Top 10 Truckers tips

Another handy iOS 15 tip that will be quite popular once the majority of iPhone owners install the update. By majority, we mean both the consumers and developers. Apple has added a SharePlay function that lets users on a FaceTime call listen to Music via Apple Music, watch shows via Apple TV, etc. Basically, you’ll be able to enjoy watching movies or listening to music with your friends while on a FaceTime call. Expect to see companies like Spotify, Netflix, Disney, etc., offer similar integration with FaceTime. Apple has also added the Screen Share function that allows the user to share the screen with other participants over a FaceTime call. Read our dedicated post to learn about screen sharing on FaceTime. SharePlay is not a part of the initial iOS 15 release but should debut later this fall.

The default Do Not Disturb mode gets a new avatar with the Focus mode in iOS 15. Instead of a single Do Not Disturb mode, you get to choose among Home, Work, Sleep, and more Focus profiles with customized notifications and calls behavior for each. Swipe down from the upper right corner and long-tap on the Focus menu. You can select from one of the default iOS Focus profiles. You can further customize each mode by selecting which apps and contacts are allowed to send notifications.

I park my truck in a parking spot, get out of the truck and walk toward the operating center. I have been told numerous times what to do when I walk away from the truck and I think I know it by now. My trainer says to me, "Are you done?" I respond, "Yes!" We are walking and talking and he tells me to look back at my truck. And there it is. My left blinker is ticking away. I must have bumped it getting out of my truck. I smile, hang my head and start my walk of shame back to the truck to turn the blinker off. Always turn around and look at your truck when leaving it. I can't tell you how many times I have seen flashing lights and blinkers in the parking lot. Thank you, David Dandeneau, for one of my first and most important lessons in driving.

The next big milestones in the game are upgrading your garage and hiring your first driver to work for you! However, these steps have to be done in exact order. You first have to upgrade your garage (which will cost you $180,000 the first time, then $100,000 every time after), then you must buy a spare truck for your driver to use (failing to have a truck for the driver will result in your driving quitting). After that, you can hire a driver and have them working for you! Having drivers is a great way to earn residual income. And eventually, you can have multiple garages and drivers in different states!

Apple hasn’t stopped with a barebone Focus mode in iOS 15. The company even allows you to create custom Focus profiles based on your usage and convenience. From the Settings > Focus menu, you can create as many Focus profiles such as Writing, Yoga, Meditation, and more. For each Focus profile, you can customize the Home screen and Lock screen as well. The possibilities are endless here. The good news is, all the Focus profiles get synced among all your Apple devices using the same Apple account.

This is my personal tip from a hard lesson learned: if you have your own truck and accept a quick job, just realize that your truck will be left behind wherever you last drove it: it won't follow you to the destination of your quick job. So if you drove your truck to San Diego and then took a quick job from San Diego to Albuquerque, you'll be hopping into the companies' truck and making the trip. When you finish, the game will put you back in San Diego, into your own truck. So don't expect to pick up your own truck in Albuquerque! If you want to always drive your own truck, pick jobs from the Freight Market instead of Quick Jobs.

That's it for now!  Do you have any other tips, tricks or suggestions for new players of American Truck Simulator?  Which tip do you find the most useful?  Let me know in the comments section below!

You never know when you will be asked, "Did you do a pre-trip?" And if it's a DOT officer, you want to know if you looked good at the inspection date, the lights, the tires, the pins, fifth wheel, lights and even the valve stem covers. I'm picky about them and keep plenty extra in my side pocket door. A story from my first year of trucking really drove home that point: We ran into an old friend, and he had just picked up a load in which he needed to put a valve stem cover on all eight trailer tires. Again, thank you, David Dandeneau, for your wisdom and an important reminder! I won’t ever forget that, and Maintenance is glad to accommodate drivers with free valve stem covers and extra lights.