Euro Truck Simulator 2’s depth goes beyond point-to-point deliveries, and the journey itself is more complex than the game might initially let on. Fuel tanks empty realistically, fatigue creeps in after long stints behind the wheel, speed cameras watch your speed intently, and traffic police stand ready to punish sloppy driving.
Master the three pillars below, refueling, resting, and rule-following, and you will keep both your schedule and your bank balance in the green.
Refueling 101 – Find the Pump, Shut the Engine, Save the Run
Running dry is the fastest way to ruin a profitable haul, so treat the fuel gauge exactly as you would in a real tractor-trailer. Keep an eye on it both on the dashboard and on the route advisor.
- Scan your world map or route advisor for a fuel-pump icon. These stations are placed at wider intervals due to the game’s scaling, which means “I’ll grab the next one” can be a costly gamble.
- Drop a waypoint on the chosen station so your GPS recalculates around it. Arriving with minimal detours keeps you on time for delivery bonuses.
- Pull onto the floating green marker beside the pumps and come to a complete stop.
- Turn off the engine, hold the refuel prompt, and let the diesel flow.
Topping up early adds only a small cost but removes the need to call for a tow truck or emergency refueling services, which cost both time and euros.
For quick jobs, refueling is covered by your employer, so refuel as much as you need; for your own truck, refuel anyway, as it’s always cheaper than calling emergency services.
For deliveries using electric trucks, there are no charging stations in the game yet, so focus on proper route planning instead. These deliveries tend to be shorter, so it really shouldn’t be much of an issue.
Rest Stops & Fatigue – Where to Sleep and Why It Saves You Money
Ignore your driver’s yawns and you’ll get blurry vision, micro-sleeps, and eventually a hefty fine for operating while overtired. Falling asleep also makes you prone to accidents, so you’re saving on repair costs by making sure your driver gets enough rest.
Generally, you can drive for 10 hours at a time, and your in-game route advisor has a sleep icon that turns red when you need to rest.
The blue bed icon marks every legal rest area, which can be found at rural gas stations, highway service areas, border crossings, toll plazas, dealerships, hotels, owned garages, and designated roadside pull-offs.
Riding ferries (and taking the Chunnel train) also restores some of your fatigue, but trips of less than 8 hours only partially refill your rest.
- Engage the parking brake and shut off the engine once you’re parked correctly inside the bay.
- Hit the rest button; eight in-game hours pass, moving the clock and resetting the fatigue meter.
Traffic Fines Explained – Every Violation and How to Stay Penalty-Free
Euro Truck Simulator 2 monitors almost every road rule you meet on real European highways. Each violation triggers an instant on-the-spot fine, deducted straight from your hard-earned euros.
Here is a list of the violations that you must look out for:
Treat every journey like a real-world haul by obeying posted limits, signaling lane changes, keeping safe following distances, and allowing extra braking room when loaded.
The payoff is two-fold: no surprise deductions and less wear on your truck, which lowers maintenance costs over time. Fines can hit you even when there are no police around, so be wary and drive safely.
Drive Safe!
Euro Truck Simulator 2 doesn’t settle for arcade convenience, asking you to plan fuel stops, schedule sleep, and respect continental traffic law. Do all three, and the game rewards you with smoother runs, bigger profits, and that uniquely satisfying feeling of having conquered Europe’s roads the professional way.
A good rule of thumb is to drive as you would in real life. While the consequences for mistakes are much less dire in the simulator, the driving experience becomes much more authentic in contrast to if the stakes just weren’t there.
Shut off the engine at the pump, grab your rest when the bed icon appears, and drive as though every euro is coming out of your real wallet.
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