When you launch ETS2 for the first time, you don’t own a truck yet. The best way to begin is by taking Quick Jobs. These let you drive trucks owned by other companies. You don’t pay for fuel, tolls, or repairs. It’s the safest way to build starting capital and gain experience without any risk.

Keep doing Quick Jobs until you reach Level 2–3 and have enough money or bank access to expand. This phase teaches you the basics: how trucks handle, how the economy works, and how long hauls differ from short trips.

Once you unlock the bank, you’ll see two loan options: €100k and €400k.
Skip the €100k, it’s not enough to set up properly. The €400k loan is the one you want. With it, you can buy your first truck and still have money left for expansions.

Truck Recommendations: Best Starters for Profit

When it comes to your first truck, don’t overspend - you’re running a business, not chasing horsepower bragging rights. A starter truck needs three things: reliability, fuel efficiency, and upgrade potential. Here are solid choices:

• Iveco Stralis (€97k–100k)
  Cheapest way to own a truck. Basic engine, nothing flashy, but perfect if you want to get rolling fast and save every cent.
  
  
• Renault Premium (~€105k)
  Similar price range to the Iveco, slightly more versatile. Great for short/medium jobs while you build capital.
  
  
• DAF XF / MAN TGX (~€120k–130k)
  Balanced power and price. Handles upgrades well, meaning you won’t outgrow it too fast. A smart pick if you plan to scale gradually.
  
  
• Volvo FH / Scania S (from €150k up)
  Expensive, but these beasts can haul anything once upgraded. Not a must-buy early on, but a strong investment when you’re moving into heavy cargo contracts.

Strategy: Start cheap, don’t sink money into cosmetics, and upgrade later once your fleet is making you passive income.

Owning one truck means you’re still doing all the work yourself. The real money comes when you hire drivers to work for you.

Here’s how to do it:

• Use the bank loan to buy 2 trucks (yours + one for a hired driver).
  
• Upgrade your starter garage so it can fit more trucks.
  
• Hire drivers from the recruitment agency. Don’t stress too much about their starting stats drivers improve over time.

At this stage, you’ll notice something important: while you’re out driving, your hired driver is also making money. This is the first step toward passive income.

Once you have your first hired driver working, the game becomes a cycle:

• Earn money from jobs.
  
• Buy another truck.
  
• Hire another driver.
  
• Expand your garage when it’s full.

This loop turns your single-truck operation into a fleet. The bigger your team, the more money rolls in, even while you’re offline (if you park and rest, drivers still complete jobs).

Pro tip: Don’t overextend with loans. Repay them steadily, but keep expanding as long as your drivers’ income covers the repayments.

When you own your first trailer, you get more control over jobs. But here’s the truth: owning a trailer doesn’t instantly make you rich. Freight Market jobs (where companies provide the trailer) often pay better early on.

So when should you buy trailers?

• Once you’re financially stable and want consistent control over the kind of cargo you haul.
  
• Specialized trailers (like refrigerated or flatbeds) open higher-paying contracts.
  
• If your drivers also use owned trailers, they’ll bring in more per job.

For maximum profit per kilometer, look for jobs over 250 miles and focus on High Value, Fragile, or ADR cargo once you unlock those skills.

Your profits don’t just come from the jobs you take, it’s also about how you drive them. Small mistakes (wrong fuel stop, wrong route) can eat thousands over time.

• Avoid Toll Traps: Some routes hit you with 3 to 4 toll booths in a single trip. Check the GPS before confirming and see if the alternate route saves you money. Sometimes a slightly longer drive is cheaper overall.
  
• Chain Jobs Smartly: Don’t deadhead (drive empty) too much. If you’re finishing a job in Paris, line up another contract starting nearby instead of wasting time driving back empty.
  
• Fuel Price Awareness: Prices vary across borders. Germany usually has cheaper diesel than France, for example. Top up before crossing into expensive regions.
  
• Plan Rest Stops: Fatigue fines kill profit. Better to plan rest breaks ahead than be forced into one last-minute that ruins your delivery schedule.

This kind of micro-management separates “I’m just driving” from “I’m running a real company.”

Early game, stick with cheap used trucks just to get rolling. But as your company grows, reinvesting in stronger trucks pays off:

• More engine power = access to heavier, high-paying cargo.
  
• Newer trucks save fuel and reduce repair costs.
  
• Drivers in upgraded trucks complete jobs faster and earn more.
  
• Better reliability keeps long-distance jobs profitable.

Strategy: Start cheap, then upgrade steadily. Don’t buy the most expensive Scania right away aim for balanced trucks that unlock higher-value cargo and make your fleet more efficient.

Every level you gain gives you skill points. Spend them wisely, because they affect your income long term.

Recommended order:

• Long Distance: Unlocks longer, better-paying routes.
  
• High Value Cargo: Adds more lucrative jobs.
  
• Fragile Cargo: Boosts pay even further.
  
• Just-in-Time Delivery: Unlocks urgent and important jobs.
  
• ADR: Dangerous goods bring very high payouts later.

Your hired drivers also level up. Assign them the same skill order so they maximize their earnings.

Where you place garages matters. The first one is set in your chosen starting city, but as you expand, think about location.

Best early choices: Central cities like Berlin, Paris, or Vienna. These hubs connect to many routes, which means more job options for your drivers.

In the early game, it’s actually more cost-effective to buy new garages in different cities rather than upgrading your starter HQ. Here’s why: upgrading your starting garage costs the same as buying a new one, but your HQ always reserves one slot for you. That means an upgrade only gives you 2 new driver slots, while a brand-new garage gives you 3. So, prioritize buying new garages in central hubs first (Berlin, Paris, Vienna, etc.) and leave upgrading your starter garage for later once you’re cash-rich and looking to scale faster.

A few more strategies that keep your company profitable while others waste money:

• Learn the Map: Know which countries have stricter speed cameras (UK, France). Getting fined repeatedly destroys margins.
  
• Seasonal Events: SCS often runs World of Trucks events with big payouts and rewards. Always worth joining if you want free cash flow and unique bonuses.
  
• Truck Maintenance: Don’t ignore repairs. A poorly maintained truck is slower, guzzles more fuel, and costs far more in the long run.
  
• Driver Training: Rotate new drivers through shorter contracts until their skills improve. Once they level up, assign them long-distance or ADR jobs for maximum returns.
  
• Avoid Crashes & Fines: Accidents and speeding tickets eat into profits fast. Drive clean.
  
• Fuel Discipline: Don’t overfill at expensive stations near borders—top up smartly in cheaper regions.
  
• Rest Management: Plan rest properly. Ignoring fatigue simulation leads to forced stops and costly fines.
  
• Reinvest Wisely: Don’t hoard cash. Keep reinvesting in trucks, trailers, and garages to scale faster.

If you own map DLCs, they can boost your contracts and diversify the jobs you get.

• Why DLCs Matter: Every new region adds more cargo types and better-paying contracts. Iberia and Road to the Black Sea, for example, offer long-haul jobs that easily outpay base-map routes.
  
• Strategic Garages: When you expand into DLC areas, buy garages in cities that connect back to the base map. This keeps your drivers from getting “trapped” running only local contracts.
  
• Scenic = Profitable: Don’t underestimate scenic DLCs. They’re fun to drive, but they also add cities and industries that expand your company’s job pool.

You don’t need DLC to succeed, but if you’ve got them, treat them as business expansion—not just extra roads.

Check out my All-in-One ETS2 Realism Guide for how to purchase DLCs and set up a connected map route.

Q: What is the fastest way to make money in ETS2?
A: Start with Quick Jobs until you unlock the €400k loan. Use it to buy two trucks (one for yourself, one for a hired driver). Hire drivers early, expand garages, and let them generate passive income while you keep driving.

Q: Do better trucks earn more money?
A: Yes. Upgraded trucks have more engine power, access to heavier cargo, and save on fuel/repairs. Drivers with better trucks finish jobs faster and bring in higher income.

Q: Should I buy trailers in ETS2?
A: Not right away. Freight Market jobs (where companies provide trailers) usually pay more early game. Buy your own trailers later for control and access to specialized, higher-paying cargo.

Q: Where is the best place to buy garages in ETS2?
A: Buy new garages first, since they give you 3 driver slots for the same price an HQ upgrade only gives you 2. Start with central hubs like Berlin, Paris, or Vienna. Upgrade your starter garage later when you’ve got extra cash.

Q: What skills should I level up first?
A: Long Distance → High Value → Fragile Cargo → Just-in-Time → ADR. This unlocks higher-paying jobs faster.

Q: How do I expand my company in ETS2?
A: Follow the growth loop: earn money → buy trucks → hire drivers → expand garages. Repeat until you run a full fleet across Europe.

Q: Can I run ETS2 like a real business?
A: Yes. Think of trucks as assets, drivers as employees, and garages as hubs. Reinvest profit into upgrades and expansion, and your revenue snowballs into millions.

Building a trucking empire in ETS2 isn’t about grinding the same job endlessly. It’s about making smart business decisions. Follow this roadmap and you’ll go from rookie driver to company boss, running one of the most profitable fleets in Europe.

Drive safe, manage smart, and happy trucking!
Read on Medium[axiata.medium.com]




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