The best way to start in Euro Truck Simulator 2 is to learn how to deliver cleanly before trying to build a fleet. Quick Jobs fund your progress without saddling you with the costs of owning a truck. They also help you get familiar with the controls, GPS, parking and skills.
Euro Truck Simulator 2 is available on PC through Steam, with Windows, macOS, Linux and SteamOS versions. The official page also lists Convoy mode, but mastering the basics alone remains preferable before joining a session with other drivers.
Learn the basics during your first hours
- Start with Quick Jobs: the truck, fuel and repairs are covered by the employer.
- Keep automatic transmission and driving assists enabled during your first trips.
- Invest in Long Distance first to unlock more delivery options.
- Do not buy your first truck as soon as the game allows it; keep a reserve for fuel and repairs.
- Use automatic parking at first, then switch to manual parking once reversing becomes consistent.
Set up your profile and controls
When creating your profile, choose a starting city you want to explore. This choice does not lock your career, but it determines the first companies and routes visible around you. Give your company a clear name as well: it will appear in the management menus, offers and statistics.
Keep the tutorial enabled for your first game. In the gameplay options, choose automatic transmission. Manual transmission becomes more interesting with a wheel or when you want a more demanding simulation; with a keyboard, it mainly adds actions that can distract you from the road.
Configure your device before starting a job. On keyboard, reduce steering sensitivity if the truck jerks from side to side. With a controller, use the triggers for acceleration and braking, then check the stick's dead zone. With a wheel, start with a reasonable rotation setting and gradually increase the precision. Controls can be reassigned from the options, so do this before your first long trip.
Keep the parking brake, indicators, lights, cruise control and interior view close at hand. The action key displayed by your version also lets you attach the trailer and confirm certain interactions. The controls menu remains the reference, since a list found elsewhere may not match your configuration.
Start with Quick Jobs
In the Job Market, select Quick Jobs while you are still learning to drive. You set off with a provided truck and a loaded trailer. The employer covers vehicle-related expenses, allowing you to try several models without paying for their purchase, fuel or repairs.
Begin with a short delivery in a region you know. Check the distance, cargo and estimated arrival time. A simple route with a standard trailer is easier to manage than a heavy haul through an urban area when turning angles are still difficult to judge.
- Open the Quick Jobs market from the main menu.
- Sort the offers by distance and choose a short route with an ordinary trailer.
- Check the GPS, estimated time and fuel level before setting off.
- Observe speed limits, slow down before exits and use your indicators.
- On arrival, choose automatic parking if reversing still feels uncertain.
- After the delivery, spend the available skill point and take another nearby job.
Repeat this routine for three to five deliveries. The goal is not to immediately maximize the displayed income, but to reduce fines, collisions and delays. A slightly less profitable job completed cleanly helps more than an ambitious route finished with damage.
Spend your first skill points carefully
Each delivery helps your driver progress and awards points to invest in skills. For a beginner, Long Distance is the most versatile first focus: it gradually opens longer routes and expands your options as your driving becomes more consistent.
Next, add a skill matching the cargo you enjoy transporting. ADR suits dangerous goods, while High Value or Fragile Cargo become interesting if you are willing to accept more risk and responsibility. Just-in-Time deliveries can wait; they mainly require a good understanding of traffic and steady driving.
Do not spend points randomly to fill every category. If you enjoy relaxed trips, combine Long Distance with Fuel Economy. If you are looking for higher income, gradually add ADR and High Value Cargo while retaining enough control to avoid damage.
| Priority | Skill | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Long Distance | To expand the available routes and income. |
| 2 | ADR | To accept dangerous goods once you have mastered the roads. |
| 3 | High Value or Fragile Cargo | To diversify deliveries without multiplying mistakes. |
| 4 | Just-in-Time or Fuel Economy | To refine your style after the first few hours. |
Wait before buying your first truck
Your first truck unlocks freight jobs and full company management. You then choose the route, travel to the depot to collect the trailer, and pay for fuel and repairs yourself. It is a change of pace, not just another expense in the menu.
Wait until you have a reserve after the purchase. A cheap and reliable truck is better than a luxurious setup that leaves you without money to repair a damaged engine. Try several models during Quick Jobs, then choose the one whose driving position, visibility and power suit you. Horsepower is not the only criterion: a truck that is easy to place in narrow streets can save more time than an oversized engine.
A loan can speed up the creation of your company, but every mistake then becomes a bill. Only borrow if you can still pay for a full tank, a repair and a few installments after the purchase. Accessories, paint jobs and cosmetic upgrades can wait. The cab and mechanics affect your comfort; lights and decorations do not make a delivery more profitable.
Use the GPS to complete clean deliveries
The GPS is not just decoration. Look at it before every interchange and slow down before the indicated exit. A wrong turn often costs several minutes, fuel and sometimes a dangerous reverse in a tight area. If the voice distracts you, keep the visual display and check it only on straight roads.
Observe speed limits even when the road looks empty. Speed cameras and red lights can turn late acceleration into a fine. Use cruise control on the highway, then deactivate it before exits, roundabouts and descents.
Monitor fatigue if you have kept its simulation enabled. Plan a break before the warning becomes critical: stopping at a rest area costs less than struggling with reduced visibility or a delay. Also refuel before a long trip when the gauge is low. The GPS indicates services, but it is better to refuel in advance than search for a station with a heavy trailer.
For parking, start with automatic mode. Switch to manual when you can reverse without hitting the barriers. Use the mirrors, move very slowly and do not hesitate to make one more maneuver. A clean delivery is better than earning a parking bonus at the cost of several instances of damage.
Avoid expenses that weaken your career
The first mistake is buying a truck too soon. Quick Jobs may seem less profitable, but they provide a learning period without ownership expenses. The second is taking the maximum loan to buy several vehicles. A fleet only becomes worthwhile once your own deliveries are regular and you know how to read maintenance costs.
Also avoid installing lots of mods during your first session. They can enrich the experience, but make diagnosis more difficult when an update or incompatibility blocks a profile. First play for a few hours with the official content, save your profile and then add one mod at a time.
Do not try to explore the entire map before you have a stable company. Free miles are enjoyable, but they do not replace a paid delivery. Once you have your truck, use freight jobs to combine income, visits to new cities and skill progression.
After a few personal trips, buy an additional garage only if you can finance the slots, trucks and drivers. Employees create passive progression, but their performance depends on how your company is organized. A small, well-maintained company is stronger than an oversized fleet financed by debt.
For official information about platforms, updates and expansions, consult the official Euro Truck Simulator 2 Steam page and the official game page. The latest jeu.video announcements are available in our news, while our practical articles and gaming features offer more lasting advice.
Frequently asked questions
Should I buy a truck during my first game?
No. Complete several Quick Jobs to learn the controls and build up a reserve. Buy your truck when you can still pay for fuel, repairs and the first installments.
Which skill should I choose with my first point?
Long Distance is the most versatile choice for expanding the available routes. Then add ADR, High Value Cargo or Fragile Cargo depending on the goods you enjoy transporting.
Why do freight jobs cost me fuel and repairs?
Freight jobs use your personal truck. Unlike Quick Jobs, you pay for the fuel, damage and trip to the loading depot yourself.
Where can I check Euro Truck Simulator 2 updates?
The Steam version updates automatically. For major changes, consult the official announcement of update 1.60 published on June 18, 2026, and the Steam page's history.
To keep following the subject, also read our article on Zenless Zone Zero: which free team to build in, our article on No Man’s Sky: earn your first units without sacrificing.
Verified sources
These links can be used to verify the key information used in this article.
- store.steampowered.com: The Steam page confirms the developer and publisher SCS Software, the October 18, 2012 release date, Steam platforms, career and fleet management features, and Convoy mode.
- cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com: The official PDF manual describes profile creation, Quick Jobs and freight jobs, costs related to personal trucks, transmission settings, fatigue and control configuration.
- eurotrucksimulator2.com: The official Euro Truck Simulator 2 page confirms skill progression, company management, garages, drivers and map exploration.
- blog.scssoft.com: The official update 1.60 announcement confirms its release on 2026-06-18 and provides a tracking link for recent changes to the game.
