American Truck Simulator Starter Guide for Jobs, Skills, Garages, and Convoy

American Truck Simulator turns long-haul trucking into a business sim with wide roads, heavy cargo, and fewer real-world licensing headaches. The early hours can still feel a little scattered, especially before owning a truck, unlocking better jobs, and understanding where the money actually comes from.

Beginner Basics in American Truck Simulator

This starter guide covers the main systems new players meet first: jobs, trucks, skills, levels, garages, hired drivers, and Convoy multiplayer.

First Steps

At the beginning, the goal is simple: complete jobs until there is enough money to buy a first truck. A good target is at least $100,000.

The game provides a rented truck for early deliveries, so ownership is not required right away. Complete the first delivery to unlock Quick Jobs, which are contracts from different companies. These jobs pay money that can be saved toward a truck.

Buying the First Truck

Trucks, also called tractor units, become available once enough money has been earned through jobs. American Truck Simulator includes several models, such as:

• Freightliner Cascadia
• International 9900i
• International LT
• International LoneStar
• Kenworth T680
• Kenworth W900
• Mack Anthem
• Peterbilt 389
• Western Star 57X

Owning a truck also unlocks customization. Players can apply paint, decals, exterior upgrades, and cabin decorations like food and drinks. Practical? Not always. Important for vibes? Absolutely.

Understanding the Job Market

After buying a truck, more job types become available. American Truck Simulator divides work into five main categories:

• Quick Jobs: Drive as a hired contractor using the employer's truck. Cargo choices depend on current skills and XP level.
• Freight Market: Usually more profitable than Quick Jobs, but the player uses their own truck and covers costs tied to the trip.
• External Contracts: Similar to Freight Market jobs, with progress synced through a World of Trucks account.
• Cargo Market: Similar to Freight Market work, but the player must use their own trailer. Cargo damage lowers XP rewards.
• External Market: Jobs offered through World of Trucks players.

Skills and Progression

American Truck Simulator awards XP for completing tasks. Leveling up grants skill points, and many skills unlock higher-paying or more specialized contracts.

The core skill categories are:

• Hazardous Materials: Unlocks dangerous cargo, including dynamite and sulfuric acid.
• Long Distance: Opens longer delivery routes.
• High-Value Cargo: Adds valuable loads such as cars and yachts.
• Fragile Cargo: Unlocks delicate freight, including glass and electronics.
• Just-in-Time Delivery: Adds strict delivery windows with stronger XP rewards.
• Eco-Driving: Reduces fuel consumption.

Levels and Rank Titles

In the vanilla game, the maximum level is 150. New truck parts are awarded while leveling, but those rewards stop after level 36. From level 37 onward, new level rewards are paint jobs.

Ranks are grouped by level:

• Newbie: Levels 0 to 4
• Enthusiast: Levels 5 to 9
• Workhorse: Levels 10 to 14
• Entrepreneur: Levels 15 to 19
• Professional: Levels 20 to 24
• Instructor: Levels 25 to 29
• 18 Wheels of Skill: Levels 30 to 39
• King of the Road: Levels 40 to 49
• Legend: Levels 50 to 99
• Divine Champion: Levels 100 to 150

Garages, Trucks, and Hired Drivers

Garages appear in most cities and can be purchased for $180,000. Each garage includes a rest stop, which matters because drivers must rest every 14 in-game hours unless Fatigue Simulation is disabled.

A small garage starts with one truck bay. Upgrading the garage adds more bays, which allows more trucks and hired drivers. Once there is more than one truck available, drivers can be recruited from an agency.

Drivers have different skills and pay expectations. More experienced drivers usually cost more, but they can become valuable as the fleet grows.

Convoy Multiplayer

American Truck Simulator's online multiplayer mode is called Convoy. A Convoy server supports up to eight players.

Convoy is useful for players who want company on the road, help from the wider community, or a less lonely delivery shift. Communication options include CB radio broadcasts, quick replies, and text chat.