Whose Shake Is This!!?

Evil Schmitty here. Welcome to my Truckz Training Site. This site will be geared more towards experienced drivers. I will be showing you how to make a LOT of coin by flying to contracts. But I will offer some New Driver tips to help you new drivers get over the hump.

A bit about me first. I’m not a truck driver in real life. I’ve been playing the online trucking simulation game, Truckz, for almost a year. I am an HR Manager and Driver Training Officer for MTA Worldwide, which is the best company in Truckz to drive for. I have amassed a lot of coin in the game, and I’m making this site to share my knowledge and ideas with you in the hopes that you achieve the same success that I’ve achieved.

Secondly, a little disclaimer. The ideas and strategies I present here are freely given to all, but I do hope that after reading this, you decide to join my company, MTA Worldwide. I’m especially interested in reaching out to experienced drivers at other companies who are not satisfied with their progress in the game or with how much coin they’ve made. All of us at MTA Worldwide stand ready to help both new and experienced drivers get more out of the game.

New Driver Tips

DON’T get discouraged. All of us have been where you’re at, so relax and enjoy the game. And most of all, be PATIENT! Follow these simple tips, and you’ll make it.

1. Join a Company right away. You’ll get help and advice. You’ll get a discount on purchasing a truck. You’ll get assistance with fuel and repair cost. And best of all, you’ll get to run Contract Routes, which will pay you the most coin. You’re free to join whichever company you choose, but I hope you choose my company MTA Worldwide. We offer a lot of training, advice, and assistance to new drivers.
2. Never run General Merchandise. When you select a route, you have the option of General Merchandise, and two other cargo selections. NEVER select General Merchadise since it pays poorly. The other two cargo selection pay better so you can make more money.
3. Never exceed the speed limit. It’s tempting to do so, but please don;t do it. Tickets are costly and most companies will not assist you with payment. Also, you lose driver rating points. You’re better off as a new driver to stick to the rules.
4. Never drive past 10 Fatigue Points. Again, it’s tempting. But please don’t. The tickets are costly, you’re driver rating gets dinged, AND you could crash and wreck your truck which is VERY costly to repair. Don’t drive past 10 FP.
5. Ask your DTO (Driver Training Officer) about Hot Routes and Contract Routes. These are the routes you should run, if possible. You’ll make the most coin and get over the hump quicker.
6. Join MTA Worldwide. As HR Manager for MTA Worldwide, I’m more than a little biased.  But seriously, we have a great company and you’ll get all the help you need.

Flying To Contracts — Introduction

Now we get to the meat and potatoes of this site. This is how I’ve accumulated a TON of coin in this game. I’ve accomplished this by flying from continent to continent running contracts. This is the BEST way to make a LOT of coin if you do it right.

Now I know that some of you are opposed to this style of game play because it not at all realistic. You are correct that it is not realistic. There is no way a real life truck driver could make over $800,000 in less than a year flying all over the world running fairly unrealistically high-paying contracts. And since some of you have a philosophical opposition to this style of play. I understand and respect your point of view. Several of the drivers in my own company feel the same way. To each his own.

My view is that this is a game, and MY enjoyment of this game comes from flying all over the world. My original goal, to be honest, wasn’t to make the most coin, it was more a matter of fun….something different than running all over one continent. One of the top managers in my company showed me the ropes early on, and after that, it was off to the World!! I thank him for helping me, and now, as thanks to him, I am here to help you do the same.

Flying To Contracts — Getting Started

You’re not driving a fancy truck. But you’ve got one that’s a step up from those horrible beginner trucks. You’ve got maybe $5,000-10,000 or so in your bank. But you’re not really getting anywhere even though you’re running hot routes and contract routes because the back haul isn’t making you any real coin.. It’s time to start flying to contracts. Let me show you how. Whatever route you are on right now, when you finish it, here is what you do.

1. REPAIR your truck. This is a habit you MUST get into. It’s the FIRST thing you will always do from now on when you arrive at your destination. REPAIR you truck. Do it before you do anything else.
2. SELL you items. Do this only after you’ve repaired you truck. Sell only the items that go with the truck, such as Fresh Tires, any Fuel or Air Filters, any Charger items, any Gear ratios, Aluminum Wheels, Extra Fuel tanks. Sell anything that sells with the truck.
3. PURCHASE a Frequent Flyer Discount. This will save you coin and make flying more profitable for you.
4. SELL your truck. DO this ONLY after you’ve done 1,2 & 3 above, in that order. You will never own a truck in this game ever again. From now on, even though you will be buying and selling a truck, what you will actually be doing from now on is RENTING a truck. Get this idea internalized because it will cost you profits if you don’t. From now on you will be renting a truck for your contract run.
5. FIND a CONTRACT ROUTE. Go your company’s main page. Click on the link that says Contracts Completed. It will show you what contracts are available to run. If you’re starting in North America, find a contract in Europe or Australia. Once you see what contracts your company has available. For the sake of discussion, let’s say your company has  contract for Lumber to London and Books to Mt. Isa. You decide to run the Lumber contract because it’s pays more.  ((When looking at contracts, look at the Low Bid number—the higher the number, the better the pay)) Now you need to find a supply city.
6. FIND a Supply City. On your company page, click the link that says Bulletin. There, your company CEO or Managers will have bulletins listing the current supply cities for any given contract run. You CEO’s bulletin tells you that permanent supply cities for Lumber are Kiev and Volgograd, and that Istanbul, Oslo & Berlin are temporary supply cities.
7. CLICK on the airplane on your Driver Page. When you do that, a box will drop down showing all the cities in Truckz that you can fly to ((you can’t fly to cities on your own continent)). Select the supply city that has the lowest fare. Let’s assume for discussion that Kiev is the lowest fare. You click on Kiev and fly there.

Flying To Contracts — Your First Run

Before you get started I want to re-iterate that from now on, you are only RENTING a truck. You are going to purchase the best truck you can when you’re starting out, but as you gain experience and make more money, you will have to get into the habit of getting the least expensive but decent truck that will get the job done. Start thinking that way now.

Okay. You’re in Kiev, ready for your first run. Here’s what you need to do.

1. PURCHASE a truck. Remember what I said, you are really only renting from now on. Don’t ever get a fancy truck. Just buy a serviceable and decent truck. And remember to save $2,700 for step 2!
2. PURCHASE Fresh Tires. From now on you will ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS do this. You must ALWAYS buy Fresh Tires. DON’T buy anything else for your truck. FRESH TIRES are all you need. ALL other items for your truck are useless and unnecessary from here on out ((with the only exception being an Air Filter or Fuel Filter for 2000 mile plus runs….but even there, you dont really need them)).
3. REPAIR your Truck. This is a MUST. You must ALWAYS do this after you purchase your fresh tires and before Select a Route. Get in this habit right from the start.
4. NOW Select Your Route. In our example here you are running Lumber to London. So you select London and then from the drop-down menu select Lumber.  Click the Calculate button to see how much this route will pay you. Then click Drive This Route. And away you go!!

Flying To Contracts — Your Next Run

You’ve arrived in London and made some decent coin. Congratulations! Good driving! So…what do you do next?

1. REPAIR YOUR TRUCK. In case you missed that one, let me repeat: REPAIR YOUR TRUCK!! You have to get into the habit of doing that first thing. You will notice something interesting, the current value of your truck increases when you repair your truck with fresh tires on. The difference between your purchase price and it’s current value is what it just cost you to rent that truck for this run.
2. SELL YOUR FRESH TIRES. And any air or fuel filter you purchased. Make note of what it cost you to rent those items.
3. NOW SELL YOUR TRUCK. It’s not really yours. Don’t fall in love with it. You only rented it. Your next one will also be a rental.
4. FIND YOUR NEXT CONTRACT ROUTE. Since in our example you’re in London, you need to find a contract in North America or Australia to run.
5. FLY TO YOUR NEXT CONTRACT RUN’S SUPPLY CITY. Get into the habit of flying to the supply city with the lowest airfare if at all possible.
6. PURCHASE A TRUCK. Don’t buy a fancy truck. Under a separate heading I’ll show you what trucks I usually drive. Just get a serviceable truck.
7. PURCHASE FRESH TIRES. Fresh tires increase the condition of your truck and allows you to haul more tonnage. It increases the value of your truck. ALWAYS purchase Fresh Tires.
8. REPAIR YOUR TRUCK. Do this AFTER you purchase Fresh Tires and BEFORE you select your route.
9. SELECT YOUR ROUTE. You know where to find this in your company’s bulletins.
10. DRIVE THIS ROUTE. You’re on your way to making great coin. Drive Safe! Don’t Speed! Don’t exceed 10FP.
11. WHEN YOUR REACH YOUR DESTINATION, REPAIR YOUR TRUCK!! Always do that first thing.
12. REPEAT STEPS 1-12 You’re going to have a lot of fun with this, and you’ll make great coin.

Schmitty’s Truck Lot — What To Buy (Rent)

These are the trucks that you want to drive when you’re flying to contracts. I remind y’all again that you are renting these trucks, not buying them. So don’t fall in love with them. And don’t be lured into or bewitched by the spendy trucks in the game just because the look and seem cool. Making a lot of coin is not about looks. It’s about making profits and keeping expense to the minimum. So…here are my recommended trucks. They are all trucks that I myself drive, and they represent good value and reliability on all 3 continents. Some are continent specific, some are available everywhere. You will make a profit with any of these.

1997 Kenworth W900

$11,700

1998 Peterbuilt 379

$11.700

These first two trucks are the basic trucks you’ll want to drive when you start flying. In fact, you could drive these two trucks forever and make great coin. You never really need to drive any truck but these two. These are also great for shorter contracts runs for drivers of any level.

IF and when you want to step up to the next level, the following trucks can driven on any continent:

2000 Western Star 4900FA

$25,200

I usually drive this one in North America when I have a long run.

2000 Freightliner Classic XL

$22,500

Again, I’m more inclined to drive this in North America. But every so often, just for laughs, I will drive this in Europe, especially if it’s contract run to Volvograd….’cause NOTHING says EUROPE like a 2000 Freightline Classic XL!!

But, human nature being what it is, we like a little variety. And as for me, I will generally drive continent-specific trucks when I’m flying.

Europe:

1998 Seddon Atkinson

$13,950

This is truck EVERYONE should drive in Europe. This is probably the best and most reliable truck in the game. It’s crapstastic Euro-truck of choice. And it should be your as well. When I started flying to contracts, and even before since I started my driving in Europe, THIS was my truck. I’ve driven it from Porto or Barcelona to Volgograd and back many times. This the only truck you need to ever drive in Europe.

But….human nature being what it, I’ve got two more Euro-trucks to recommend if you want to step it up a notch:

2000 Volvo FH16

$22,500

This is a nice truck if you want something fancy to toodle around Europe in. I don’t drive it as much now as I used to. But I recommend this one.

2005 Mercedes-Benz Actros

$43,650

This is most expensive truck I recommend. I drive it in when I have a long route, or a need for the extra speed when helping to complete a contract. Don’t ever EVER EVER spend more than $43,650 on a truck. ONLY in Europe will invest this much upfront to RENT a truck. DON’T be tempted to do this anywhere else but Europe, and only with THIS truck.

North America:

2001 Mack CH613

$26,550

If you want to drive a yellow truck, the this is the yellow truck you want to drive.

Australia:

1999 Kenworth K104

$15,750

This is a good basic truck for Australia. You could run this one everytime you drive downunder and make some great coin. I’ve driven this one a lot.

2000 Kenworth T404ST

$24,768

This my favourite Australian truck. It’s the only one I drive in Australia now. I call her Priscilla, Queen of The Desert. As you can guess, I like this one as much as the Seddon Atkinson.

What NOT To Drive:

Do not, under any circumstances, drive a truck that costs you more that 43,650!! It’s not worth it, you will lose money, you will not make good coin. The reason being is the differential between the purchase price and the resale price makes it’s virtually impossible to make a good profit. The idea here is to make the MOST profit. So DON’T EVER EVER drive of THESE trucks:

They’re nice to look at. But they’re not going to make a $1.000,000 in a year. The more modest truck I’ve recommend to you will make you that kind of coin. I’ve done it driving the modest trucks. You can do it too.

Advanced Flying Tips

These are tips for the more experienced flyer. But anyone can benefit from them. I’ll more as I think of them or if people as me about something I haven’t covered here.

1. FLYING TO ROUTES ON THE SAME CONTINENT. I’ll be honest here. This one threw me for a loop at first. Let’s say you’ve run a contract load of grain from Prudhoe Bay to Churchill. Now you want to run the same route again without driving a backhaul. How do you do it? You can’t fly from one NA destination to another. You can only fly continent to continent. So what you need to do when deliver you load is check and see what the cheapest flight out of your destination is. I’ll give you a hint, it’s usually somewhere in Australia. And if you’re in Australia, your cheapest flight is usually to somewhere like  Halifax, Porto or Malaga. When you get the cheapest flight out, and before you fly, check the cost from there to the supply city. Get in the habit of checking the Flight Cost Calculator (you’ll find that under the Game Statistics link )for various flight combinations. In our example, the best flight combination is Churchill to Albany to Prudhoe Bay. Churchill to Albany is 411 and Albany to Prudhoe Bay is 727. Total of  1138. Now generally that’s WAY to pricey for a flight, but if the circumstances call for duplicating your route on the same continent, then go for it. Generally, this sort of route is used only when a contract deadline looms and your need to take one for the team to help finish off a contract.  On rare occasions, the flight back to the same continent could be cheaper than a flight to a different continent for a contract, but that’s pretty uncommon. On occasion, it makes sense too because your hometown is one of the contract supply cities so you save an FP repairing yer truck before loading up. Anyway, that’s how it’s done.
2. ENDORSEMENTS.  As your driver rating increases you quite naturally want to get more endoresements so you haul higher tonnage and thus make more coin. You want to get the Double Trailer Endorsement. then the Triple Trailer Endorsement,and finally the Oversized Load Endorsement. These, as you reach the DR plateaus needed to qualify for them are great investment that will pay you back many times over. BUT….there is one endorsement you do NOT want to have. It will COST you DEARLY if you get it. And that is the Lowboy Endorsement. DON’T be tempted by this one. I’ve done the math and it’s not worth it if your flying to contracts. What happens is that the maximum load the Lowboy Endorsement allows you to drive forces you to buy the more expensive trucks. The cost of renting these trucks that can haul 30 tons is FAR greater than the few more dollars the 60,000lb load will pay you versus the coin you make with the 55,000 lb load that I can drive with my Overside Load Endorsement. The Lowboy Endorsement will greatly cut into your profitability. It is NOT a smart investment. As you approach the 100 DR level, please by all means DON’T be tempted by it. My DR is currently 145.94 as I type this, and the only endorsement I have is my Oversize Load Endorsement which I just renewed.

Stay tuned for more advanced Flying tips.

If you have questions, message me at Evil Schmitty in the game.

And yes, please join MTA Worldwide. We’re the best.