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More realistic economy

I have been playing the game “American Truck Simulator” (formerly “18 Wheels of Steel”) for many, many years, which certainly shows that I am happy with it. I find it remarkable that SCS has managed to integrate something as simple and everyday as truck driving into a computer game in such a beautiful and solid way. A game with no fighting, no shooting, no killing, no war, no conquering, no defeating, no winning. Just truck driving – great!

The longer I played ATS and the more often I reset my player profile to start from scratch again, the more I realized that the economic model used by SCS is only intended for short-term gaming fun. For people who only occasionally find the time and desire to play and still want to have a sense of achievement. Or for people who want to earn as much virtual money as quickly as possible in order to be able to equip their dream trucks however they want. But I wanted more. Above all, more challenging realism. A hard mode, so to speak.

That's why I started to create my own economic mod, in which I implemented my own ideas. But I also incorporated the ideas of other ATS users. After all, they had already had their own thoughts on this topic. In that respect, my mod is just another mod among many other mods. But I like to share.

I'm also happy to receive constructive criticism on the topic. It could be that I'm looking at some things fundamentally wrong or haven't thought them through completely. I also tweak and adjust the settings at irregular intervals when I see the need to do so.


You've just finished driving school and have your truck driver's license in your hand. You're starting your career as a truck driver with just a handful of dollars. OK, let's say 50 handfuls of dollars. In any case, not even enough to pay the upcoming rent...

The first trips as a hired truck driver bring in some money: $59 basic salary per trip and an average of about 38 to 52 cents per mile driven. As a newbie, you won't necessarily be rolling in money like Scrooge McDuck right from the start. But your experience points increase a little bit with every mile you drive. And that ultimately improves your pay as well.

After you've reached experience level 5 and demonstrated that you're serious about truck driving (at least 15 completed jobs), the bank will offer you a small loan of up to $150,000, which you can use to purchase your first used or new truck. This is the beginning of your journey into self-employment. A lot of work on the road awaits you. A lot...

As a self-employed truck driver, the pay is significantly better: the base salary increases to $159 per job and an average of about $1.90 to $2.30 per mile driven ($2.50 to $3.00 with own trailer). But appearances are deceptive, because now you are also responsible for paying for fuel, insurance, inspections, repairs, maintenance and upkeep. And then there is the loan, which you also have to somehow manage to pay back. The pressure is great, but not overwhelming. It should still be fun.

A large part of the operating costs of your truck are the fuel costs. These are regularly (once a week) adjusted to the actual fuel costs in the individual US states. This is to take account of the fact that fuel costs are variable. At the same time, a price difference between the various states from A for Arizona to W for Wyoming is to be reflected. Being active in one state is therefore definitely more attractive than in another. At least it's worth considering in which state you fill up.

As the owner of a truck, you are also responsible for its maintenance in order to obtain the operating license. The ATS damage model has been parameterized so that around three quarters of the wear and tear can be repaired. The rest is irreparable and will eventually require the replacement of the worn components. The more wear and tear progresses, the more often repairs are necessary and the more expensive it will be for you to maintain your truck. This means that at some point you will have to decide whether to buy new tires, a new transmission, a new engine or a completely new truck. Just like in real life...

As you can see, your income from self-employment is offset by considerable costs. This puts you under pressure to complete as many high-paid jobs as possible in as short a time as possible. Ideally, on time, without accidents and without damage. Then the customer is satisfied and you earn more.

But be careful! Don't let all the hustle and bustle and all the stress tempt you to break the traffic rules. The police is everywhere. And they will get you. Most of the time anyway. Of course, there is also a chance of undetected offenses. You don't automatically get a ticket for every red light you run. If nobody sees it, nobody punishes you. Just like in real life...

The amount of the fines for driving too fast or running red lights, for example, has been adjusted to more realistic values, because these also have to be earned somehow in the game. And at the same time, these fines should be painful and have an educational effect.

If you are tough enough to get through the initial period of self-employment and have saved enough money, you will have the opportunity to move into the position of an employer. This step is no small feat! And it is not as simple as buying another truck and hiring a driver.

You also need a larger truck garage. This doesn't just consist of a sheet metal shell, a few OSB boards and a toolbox, but it is on a larger developed lot. Of course with a nice driveway and a fancy mailbox. The ground must be leveled, compacted and concreted. And you need more equipment. To take this into account, ATS's pricing model has been modified so that this fundamental step requires several hundred thousand dollars. No small sum!

A loan isn't always the best option to cover the costs. Your newly hired drivers are just starting out in the trucking world and, just like you at the beginning of your own career, with limited earning potential. And so, after deducting all costs for wages, fuel, maintenance, upkeep, and repairs, they only contribute a small amount, averaging around 55 to 70 cents per mile, toward repaying the loan installments. Orders can therefore sometimes be a loss-making business. It's not an easy decision. Just like in real life...

You will find your way. I wish you much success in your career as a trucker! ...and on your way to taking over the world as a logistics giant *muharharharhar*


The mod was last edited and configured with ATS versions 1.53, 1.54, 1.55 and 1.56 (including all regular map DLCs and all regular cargo DLCs). Maintenance and further development is carried out almost exclusively for the current ATS version 1.56. I cannot make any definitive statements about which ATS version compatibility extends back to.


The mod modifies the files “def/initial_save/normal/game.sii”, “def/economy_data.sii”, “def/bank_data.sii”, “def/damage_data.sii”, “def/police_data.sii” and “def/special_event_data.sii” as well as all “def/country/<country>.sui” and all “def/cargo/<cargo>.sui” files. Also the "def/ferry/connection/<connection>.dlc_wa.sii" files and the file “ui/bank.sii” are modified. The mod is therefore incompatible with other economy mods that modify the mentioned files.

Unfortunately, SCS's "Workshop Uploader" prohibits uploading additional files to the Steam platform. Therefore, providing explanatory or additional resource files, for example, is not possible. My Excel spreadsheets, my micro-tools, and my resources will have to stay "outside" :/


Try out my "More realistic traffic" mod.