Owner of a one-man company | Career American Truck Simulator Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
It is up to you how long you wish to drive for others. You can either work really hard for your first truck (you need more than $110000) or you can take a loan. After completing several orders, a bank will send you an e-mail encouraging to take a loan. Later, your loan limit will rise to more than $500000. [You can read more about it in the "Bank" chapter.] No matter whether you decide to earn for it by taking quick orders or to take a loan, it is worth having your own truck. But first, in order to buy a vehicle you need to find truck dealers. Fortunately one of them will send you an e-mail encouraging you to buy a truck at the beginning of the game. But for the sake of greater variety, try to explore as many various cities as possible when taking quick orders.
To buy your first truck, click on "buy truck". A map with discovered truck dealers will be displayed. Click on any available and choose "visit selected dealer". Your first truck does not have to be the best available one. You need about $110000 (depending on the model) to make the purchase. Any truck will be suitable, as long as it is yours. Remember that you can customize the car (using the truck configuration). More experience means higher levels and more unlock upgrades.
When you buy your first truck, you will find yourself in a your very impressive garage. This is a new chapter in your company's history. You can take more profitable orders since you have your own car. You do not have to rely on quick orders anymore. To find something more profitable, go to job market > consignment market.
Select the order and remember about the previous rule of paying attention to price per mile. Important! This time you will not be transported to the loading place - you have to get there on your own. Be careful and do not take an order when you reside in e.g. Huron and your cargo is in Santa Cruz or Redding.
Click on the icon of the city in which you are currently (or the city right next to it) to check if any company has placed any order. If yes, take it (green icon near the entrance), go for your trailer, connect it (by default [T] and go. [More about consignment market can be found in "Job market" chapter.]
You will repeat those steps numerous times. This time you have to remember about repairing your truck, refueling and upgrading it. It is your tool and home while traveling around the United Stated of America and pursuing more orders.