Trukz, the trucking sim

[FrogMan]

okay, I've done the brash move and have sold my truck. That piece of crap was not gonna get me anywhere fast with a top speed of 48 MPH.

I'm now the proud owner of a 1989 Volvo WIA64T who's got a flying top speed of 60 MPH. Now we're talking!

Overall, I'll chalk that move in the rookie mistake category. I bought the first truck $4,500 and sold it for $3,257 after using it only for 1958 miles. This new truck will be with me for a loooong time though. Think about it, evrey four hours of driving with the never one, I'll do the same as 5 hours of driving with the old truck. That's a 25% net increase in productivity right there. And the fuel efficiency is about the same.

FM

[FrogMan]

I now have 40 drivers listed in the first post which, if we started our own company, would put us about 11th out of 21 companies at the moment. Not bad...

FM

[Brillig]

I'd thought about an upgrade, but I started with the Freightliner so it wasn't as big a jump... I think I'm gonna hold out until I can afford one of the ~10k trucks.

[MrBug708]

Originally Posted by MrBigglesworth

Whats the points of going over your HOS? Why risk getting a ticket? Does it really even slow you down to wait? I did that same route my first one, and netted something like $300.

Wanted to see what would happen. *shrugs*

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

Wanted to see what would happen. *shrugs*

thanks for being the guinea pig. We appreciate your dedication.

FM

[MrBug708]

Someone had to do it, wasn't sure if it was an automatic ticket, or what. Didnt help that I fell asleep and damaged my truck either

[sooner333]

I'm in as sooner333.

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

Someone had to do it, wasn't sure if it was an automatic ticket, or what. Didnt help that I fell asleep and damaged my truck either

well, how many legs did you do over and what happened? What I read on their forums is that every legs over 10 FP is a random event that could bring you either an accident or a ticket... What the probablity is, that I don't know...

FM

[MikeVic]

Where do you see other trucks to buy?

[FrogMan]

under "Game Statistics", click on "Truck Lot"

FM

[heybrad]

Originally Posted by MikeVic

Where do you see other trucks to buy?

Click on Game Statistics and there's an option to see the Truck Lot. You have to sell your truck before you can buy a new one.

[MrBug708]

Originally Posted by FrogMan

well, how many legs did you do over and what happened? What I read on their forums is that every legs over 10 FP is a random event that could bring you either an accident or a ticket... What the probablity is, that I don't know...

FM

13 I think?

[heybrad]

Just got my extra $3K!

[tarcone]

Woo Hoo, me too

Im rolling in cash now as I head down the road to Halifax from Minneapolis carrying 40k of Construction Equipment

I banked $100 as on mondays you get 1% back. I know its only $1 but what the heck, 1 more then I had.

this trip could be a big payday for me. almost $1800. I may look at new trucks and join a company. although I like being an independent

[tarcone]

If you sell your truck and that puts you over 7K can you start a company?

I think that would be the way to go. Then after cashing in on the drivers (esp our group) you could buy a truck pretty quick.

[tarcone]

If I make it on time, I am going to load up some cotton in Halifax and take it to NYC
East coast swing is next. I will buy a new truck in Atlanta or Jax

[path12]

I'm not showing up on the list yet. I'm in as path12. On my third route, gen merch from Vancouver to Billings.

I've had two mechanical probs so far. Those suck.

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by tarcone

If you sell your truck and that puts you over 7K can you start a company?

I think that would be the way to go. Then after cashing in on the drivers (esp our group) you could buy a truck pretty quick.

I think you need to have a truck to be able to creat a company, but one thing I know is that the money the company gets goes to the company, not to the CEO directly. The CEO is paid a salary though...

FM

[MrBigglesworth]

Originally Posted by tarcone

If you sell your truck and that puts you over 7K can you start a company?

I think that would be the way to go. Then after cashing in on the drivers (esp our group) you could buy a truck pretty quick.

Don't forget you need 10k miles.

[vex]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

13 I think?

I went to 12 last night and was fine.

[hawk4669]

In the game as Hawk4669.

Cheers!

[FrogMan]

after reading this game guide on how the calculation is made for the pay per mile, I've decided to try something.

I was located in Southport and I thought, what's the top demanded cargo that I could haul back to one of my company's terminal. That would probably maximize the money I could make out of one route.

I spotted cardboard as the top cargo, and it's only available from Monterrey, Mexico. It is in demand in three of the company's cities with terminals, i.e. Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Vancouver. So I'm going down to Monterrey with a plain load of cotton to pick up some cardboard. I will see about where I decided to haul it back to, but this is the plan for now...

I've hit the road and that new truck is gold, going at a steady 59 MPH, I'm breezing.

FM

[MrBigglesworth]

Frogman, have you ran the stats on if it is worth it to join a company? Let's say you get $500, 11% to company = $55, you pay $250 for gas = $25, then $150 for repairs at 15% = $22...you end up paying the company $8. Moreover, the more efficient routes you take (more $ per mile, bonuses, etc), the more the company makes.

So are the terminals what make companies worthwhile?

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by MrBigglesworth

Frogman, have you ran the stats on if it is worth it to join a company? Let's say you get $500, 11% to company = $55, you pay $250 for gas = $25, then $150 for repairs at 15% = $22...you end up paying the company $8. Moreover, the more efficient routes you take (more $ per mile, bonuses, etc), the more the company makes.

So are the terminals what make companies worthwhile?

I've writen down every income/expenses that is split with the company since the arrival of my second route. So far, I don't have much data to be honest, and I had not even thought about the bonus on the routes I'm getting, not too sure how much of an advantage they are. I mean, maybe they are, but not as much as one would think. More data will be needed...

FM

[illinifan999]

Dumb question, but how do you pull over when you're exhausted?

Also driver name is dansik

[JeeberD]

Jeebie Dee is on the road somewhere between El Paso and Yucca Mountain...

[MrBug708]

Originally Posted by illinifan999

Dumb question, but how do you pull over when you're exhausted?

Also driver name is dansik

I think you just don't advance the game

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by illinifan999

Dumb question, but how do you pull over when you're exhausted?

Also driver name is dansik

Originally Posted by MrBug708

I think you just don't advance the game

what he said. You have nothing special to do, simply do not click the "Next Leg" button for a little while. After one real time hour, your driver will have lost one fatigue point and you'll be allowed to click "Next Leg" once, and so on. You can also go away from the game for 5 hours and then advance it 5 turns (or legs, or driving hours whichever way you wanna see it)...

FM

[Axxon]

I just joined as Axxon. Already have a pm asking for me to join a company South East Express. Surely that isn't anybody from here right?

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by Axxon

I just joined as Axxon. Already have a pm asking for me to join a company South East Express. Surely that isn't anybody from here right?

Nope, I don't know anybody from me who's shown that they knew the game before I posted about it. We will most certainly form an FOFC company at some point I would think.

FM

[SnDvls]

I'm taking a chance on a load from Vancouver to Montrey with an overloaded truck of 45,000...I'm not going to push my HOS thought as the $150 ticket plus repairs only netted me $150 of my $750 total last leg.

[molson]

Originally Posted by MrBigglesworth

Frogman, have you ran the stats on if it is worth it to join a company? Let's say you get $500, 11% to company = $55, you pay $250 for gas = $25, then $150 for repairs at 15% = $22...you end up paying the company $8. Moreover, the more efficient routes you take (more $ per mile, bonuses, etc), the more the company makes.

So are the terminals what make companies worthwhile?

There's a couple other things as far as I can tell (I'm not sure if they add up to making companies worthwhile or not).

-Sharing information - my company's bulletin board has tips about the most profitable routes members have found for that week
-Stocks - A lot of them are private, available only to company members. Stock prices are calculated from cash on hand, amount of terminals, and amount of members. So if you get in early and have some cash, they can be a good source of income with a growing company.
-Wages - A company can have as many "paid" members as they want, who receive a cut of the bottom line. It looks like the big Canadian Freightweighs company only has 3 "employees", while C&S already has 6. Theoretically, if you're a "good earner", you can demand a paid position from your CEO and threaten to leave.
-Discounts on certain items - I thought I read this somewhere, I don't know if anyone is using it yet
-Incentives - C&S ups your rebate %s and lowers your commission %s once you reach certain thresholds.

So with all that, I have to believe companies are worth it.

Anyway, it's cool to start in a game like this that's relatively new, as opposed to something like Omerta, which had this whole weird snobby culture developed over time.

[vex]

Originally Posted by molson

There's a couple other things as far as I can tell (I'm not sure if they add up to making companies worthwhile or not).

-Sharing information - my company's bulletin board has tips about the most profitable routes members have found for that week
-Stocks - A lot of them are private, available only to company members. Stock prices are calculated from cash on hand, amount of terminals, and amount of members. So if you get in early and have some cash, they can be a good source of income with a growing company.
-Wages - A company can have as many "paid" members as they want, who receive a cut of the bottom line. It looks like the big Canadian Freightweighs company only has 3 "employees", while C&S already has 6. Theoretically, if you're a "good earner", you can demand a paid position from your CEO and threaten to leave.
-Discounts on certain items - I thought I read this somewhere, I don't know if anyone is using it yet
-Incentives - C&S ups your rebate %s and lowers your commission %s once you reach certain thresholds.

So with all that, I have to believe companies are worth it.

Anyway, it's cool to start in a game like this that's relatively new, as opposed to something like Omerta, which had this whole weird snobby culture developed over time.

I thought you could only have 8 people on salary?

[molson]

Originally Posted by vex

I thought you could only have 8 people on salary?

My bad, I missed that in the guide. (You can have more than 1 of anything but CEO and VP, but yes, you can only have 8 waged employees).

[condors]

joined as mike stone

[Alan T]

Originally Posted by FrogMan

after reading this game guide on how the calculation is made for the pay per mile, I've decided to try something.

I was located in Southport and I thought, what's the top demanded cargo that I could haul back to one of my company's terminal. That would probably maximize the money I could make out of one route.

I spotted cardboard as the top cargo, and it's only available from Monterrey, Mexico. It is in demand in three of the company's cities with terminals, i.e. Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Vancouver. So I'm going down to Monterrey with a plain load of cotton to pick up some cardboard. I will see about where I decided to haul it back to, but this is the plan for now...

I've hit the road and that new truck is gold, going at a steady 59 MPH, I'm breezing.

FM

Thats what my plan is right now. I am on the road with a load of mobile homes from richmond to El paso (#2 demanded) and will take a short trip from elpasso to monterrey. Then just go back and forth from monterrey to mexico city with this trip.

My only problem is on my trip to el paso, Ive already broken down for repairs 4 times.

[Brillig]

Remember that the goods are supposed to change on Monday, so I think we've only got 33 more hours to cash in on cardboard.

[kingfc22]

in as David Gonzalez

[RainRaven]

in as RainRaven

[kingfc22]

FM keep driving. We need FOFC INC. to open up

[Radii]

Originally Posted by Brillig

Remember that the goods are supposed to change on Monday, so I think we've only got 33 more hours to cash in on cardboard.

Yeah I'm staying in the southeast until the change on Monday, doing short routes between Southport and Richmond with Mobile Homes. I only get $189 taking cotton from Southport to Richmond but I get $586 taking Mobile Homes from Richmond to Southport, which is a terminal for my company. That's $775 for 604 miles round trip, i doubt i can top that rate anywhere else, so i'm going to keep doing it until the the cargo changes on monday.

Doh, i got a ticket last night b/c I pushed it past my HOS, I did it b/c I was going to bed and didn't think I'd be at the computer again before my route was considered late, oh well! The sucky thing is that it takes my driver rating back down to 0. I was at 0.45!

[SnDvls]

Originally Posted by FrogMan

thanks for being the guinea pig. We appreciate your dedication.

FM

the ticket cost actually varies on what point over HOS you are too.

[SnDvls]

Originally Posted by molson

My bad, I missed that in the guide. (You can have more than 1 of anything but CEO and VP, but yes, you can only have 8 waged employees).

yes but you can "rotate" these people too

[MrBigglesworth]

Originally Posted by Brillig

Remember that the goods are supposed to change on Monday, so I think we've only got 33 more hours to cash in on cardboard.

Question: are you paid the bonus if you leave before the most in-demand good changes, or if you complete the route before the switchover?

[vex]

Not sure. FM asked the same question earlier on the forums there.

[azjoe_02]

in as: azjoe02

[GoSeahawks]

Signed up as Nathan Hicks

[FrogMan]

Originally Posted by MrBigglesworth

Question: are you paid the bonus if you leave before the most in-demand good changes, or if you complete the route before the switchover?

as vex said, I had asked about this on their website and just got an answer from admin, the game developper himself:

The bonus is determined when you select your route. If the supply and demand of cities change mid-route it will have no effect on your payout.

I think it's pretty clear...

FM

[JeffNights]

JeffNights is on the Road! From Detorit to Minnesota with 20 tons of cotton baby!

Oh, and since i didnt have a clue, i ran my HOS up to 15, fell asleep at the wheel and crashed my truck, $322 repair bill and back up again.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Lemme see if I've kind of got this straight.

The game basically plays in real-time, so if you ordered up 10 hours of driving (which seems to be the maximum smart amount at one time) and you could either walk away for 10 hours & come back whenever to complete the load or you could check back in 6 hours later & add another 6 hours worth of driving onto the back end of the trip?