How realistic is this?

[Freakolas Cage]

I'm esentially training myself to become a truck driver (or preparing as much as I can for a quick school). Will this teach me how to use a manual transmission, how to shift, and how to back up big rigs?

[xaagon]

My opinion: No real training for shifting. Probably some basics for navigating and parking with a trailer.

Disclaimer: I have never driven anything bigger in real life than an F-350 box truck.

Here's a link to a youtube video on parking trailers in this game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-ayWqJJQrE

[Ornery]

It does a fairly good job of the blind and claustrophobic feeling of backing with only mirrors. Shifting, not really.
Happy trucking

[ROLEX]

Shifting, no. Clutching, no. Backing up? Pretty good. I'm actually impressed by the accuracy of the trailer tracking depending on the length of it. That goes for forward and in reverse.
This will help you even if you just have a small boat on the back or a pickup in real life.

[C-FPAS]

I'm a Real Trucker and for me for more real , Change at 1400 - 1500 RPM max in low speed , 1300 - 1400 RPM max in med speed, 1200 - 1300 RPM max in high speed ...
And for Down - Shift , when you braking , Change ( 2 Clics shift down ) at 950 - 1000 RPM ...
Sorry for my speak I'm a french ....

[Rookie-31st]

Despite what others said, if you are used to automatic transmission only than this game is capable of teaching you the very basics mechanics of manual transmission - when to use clutch and shift up or down. It took me few days to learn to use my left foot at least on time, withoit stalling an engine, and I am sure this experience would be much handy (footy?) if I choose to test drive a truck now. Of course, you will still need practice driving real truck. But I think it is a very good start, if you have a wheel with shifter and pedals. It is not 100% authentic, and not as advanced as specialised simulators, but it is good for getting basic understanding of the process.

[Andros]

You can install the demo and if you like it's features go on ahead and buy it :)

[Jackrabbit_V6/ RSProduxx]

i can say that ETS2 made me understand the backing-up with a trailer better during my training time...

since most trucks over here are automatic anyway, i didn´t have to bother with that shifting stuff much... These games can give you a good impression of the way how a truck acts, maneuvers, how careful you have to be about it´s dimension and the like, how VERY different they drive compared to cars... but obviously it´s not a hardcore simulation, especially on the physics side of things... but it reflects the real thing pretty well...

in short:

can it replace real driving school? no
can it support your basic understanding of truck driving? yea,to some extent...

[Freakolas Cage]

Originally posted by Jackrabbit_V6:

i can say that ETS2 made me understand the backing-up with a trailer better during my training time...

since most trucks over here are automatic anyway, i didn´t have to bother with that shifting stuff much... These games can give you a good impression of the way how a truck acts, maneuvers, how careful you have to be about it´s dimension and the like, how VERY different they drive compared to cars... but obviously it´s not a hardcore simulation, especially on the physics side of things... but it reflects the real thing pretty well...

in short:

can it replace real driving school? no
can it support your basic understanding of truck driving? yea,to some extent...

Thank you so much!

[Twelvefield]

This is far from a hard-core simulator. It's edu-tainment or role-playing. Especially at such a low price point, you're not going to get much realism. Microsoft Flight Simulator will teach you a lot more about flying than Truck Simulator will teach you about trucking. ATS is at about the level of Garage Simulator.

All that being said, it is a fun game if you like transport, and certainly worth the buy if only to support good devs.

[LazerKarate8]

Originally posted by Centers for Disease Control:

I'm esentially training myself to become a truck driver (or preparing as much as I can for a quick school). Will this teach me how to use a manual transmission, how to shift, and how to back up big rigs?

No. Double, triple, quadruple NO.

You'll be grinding gears and backing over dumpsters if you go by this game.

[LazerKarate8]

Originally posted by rookie31st:

Despite what others said, if you are used to automatic transmission only than this game is capable of teaching you the very basics mechanics of manual transmission - when to use clutch and shift up or down. It took me few days to learn to use my left foot at least on time, withoit stalling an engine, and I am sure this experience would be much handy (footy?) if I choose to test drive a truck now. Of course, you will still need practice driving real truck. But I think it is a very good start, if you have a wheel with shifter and pedals. It is not 100% authentic, and not as advanced as specialised simulators, but it is good for getting basic understanding of the process.

The shifting in this game acts like you're shifting a car. It's not realistic in the very least.

Tractor trailer transmissions aren't synchronized. And if you think you'll get hired by a company with an automatic transmission restriction on your license, then forget about getting a CDL. Unless you want to drive school buses, no one is going to want you because you'll be incapable of filling in for other drivers.

[room217au]

Originally posted by padimite:

Originally posted by rookie31st:

Despite what others said, if you are used to automatic transmission only than this game is capable of teaching you the very basics mechanics of manual transmission - when to use clutch and shift up or down. It took me few days to learn to use my left foot at least on time, withoit stalling an engine, and I am sure this experience would be much handy (footy?) if I choose to test drive a truck now. Of course, you will still need practice driving real truck. But I think it is a very good start, if you have a wheel with shifter and pedals. It is not 100% authentic, and not as advanced as specialised simulators, but it is good for getting basic understanding of the process.

The shifting in this game acts like you're shifting a car. It's not realistic in the very least.

Tractor trailer transmissions aren't synchronized. And if you think you'll get hired by a company with an automatic transmission restriction on your license, then forget about getting a CDL. Unless you want to drive school buses, no one is going to want you because you'll be incapable of filling in for other drivers.

.. watch yer cogs.

[Kami102]

it's a great game to use to practice backing up with and unloading cargo. Does the job amazingly well, especially in those extremely tight spaces that I love.

Everything else? Nah.

[HGV Driver]

Originally posted by Kami102:

it's a great game to use to practice backing up with and unloading cargo. Does the job amazingly well, especially in those extremely tight spaces that I love.

Everything else? Nah.

It don`t give you NO experience at all of unloading cargo. You try pressing a button in a truck in RL and dropping your trailer, then try and pull away leaving your trailer behind. You`ll find it still attached to your truck.

[room217au]

Originally posted by HGV Driver:

Originally posted by Kami102:

it's a great game to use to practice backing up with and unloading cargo. Does the job amazingly well, especially in those extremely tight spaces that I love.

Everything else? Nah.

It don`t give you NO experience at all of unloading cargo. You try pressing a button in a truck in RL and dropping your trailer, then try and pull away leaving your trailer behind. You`ll find it still attached to your truck.

Curtain-sider buckles.. the first 1000 are the hardest.
Leg-winches.. 12mths later you find your right arm is 4 times larger than your left.
It's raining. Tarp your load. The clove-hitch is your friend :)