Any of you play ATS to help you get a CDL? -- I did, and it worked.

[TheChiefGnome]

Just in case anyone was reading this forum and wondering. I'm in the US, and got this game while in CDL school. I was struggling with backing and with cornering; -- and getting a "real" simulator was out of the question, so was buying a truck.... [to state the obvious]

Got a Logitech wheel and pedals, and followed tutorials in here made by real, experienced truckers for adjusting your game, and got the mods recommended by same. Set up on 2 20" monitors, and found the perfect truckstop with lots of room to do the 100, the offset and the 90.

The truck stop is in Klamath Falls Oregon in case anyone wants to know, but I'm sure many of the larger truckstops in the game will suffice.

My turns improved. My backing improved. Is it "real"? No. One thing I did not bother with was the gearbox. No way would that be anything like in a real semi. Lots of other elements are also far from real. The ATS turns are WAY forgiving. Braking is just. not. right. even with the mods installed. So don't expect it to be realistic. It isn't.

But is it close enough to help you?
I'm proof.

This program helped me get a CDL.

And now, I get to play just for fun.

[skyfyre_]

That's cool! Yea. It did help me understand length + weight -skill gave me a good concept on how to do it the right way. I live by a truck route. Bout 5 miles from town, I can ID all the trucks I see. That turned out to be a cool perk. I found some vids on utubez that helped me in game. I still have to do external. I've been at it long enough I use the mirrors quite a bit now.
Congrats on getting your CDL. I'm sure the devs would love to hear your story.
Head to the forums and post there.

[Etny2k]

That is cool it helped. I am 37 and I have a sort of fear driving. Like I am about to wreck. I think that is why I like this game so much. I drove for 11,000 hauls on world of trucks and I feel my driving didn't get any better. I learned how to cheese situations and make the game play well. I would say the best thing this game can teach you is your turns and your parking.

[Qrazy]

I think the game gives you a good idea on the concept of operating a combination vehicle. Which way to turn when reversing causes the trailer to go this way or that etc.
Oddly enough I find it much easier to back up, dock, and park IRL than in game. The other side of that is some of the places I delver to IRL are much more difficult to get into than in game.

Like I said, I think the game gives you a good idea on the basic concepts of driving a truck but I don't feel I had any advantages over other students in my class because I played ATS/ETS2 for a few hundred hours each prior to going to CDL school.

[LarryA]

Congratulations to all of you for getting your CDL. ATS will help to learn the basics of backing a semi. If I may please remember safety first and never stop learning. Retired independent.

Have A Great Day

[arcadiassx999]

That's great. I'm getting close to getting my permit then off to CDL school.

[Hylton Trucking]

It definitely helps you understand making turns & backing