Starting your trucking empire in Euro Truck Simulator 2 feels overwhelming with so many systems competing for attention. The key to efficient ETS2 progression lies in making smart early decisions that compound over time. Most new drivers waste valuable hours on low-paying jobs or buy the wrong trucks, setting back their business empire by weeks.
Table of Contents
- Early Game Foundation (Levels 1-15)
- Building Your First Fleet (Levels 16-25)
- Scaling Your Business Empire (Levels 26-40)
- Endgame Optimization (Level 40+)
- Critical Mistakes That Cost You Money
- Your Next Steps
Early Game Foundation (Levels 1-15)
Your first 10 hours determine how quickly you'll build wealth. Skip the temptation to explore every city. Focus on three specific skill upgrades: ADR (dangerous goods), High Value Cargo, and Fragile Cargo. These unlock ETS2 profitable jobs that pay 50-80% more than basic freight.
Take every Quick Job available in your starting city until you hit level 5. Quick Jobs eliminate fuel costs and truck maintenance, letting you pocket pure profit. Target jobs paying €1,200 or more per trip. Anything under €1,000 wastes your time unless it's extremely short distance.
Distance matters more than cargo type at this stage. A 400km job paying €1,500 beats a 150km job paying €800 every time. Your hourly earnings improve dramatically with longer hauls, even accounting for rest stops.
Check our beginners guide for essential controls and interface explanations if you're still learning the basics.
Building Your First Fleet (Levels 16-25)
Once you save €100,000, buy your first truck. The Volvo FH16 750hp offers the best power-to-price ratio for new owners. Avoid fancy paint jobs and chrome accessories. Every euro spent on cosmetics delays your second truck purchase by hours.
Your garage location impacts profitability permanently. Choose cities with high job density: Berlin, Paris, or Rotterdam consistently offer 15+ jobs per refresh. Small towns might look cheaper but generate fewer opportunities.
ETS2 best routes emerge once you own equipment. The triangle between Berlin-Hamburg-Frankfurt generates consistent high-paying freight. These industrial corridors refresh jobs every 10-15 minutes with minimal competition from AI drivers.
Essential Upgrades Priority List
- Engine upgrades (750hp minimum for heavy cargo)
- Transmission (automated for efficiency)
- Fuel tank capacity (longer routes without stops)
- GPS and trip computer (route optimization)
Save cosmetic upgrades until you're earning €5,000+ per job consistently.
Scaling Your Business Empire (Levels 26-40)
This phase transforms you from driver to business owner. Buy your second truck around level 25, then hire your first employee. Driver wages seem expensive at €2,400 daily, but good drivers generate €4,000-6,000 profit after expenses.
Hire drivers with high ADR and Long Distance skills first. These specialists access the same profitable cargo you've been running. Avoid drivers with low skill ratings regardless of their cheap wages.
Your Euro Truck business guide centers on compound growth. Each new truck should pay for itself within 2 weeks of purchase. If your drivers aren't covering truck payments plus €2,000 daily profit, you're expanding too fast.
Profitable Business Expansion Strategy
- Week 1-2: Focus on driver performance
- Week 3: Add third truck if drivers consistently profit
- Week 4: Hire specialist drivers for specific cargo types
- Month 2: Consider second garage in different country
International expansion becomes viable around level 30. DLC regions like Scandinavia and France offer longer routes with higher base pay. The extra investment pays back through access to €8,000+ jobs.
Endgame Optimization (Level 40+)
Maximum level drivers transform into profit machines earning €15,000+ weekly per truck. Your focus shifts from growth to optimization and specialization. Heavy cargo and special transport DLCs unlock jobs paying €20,000-50,000 per delivery.
ETS2 truck mods become worthwhile once you've established steady income. Visual mods don't impact gameplay, but physics mods can improve fuel efficiency by 10-15%. Stick to workshop-approved mods to avoid save file corruption.
Your mature Euro Truck Simulator money guide strategy revolves around route efficiency. Experienced players plan multi-stop routes, delivering cargo in logical sequences. A skilled driver completes 3-4 jobs in the time novices finish one.
Advanced Profit Maximization
| Strategy | Profit Increase | Time Investment |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-city routes | 40-60% | High |
| Specialized cargo focus | 30-50% | Medium |
| Fuel route planning | 15-25% | Low |
| Driver skill optimization | 20-35% | Medium |
World of Trucks integration opens competitive contracts and special events. These limited-time jobs often pay double normal rates but require specific truck configurations or cargo experience.
Critical Mistakes That Cost You Money
Taking low-paying local jobs kills progression speed. Anything under €0.50 per kilometer wastes valuable playing time. Better to wait 5 minutes for job refresh than accept poor contracts.
Buying trucks before level 15 seems logical but backfires financially. Quick Jobs eliminate operating costs while building skills. Your own truck adds fuel, maintenance, and insurance expenses before you can access profitable freight.
Ignoring driver management once you hire employees costs thousands weekly. Unemployed drivers still collect wages while generating zero income. Fire underperforming drivers immediately rather than hoping they improve.
Speeding tickets and damage create hidden profit drains. A single major accident costs €2,000-5,000 in repairs, wiping out an entire job's profit. Cruise control prevents expensive mistakes while maintaining steady progress.
For additional optimization techniques, check our comprehensive ETS2 tips guide.
Your Next Steps
Start with ADR certification if you haven't already unlocked dangerous goods transport. This single upgrade increases available job pool by 40% immediately. Focus on building your skill foundation before expanding your fleet, and you'll reach profitable endgame content months faster than players who rush into truck ownership.