Assigning trailers to your drivers in Euro Truck Simulator 2 (ETS2) is crucial for maximizing your company’s profitability and efficiency. It allows your AI drivers to independently haul cargo, generating income while you focus on your own deliveries and company expansion. This guide provides a detailed, step-by-step walkthrough of the process, ensuring you can effectively manage your fleet and dominate the European roadways.
Understanding the Fundamentals of Trailer Assignment
The key to assigning trailers lies within the game’s Driver Management system. This system, accessible from the main game menu or in-game through the “Company” tab, allows you to manage your recruited drivers, their vehicles, and their assigned cargo. Properly assigning trailers directly impacts your drivers’ earning potential and ensures they are utilizing your resources efficiently. You aren’t directly assigning a specific trailer sitting in your garage. Instead, you’re enabling your driver to accept jobs requiring the use of a specific trailer type. This means they’ll haul loads that demand curtainside trailers, refrigerated trailers, lowboys, etc., as long as you’ve enabled that trailer type for them.
Step-by-Step Guide to Trailer Assignment
Here’s a breakdown of the steps involved in assigning trailer types to your drivers:
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Access the Driver Management Screen: Open the game menu and navigate to the “Driver Management” section or use the “Company” tab inside the game and find the drivers. This is your central hub for managing your workforce.
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Select the Driver: Choose the driver you want to assign trailer access to from the list of available drivers. Clicking on their profile will display their details, including their current truck, skills, and performance history.
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Locate the Trailer Assignment Settings: Within the driver’s profile, you’ll find a section usually labeled “Accepted Cargoes” or something similar. This section lists all the available trailer types and cargo types they can transport.
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Enable Desired Trailer Types: Check the boxes corresponding to the trailer types you want the driver to be able to accept jobs for. Common trailer types include:
- Curtainside: Versatile for general cargo.
- Refrigerated: Essential for transporting perishable goods.
- Insulated: Similar to refrigerated, but for maintaining temperatures.
- Lowboy: For oversized and heavy loads.
- Food Tanker: For transporting bulk food products.
- Chemical Tanker: For transporting hazardous materials.
- Log Transporter: Specifically designed for hauling logs.
- Flatbed: For a variety of cargoes, often those not requiring enclosure.
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Consider Driver Skills: The driver’s skill levels (Long Distance, High Value Cargo, Fragile Cargo, Urgent Cargo, ADR (Hazardous Materials), Eco Driving, Just-in-Time Delivery) influence which jobs they’re offered and how efficiently they complete them. Prioritize training in ADR if you want them to haul chemical tankers. Ensure they have sufficient points in Long Distance for longer routes.
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Save Changes: After selecting the desired trailer types, save your changes. The driver will now be able to accept jobs utilizing those trailer types, increasing their potential earnings.
Optimizing Trailer Assignments for Profitability
While simply assigning all trailer types to all drivers might seem like the easiest approach, it’s not the most effective. Strategic trailer assignments based on driver skills and game economy considerations will boost your profits.
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Specialize Drivers: Consider specializing drivers in specific cargo types. A driver with high ADR skill, for example, should primarily be assigned to tankers carrying hazardous materials, as they will likely earn more from these jobs.
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Match Trailers to Trucks: Ensure your drivers have trucks appropriate for the trailers they’re assigned to. A low-powered truck won’t be efficient pulling a heavy lowboy trailer.
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Monitor Performance: Regularly check your drivers’ performance reports. If a driver consistently underperforms with a particular trailer type, consider re-assigning them or investing in further training.
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Consider Route Availability: Not all trailer types are suitable for all areas of the game. Before assigning a particular trailer, make sure there are jobs available in the regions your drivers are operating in.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
H3 1. Why can’t my driver find any jobs after I assigned a trailer?
There are several potential reasons:
- Limited Cargo Availability: The specific cargo type that requires the assigned trailer might not be in high demand at the driver’s current location.
- Low Driver Skills: Insufficient skill levels (especially Long Distance) can limit the available jobs.
- Job Filters: Double-check your job filters in the game settings to ensure you haven’t accidentally excluded the cargo type associated with the assigned trailer.
- Game Bugs: Though rare, bugs can sometimes prevent drivers from finding jobs. Restarting the game often resolves this.
H3 2. How do I unlock more trailer types to assign to my drivers?
You don’t “unlock” trailer types for assignment in the traditional sense. All trailer types are inherently available for assignment. However, to own specific trailer types and use them yourself, you typically need to purchase them from trailer dealers (if the DLC supports trailer ownership) or through the in-game customization options for owned trucks. This ownership doesn’t directly impact driver assignments; it only affects your ability to use those trailers in your own deliveries.
H3 3. What happens if I assign a trailer type that requires special driver training (e.g., ADR)?
If you assign a trailer type that requires ADR certification (like chemical tankers) to a driver without sufficient ADR skill points, they will likely earn significantly less. They might also be offered fewer jobs of that type, or might even reject jobs requiring ADR due to their lack of expertise. Focus on training your drivers in the relevant skills.
H3 4. Can I assign more than one trailer type to a driver?
Yes, you can and should! Assigning multiple trailer types increases the range of jobs a driver can accept, maximizing their potential earnings. Diversify their capabilities based on their skills.
H3 5. How often should I review and adjust my trailer assignments?
It’s good practice to review your trailer assignments at least every few in-game weeks. This allows you to adapt to changing market conditions, monitor driver performance, and ensure your fleet is operating at peak efficiency.
H3 6. Does the type of truck my driver uses affect their ability to haul certain trailers?
Absolutely. A truck’s engine power and chassis configuration significantly impact its ability to haul heavy or specialized trailers. Assigning a lowboy trailer to a driver with a weak truck will result in poor performance and reduced earnings.
H3 7. Where can I find more information on specific trailer types and their ideal cargoes?
The Euro Truck Simulator 2 wiki (available through a simple web search) provides comprehensive information on all trailer types, their ideal cargoes, and their specific requirements. The game’s forums are also a valuable resource for player-driven advice.
H3 8. Are trailer assignments persistent between game sessions?
Yes, trailer assignments are saved with your game profile. Once you assign a trailer type to a driver, it will remain assigned until you manually change it.
H3 9. How does driver fatigue affect trailer assignment?
Driver fatigue, while not directly tied to trailer assignment, certainly impacts profitability. A fatigued driver will be less productive and may require more rest stops, reducing their overall income. Manage driver schedules and rest breaks effectively to minimize fatigue and maximize earnings. This impacts the jobs available because a driver can’t drive if they’re tired.
H3 10. Is it better to hire drivers with higher starting skills or train them myself?
This depends on your play style and available resources. Hiring drivers with higher starting skills costs more upfront but provides immediate results. Training drivers yourself takes longer and requires investing in training facilities, but it allows you to tailor their skills to your specific needs and potentially saves money in the long run. Generally, a mix of both approaches is best.
H3 11. Do DLC trailers automatically become available for driver assignments?
Yes, if you purchase a DLC that includes new trailer types, those trailer types will automatically become available for assignment to your drivers.
H3 12. Can I see what kind of cargo my drivers are hauling with their assigned trailers?
Yes. Within the Driver Management screen, you can see the details of each driver’s current job, including the cargo they are hauling and the type of trailer they are using. This allows you to monitor their progress and ensure they are utilizing their assigned trailers effectively.
By following these guidelines and understanding the nuances of trailer assignment in ETS2, you can optimize your fleet management, maximize your profits, and build a trucking empire that dominates the European highways. Good luck, and happy trucking!