If you are looking for a realistic and fun simulation game that lets you experience the thrill of driving a big rig across the USA, then you might want to check out American Truck Simulator. This game is not just about driving, but also about managing your own trucking company, exploring different states and regions, and delivering various types of cargo.
In this American truck simulator guide, I will show you how to get started with the game, how to master the basic controls and settings, how to choose a truck and a company, how to drive and deliver cargo, and how to explore and expand your business. Whether you are a beginner or a veteran, I hope you will find this guide useful and enjoyable.
What is American Truck Simulator?
ATS is a simulation game developed by SCS Software. It faithfully recreates the vast landscapes of the United States, complete with iconic cities, highways, and scenic routes. As a truck driver, your job is to transport goods across the country, earning money, experience, and reputation along the way.
The game currently covers 13 states: California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Texas (partially), and Kansas (partially). The developers plan to add more states in the future through DLCs. The game also features many landmarks and attractions that are recognizable to real-life locations.
Why is it Fun and Realistic?
- Realistic Driving Physics: ATS captures the feel of driving a massive truck, from the weight of the cargo to the handling on different road surfaces.
- Stunning Landscapes: The game has a realistic graphics engine that creates detailed environments and vehicles to make every journey visually rewarding.
- Relaxing Gameplay: ATS isn’t about speed; it’s about enjoying the journey, taking in the scenery, and listening to your favorite radio stations or your own music while driving.
- Career Progression: Start as a rookie driver and work your way up to owning your own trucking company.
- Sound Effects: The game also has realistic sound effects that capture the engine noises and ambient sounds.
Main Features and Modes
Before we dive into the details, let’s explore the key features for beginners in American truck simulator:
- Open World Map: Drive through California, Nevada, Arizona, and more. Each state has its own unique terrain and challenges.
- Job Market: Choose from various cargo delivery jobs, each with its own requirements and rewards.
- Freight Market: Accept contracts, pick up cargo, and deliver it to its destination.
- Customization: Personalize your truck with paint jobs, accessories, and engine upgrades.
- Skills and Experience: Gain experience points (XP) by completing jobs and unlock new skills.
Basic Controls and Settings
Before you hit the road, you need to familiarize yourself with the keyboard, mouse, and controller inputs for driving, parking, and navigating.
Controls
The PC game offers a lot of customization options for your input devices, so you can adjust them to your liking. You can also choose between automatic or manual transmission, simple or realistic parking, and various camera views.
Here are some of the most important keys and buttons you need to know:
- W/S: Accelerate/Brake
- A/D: Steer left/right
- E: Start/Stop engine
- Q: Turn left indicator
- E: Turn right indicator
- Space: Handbrake
- C: Change camera view
- F1: Open/close route advisor
- F5: Open/close GPS
- F6: Open/close cargo status
- F7: Call for assistance
- F9: Quick load
- F10: Take screenshot
- Esc: Pause menu
You can customize the controls in the options menu, where you can also adjust the graphics, sound, and gameplay settings. For example, you can change the difficulty level, the traffic rules, the damage system, the fatigue simulation, and more. You can also enable or disable mods and DLCs in the mod manager.
Graphics and Sound Settings
Besides the input devices, you also need to adjust the graphics, sound, and gameplay options to suit your preferences and system. The game offers a lot of settings to tweak, such as resolution, anti-aliasing, shadows, textures, traffic density, engine sounds, music volume, fatigue simulation, speed limits, fines, etc. You can experiment with different settings until you find the optimal balance between performance and quality.
Map, GPS, and Route Advisor
One of the most important features of the game is the map, GPS, and route advisor. To access the map, press M. The map shows you the entire road network of the game, as well as the cities, companies, dealerships, service stations, rest areas, weigh stations, gas stations, and other points of interest.
You can zoom in and out with the mouse wheel or the + and – keys. You can also set waypoints by clicking on the map. If you have a controller, you can use the analog sticks to steer and look around, and the buttons to perform various actions.
The GPS is a small device on your dashboard that shows you the direction and distance to your destination. It also warns you of speed limits, traffic lights, speed cameras, etc.
The route advisor is a panel that displays various information about your truck, cargo, job, time, money, etc. You can toggle between different screens by pressing F1. The route advisor is a useful tool that gives you information about your trip, such as:
– The distance and time remaining
– The speed limit and your current speed
– The fuel level and consumption
– The damage level and repair cost
– The cargo weight and value
– The fines and penalties
You can switch between different screens of the route advisor by pressing F3 or F4.
Choosing a Truck and a Company
One of the most important decisions you have to make in American Truck Simulator is choosing your truck and your company.
Truck Brands and Customization
There are several brands and models of trucks available in the game, such as:
- Freightliner
- International
- Kenworth
- Mack
- Peterbilt
- Volvo
- Western Star
Each truck has its own specifications, performance, and appearance. You can customize your truck with various parts and accessories, such as:
- Engines
- Transmissions
- Chassis
- Cabins
- Paint jobs
- Wheels
- Lights
- Bumpers
- Horns
- Mirrors
- Exhausts
Buying vs. Leasing
You can buy or lease trucks from dealerships located in different cities.
- Buying: To buy a truck, you need to have enough money and a garage. However, you should also be aware that you will have to cover the expenses of keeping it in good condition i.e. maintenance costs.
- Leasing: To lease a truck, you need to pay a down payment and a daily fee, but maintenance is covered by the company itself.
In general, leasing a truck is cheaper in the short term, but buying a truck is more profitable in the long term.
Starting Your Career
You can choose to start your own company or work as a hired driver for other companies. Here are some details on how to do both.
Starting your own company
- To start your own company, you need to buy a truck and a garage. You can buy a truck from any of the dealerships located in different cities. You can also customize your truck with various parts and accessories.
- To buy a garage, you need to visit a city and look for a property icon on the map. You can buy a small garage for $180,000 or upgrade it later to fit more trucks and drivers.
- Once you have a truck and a garage, you can start taking jobs from the freight market or the cargo market. The freight market offers pre-loaded trailers that you can pick up and deliver, while the cargo market lets you choose your own trailer and cargo from a list of options.
- As you complete jobs, you will earn money and experience points. You can use the money to buy more trucks, hire drivers, upgrade your garage, or pay off loans. You can use the experience points to unlock new skills and perks that will improve your performance and income.
- As your company grows, you will be able to expand your business to other states and regions. You will also be able to access more types of cargo, trailers, and contracts.
Working as a hired driver
- If you don’t want to start your own company, you can work as a hired driver for other companies. You can do this by choosing the quick job option from the job market menu.
- The quick job option will show you a list of available jobs from different companies. You can filter the jobs by destination, cargo type, or company name. You can also sort the jobs by price per distance, urgency, or route length.
- Once you select a job, you will be teleported to the location of the truck and trailer that you will use for the job. You don’t have to worry about buying or maintaining the truck, as it is provided by the company.
- Your task is to deliver the cargo safely and on time to the destination. You will be paid by the company based on the distance traveled, the cargo type, and the difficulty level of the job. You will also earn experience points that you can use to unlock new skills and perks.
- Working as a hired driver is a good way to earn money and experience without investing in your own truck or garage. However, you will have less freedom and control over your jobs and routes.
Driving and Delivering Cargo
The core gameplay of American Truck Simulator is driving and delivering cargo.
Cargo Types and Contracts
You can choose from different types of cargo, trailers, and contracts in the game, such as:
- Standard: These are regular contracts that require you to deliver cargo from one location to another within a given time limit.
- Urgent: These are time-sensitive contracts that require you to deliver cargo as fast as possible without damaging it.
- Fragile: These are high-risk contracts that require you to deliver cargo without any damage or accidents.
- Heavy: These are challenging contracts that require you to deliver heavy or oversized cargo with special trailers.
- Special Transport: These are unique contracts that require you to deliver special cargo with escort vehicles and traffic restrictions.
- Cargo Market: These are flexible contracts that allow you to choose your own cargo and trailer from various locations.
- External Contracts: These are online contracts that sync with World of Trucks, an online platform that connects players from around the world.
Loading and Unloading
You can transport anything from food and beverages to machinery and chemicals. To accept a contract, go to the job market or the cargo market and select one that suits your preferences and skills. You will see the details of the contract, such as:
– The cargo type and weight
– The trailer type and length
– The origin and destination
– The deadline and reward
– The damage and penalty
To start the contract, go to the pickup location and press T to hook the trailer. To end the contract, go to the delivery location and press T to unhook the trailer. You can also press Enter to load or unload the cargo manually.
You can also choose between different types of trailers, such as flatbeds, reefers, tankers, lowboys, etc., which require different skills and techniques to handle.
Safe Driving Practices
During the contract, you have to follow the traffic rules and regulations of each state in the U.S., such as:
– The speed limits and signs
– The traffic lights and signals
– The lane markings and directions
– The weigh stations and toll booths
– The rest areas and gas stations
You also have to drive safely, efficiently, and legally on the roads, such as:
– Avoiding collisions and accidents
– Avoiding damage and repairs
– Avoiding fines and penalties
– Maintaining fuel and fatigue levels
– Using turn signals and headlights
– Using mirrors and blind spots
– Using cruise control and retarder
Exploring and Expanding
American Truck Simulator is not only a simulation game, but also an exploration game. The game also has a dynamic weather system that changes the road conditions and visibility. ATS also has a day-night cycle that affects the lighting and traffic density.
Scenic Routes and Locations
One of the best parts of playing American Truck Simulator is discovering the amazing variety of routes and locations that the game offers. You will never get bored of driving across the country, as each state has its own unique features and attractions. Some of the most scenic and memorable routes in the game include:
– The Pacific Coast Highway: This iconic road stretches along the western coast of California, offering stunning views of the ocean, cliffs, and beaches. You will also pass by famous landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Santa Monica Pier, and Big Sur.
– The Grand Canyon: This natural wonder is one of the most visited destinations in America, and for good reason. You will be awed by the sheer size and depth of this canyon, carved by the Colorado River over millions of years. You will also see some of the wildlife and vegetation that inhabit this arid region.
– The Rocky Mountains: This mountain range spans several states, including Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana. You will encounter some of the highest and most rugged peaks in North America, as well as some of the most diverse and colorful landscapes. You will also face some of the most challenging roads and weather conditions in the game, such as steep grades, narrow curves, snow, and ice.
– The Oregon Trail: This historic route was used by thousands of pioneers who migrated westward in the 19th century. You will follow their footsteps and experience some of the hardships and dangers they faced along the way. You will also see some of the landmarks and monuments that commemorate their journey, such as Independence Rock, Fort Laramie, and Chimney Rock.
You can explore different states, cities, landmarks, and scenery in the game, such as:
- California: The Golden State, known for its diverse landscape, culture, and economy.
- Nevada: The Silver State, known for its desert, gambling, and entertainment.
- Arizona: The Grand Canyon State, known for its natural wonders, history, and wildlife.
- New Mexico: The Land of Enchantment, known for its art, cuisine, and heritage.
- Oregon: The Beaver State, known for its greenery, coast, and industry.
- Washington: The Evergreen State, known for its mountains, forests, and technology.
- Utah: The Beehive State, known for its rocks, parks, and religion.
- Idaho: The Gem State, known for its potatoes, agriculture, and wilderness.
- Colorado: The Centennial State, known for its peaks, slopes, and cannabis.
- Wyoming: The Equality State, known for its plains, ranches, and fossils.
Each state has its own unique features and challenges. For example:
– California has strict emission regulations and high traffic density.
– Nevada has high speed limits and low fuel prices.
– Arizona has extreme heat and dust storms.
– New Mexico has low bridges and narrow roads.
– Oregon has steep hills and rainy weather.
– Washington has ferries and border crossings.
– Utah has salt flats and canyons.
– Idaho has logging roads and wildlife crossings.
– Colorado has snow chains and avalanches.
– Wyoming has strong winds and road closures.
Skill Development
You can also expand your skills, licenses, and achievements in the game. For example:
You can unlock new skills by leveling up your driver profile. Skills allow you to access more types of cargo, trailers, and contracts. Skills include:
– Long distance: Increases the maximum distance of your contracts.
– High value cargo: Increases the reward of your contracts with valuable cargo.
– Fragile cargo: Increases the reward of your contracts with fragile cargo.
– Just-in-time delivery: Increases the reward of your contracts with tight deadlines.
– Fuel economy: Decreases the fuel consumption of your truck.
– ADR: Allows you to transport hazardous materials with special trailers.
– Eco driving: Decreases the wear and tear of your truck.
You can unlock new licenses by completing special transport contracts. Licenses allow you to access more states, cities, and routes. Licenses include:
– California license: Allows you to drive in California.
– Nevada license: Allows you to drive in Nevada.
– Arizona license: Allows you to drive in Arizona.
– New Mexico license: Allows you to drive in New Mexico.
– Oregon license: Allows you to drive in Oregon.
– Washington license: Allows you to drive in Washington.
– Utah license: Allows you to drive in Utah.
– Idaho license: Allows you to drive in Idaho.
– Colorado license: Allows you to drive in Colorado.
– Wyoming license: Allows you to drive in Wyoming.
You can unlock new achievements by completing various tasks and challenges in the game. Achievements are a way of tracking your progress and rewarding your efforts. Achievements include:
– Truck Collector: Own five trucks of different brands.
– Successful Employer: Hire one hundred drivers for your company.
– Coast to Coast: Drive from San Francisco to New York City in one contract.
– Sightseer: Discover every city in the game.
– Route 66: Drive along the historic Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles.
Company Growth
You can also expand your company, hire drivers, buy garages, and manage finances in the game. For example: you can expand your company by buying or upgrading garages in different cities. Garages allow you to store more trucks and hire more drivers. Garages have three sizes:
– Small garages can store up to two trucks and cost $180,000 to buy or $100,000 to upgrade from a purchased plot of land.
– Medium garages can store up to three trucks and cost $300,000 to buy or $200,000 to upgrade from a small garage.
– Large garages can store up to five trucks and cost $500,000 to buy or $400,000 to upgrade from a medium garage.
You can hire drivers from the recruitment agency or online. Drivers have different skills and ratings that affect their performance and income. You can assign drivers to any available truck in your garage and set their preferred routes. You can also train drivers to improve their skills and ratings.
You can buy trucks from the truck dealers or online. Trucks have different specifications and prices that affect their speed, fuel consumption, durability, and maintenance costs. You can customize your trucks with various accessories and paint jobs. You can also repair and upgrade your trucks at the service stations.
You can manage your finances from the bank or the company manager. You can take loans from the bank to buy trucks, garages, or accessories. You can also repay loans or adjust the interest rate and duration. You can view your company’s balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement from the company manager. You can also see your company’s reputation, market share, and ranking among other companies.
How to Download
Steam Download: To purchase and download the original game from your Steam account and support the game developers, just click on the button below and you will be redirected to the original Steam website where you can get the game directly to your Steam account.
Free Download: You can test out a game before deciding on purchasing it. To download and play the pre-installed game, just click on the button below and you will be redirected to another partner website. Pre-installed means that the game is already installed for you, so you don’t have to do it yourself. This means all you need to do is download the .zip file, extract it, and play. That’s it!
Conclusions
In conclusion, American Truck Simulator is a game that offers a lot of fun and excitement for anyone who loves driving, exploring, and customizing trucks. You can travel across different states, see realistic landmarks, and deliver various cargoes. You can also upgrade your truck, buy new ones, and hire drivers to expand your business. American Truck Simulator is a game that lets you experience the thrill of being a trucker in a vast and beautiful country.
FAQs
How do you start driving in American Truck Simulator?
To start driving in American Truck Simulator, you need to follow these steps:
- Choose your preferred control method, such as keyboard, mouse, controller, or wheel.
- Complete the tutorial to learn the basics of driving, parking, and delivering cargo.
- Select a quick job from the job market to earn money and experience.
- Customize your truck and trailer with different parts, colors, and accessories.
- Explore the map and discover new cities, roads, and landmarks.
- Manage your own trucking company and hire drivers, buy garages, and expand your fleet.
Is American Truck Simulator good for learning to drive?
American Truck Simulator is a simulation game that can help you learn some aspects of driving, such as road signs, traffic rules, steering, parking, and delivering cargo.
However, it is not a substitute for real driving lessons, as it does not fully replicate the physics, feedback, and unpredictability of driving in real life. You will still need to practice driving with a real instructor and a real vehicle to get your driver’s license and drive safely on the road.
American Truck Simulator can be a fun and educational game, but it is not a realistic or comprehensive way to learn how to drive.
How do you get successful on American Truck Simulator?
To get successful on this game, you need to follow some tips and tricks that can help you improve your skills and earn more money. Here are some of them:
- Choose the right truck for your needs. There are different types of trucks in the game, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. You should consider factors such as speed, fuel efficiency, cargo capacity, maneuverability, and maintenance costs when buying or upgrading your truck.
- Plan your routes carefully. You should always check the map and the GPS before starting a delivery. You should avoid roads that are too narrow, steep, or congested, as they can cause accidents or delays. You should also pay attention to the weather and traffic conditions, as they can affect your driving performance and fuel consumption.
- Follow the traffic rules and regulations. You should always obey the speed limits, traffic lights, signs, and signals in the game. You should also respect other drivers and vehicles on the road, and avoid collisions or violations. If you break the rules, you will get fined or penalized by the authorities, which will reduce your income and reputation.
- Manage your time and fatigue. You should always keep an eye on your clock and your sleep meter in the game. You should not drive for too long without resting, as this will make you tired and prone to mistakes. You should also avoid taking jobs that are too far or too urgent, as they can stress you out and make you rush. You should balance your work and rest schedules, and find suitable places to park and sleep when needed.
- Upgrade your skills and reputation. You should always try to improve your driving abilities and your business reputation in the game. You can do this by completing jobs on time and without damage, delivering special cargoes, exploring new roads and locations, and joining online events and competitions. You can also invest in skill points that can unlock new types of jobs, cargoes, and bonuses. As you progress in the game, you will get access to more opportunities and rewards.
Is American Truck Simulator worth it without a wheel?
If you're a fan of driving games, you might be wondering if American Truck Simulator is worth it without a wheel. The answer is yes, but there are some drawbacks. American Truck Simulator is a realistic and immersive simulation of trucking across the US, with beautiful scenery, dynamic weather, and a variety of cargo and routes.
However, it also requires a lot of skill and patience, especially when it comes to parking, reversing, and navigating tight spaces. A wheel can make these tasks easier and more enjoyable, as well as adding to the immersion factor.
But that doesn't mean you can't play without one. You can still use a keyboard and mouse, a controller, or even a joystick to control your truck. You just need to adjust the settings and sensitivity to your preference, and practice a lot.
How do I choose and customize my truck?
When you first launch the game, you will be asked to create your profile and select your preferred truck brand, such as Peterbilt, Kenworth, Volvo, or Mack. You can also choose your starting city, your preferred control method, and your preferred unit of measurement.
After that, you will be taken to the tutorial, where you will learn the basics of driving, parking, and delivering cargo. Once you complete the tutorial, you will be able to access the job market and the truck dealer. The job market allows you to select a quick job, where you use a rental truck to earn money and experience.
The truck dealer allows you to buy your own truck, which you can customize with different parts, colors, and accessories. To buy your own truck, you will need at least $100,000, which you can earn by doing quick jobs or by taking out a loan from the bank.
How do I select and complete a job?
To select a job, you can either go to the job market or use the freight market. The job market shows you a list of available quick jobs, which are sorted by different criteria, such as route length, cargo weight, or payment. The freight market shows you a map of the USA, where you can see the locations of different cargo depots and the types of cargo they offer.
You can also filter the cargo by weight, price, or urgency. To select a job, you simply click on the cargo icon and confirm your choice. You will then be teleported to the cargo depot, where you can attach your trailer and start your journey.
To complete a job, you need to deliver the cargo to the destination depot within the given time limit and without damaging the cargo or the truck. You will also need to follow the traffic rules, such as speed limits, traffic lights, and turn signals, or you will risk getting fined by the police.
When you arrive at the destination depot, you will have the option to park the trailer manually or automatically. Parking manually will give you more experience points, but it is also more challenging. After you park the trailer, you will see a summary of your job performance, including the distance traveled, the fuel consumed, the money earned, and the experience gained.
