoulder of the road inching your way in with your signal on, also works for the game. Again, that also takes longer, and you could run into Smokey if you're not paying attention.

Also remember to watch those vehicles trying to come onto the highway. Just be alert, and know they're there. They may try to overtake you. Be prepared to take evasive action.

Trying to get out of a depot, hotel, garage, Etc? Turn your 'Hazard Flashers' on. This will hold up traffic. Proceed slowly if you have to cross lanes, and make sure you have enough clearance to turn your trailer.

However, if you still want to do it the truckers way, then just put on your signal, and inch your nose out. Eventually the traffic will yield for you. Then move out once you're sure you have the clearance, and keep your eyes on your trailer. I know I keep saying that, but constantly looking at your trailer is an essential part of a truckers life. No trailer, no money. No money, no honey.

You can't do anything about the cars directly in front of you, but when it's finally your turn... creep up turning left, and you'll find that the traffic will eventually yield to you. If not, then wait for the yellow light while in the intersection, and you'll be able to complete the turn without a fine.

Always refuel, repair your truck, then Rest, and Save, BEFORE you select a load within your city. This way you'll get the most out of your trip. The simulator has waypoints. Use them. I like to set them a little bit more than the halfway point of the trip where I can find gas, and rest areas close together. This seems to work for me, and gives you that little extra fuel, and time, that can be so precious in the end.

I also tend to stay around 5 MPH under the posted speed limit depending on where I am, and the weather conditions. It saves gas, and you should still make it on time. It hasn't failed me yet.

This guide may prove useful to some of you Here. I also advise this vid. He walks you through it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9MD8cDQ-K8
If you find yourself on an uphill, and have to stop... the easiest way to get up that hill is to keep your foot on the brake, stay in gear, and release the brakes when the car ahead gives you room. Then increase your speed slowly. Doing this stops you from rolling back, and hitting the car behind you.

If you still find yourself rolling back, or your engine cuts off... DON'T PANIC! Just apply the brakes, restart the engine, and repeat the process. Practice this. You'll see that it works.

18 Spd Eaton Fuller Shift Pattern by VWStickman
Road Signs by: TomZeBomb