Here goes Lopov in his BIG orange Volvo cab. What are you hauling today? Looks like construction equipment of some kind. Some important job somewhere. Woo hoo!

Yeah it really is dark. That's exactly what the American west at night is like. Ha! The Vplvo's got the same turn signal noise my mom's Saab used to have

Wow, that's Bon Jovi? I've never heard this song before.





I was gonna say most driving games reward the gamer in other ways, right? Racing games.. you are rewarded for going fast and beating everyone else. GTA... you are rewarded with gold stars for causing as much havoc and crime possible. Truck Simulator rewards for following rules (or breaking them slightly, in the case of going slightly over the speed limit, I assume. Nobody drives the actual limit in America unless they're impaired or older).

Uh oh, Zero Tolerance Zone! You haven't been drinking, have you Lopov? I love seeing the opposing traffic coming the other direction. This is giving me nostalgia for my youth.

Whoa, I think I see Vegas. Watch out for ghouls and raiders and Khans!

The steering wheel has freeking phone call buttons!

Uh oh.... did you get stuck? Oh. I think you had to turn the music down because of copyright stuff. Bummer.

There it is Interstate 15 I've been on that highway before. How do you move your driver's head around? I know WASD = truck movement right? But I guess you're using the mouse to move his head?

Ha ha a street cleaner cleaning the highway! I have never seen such a thing!


Acadian I am also glad you got to recognize some landmarks and buildings.

@SubRosa - sometimes I overtake others as well, but that usually means that I'm not having a trailer attached.

@Renee - that song from Bon Jovi has been very popular here.

You can earn a bonus if you deliver some cargo very quickly, but that usually means going over speed limit, which in turn increases a chance for a fine or even for an accident. Fines are fairly high, so there's no point in driving fast, because bonuses for quick deliveries aren't that high.

You control the camera around with your mouse, it can be fairly difficult to rotate the camera around and manage your truck driving completely straight.

Street cleaners here are fairly common, but they clean up roads, where higher speeds are allowed, at late nights only. If sober, you can't miss them, because they have dozens of flashing blinkers.

I took the following pics a while ago, but I'm fairly certain that the first ones are from Portland.

Keep to the right

Police on the left

The town of bridges

Destination Seattle

On the bridge again

Some go east, but we go north

Posing

Seattle

Seattle 2

Chopper in the air

What's that landmark in the distance, citizens of the US?

I don't know the answer but maybe some of you would know.

Renee, what's the name of the volcano, that you asked me about, if it's present in the game?

Mount Saint Helens is the volcano. It blew up on my mom's birthday when I was in grade school.

I check out the rest of the pics later... getting out of work now.

I have no idea what that big building in the distance is in the last pic. I am from Detroit. All I know about Seattle is the space needle, coffee, and Nirvana. Oh, and Shadowrun of course.

Some great pictures up around Seattle. The game looks just great! Posing - lol! Sorry, I'm not familiar with that big blockish building in the distance either.

Some great pictures up around Seattle. The game looks just great! Posing - lol! Sorry, I'm not familiar with that big blockish building in the distance either.

I’ve never been to Seattle but going by the shape it could be the Pacific Medical Center

Or it could be Barad-Dur

I checked the wiki and it's in the game. I haven't noticed it yet, however.



Trucks like to pose too.



Okay, thanks, I'll check if that'll come up with any results in the ATS wiki.






EDIT: The Pacific MC didn't come up among results, but the Pacific Tower did. This could be it, I think. Some additional googling revealed that the Pacific Tower used to be known as the Pacific Medical Center.

for macole.

Yes, the third picture is definitely Portland. Gosh I miss that town. Steel Bridge is the one with the pulleys up top in the far distance. The next bridge (closer) is Burnside. That's where I almost got ambushed in that bicycle protest! Hawthorne is the closest bridge, I think. See, that is Interstate 5. In those days I mostly lived on the right side of town, either Northeast or Southeast.

I am thinking the "on the bridge" pic is the bridge going over the Columbia River? So that would be just after leaving Portland, right? That bridge goes into Vancouver, which is the first town north, so now you'd be in Washington. If you ever do that route again look to the right with your mouse. Mount Saint Helens should be to the right somewhere north of Vancouver.

Ah, no Space Needle. Too bad. That's the only landmark I know in Seattle. Seattle and Portland are both famous for microbrews (homemade beers, sort of) grunge music (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, etc.) and coffee coffee coffee. My theory: coffee is important because most of the year, let's say 8 or 9 months, are 'bad' weather. Important to keep one from getting depressed, coffee is.

And I think that's my fixation with gaming during bad weather. When I lived there, Tomb Raider became my favorite game once I discovered it. I'd be gaming for stupid hours as it was overcast / rainy. Because if you live there and it's nice outside, you'd better get out and enjoy it because it could be days or weeks before it's nice again, sometimes!

Yes, you're right, I crossed that bridge when I was leaving Portland behind. Now I know where to look for the volcano. I'm glad that you're remembering events from your past through the game.

Desert road

Carson City

Ever since my childhood I've known all capitals (and flags) of every world country. Mostly thanks to my unfortunately too-early deceased uncle who taught me this stuff. When I mastered all capitals, we went on learning capitals of all US states. I remember that Nevada was one of the first states, whose capital I learned. So Carson City is more or less stuck in my memory for good. I don't remember the capitals of every US state anymore, but I'd probably get around 40 of them still correct. Anyway...

Anyone recognize this landmark in Carson City?

Long load

From the front side

Destination: Olympia

In Olympia I bought this garage, hired my first driver, gave her my Volvo to drive and bought myself...

...the white beast Kenworth!

I love pearl white vehicles in real life, which explains the choice behind the color

Inside

Just like it takes in real life to get used to a new vehicle, so it's in this game. You can't just hop in and expect that it'll drive in the same way. Kenworth is way faster, which means that I must start braking earlier to stop on time, it's front part is longer and wider, so I must get used to cornering. But I'll be able to haul heavier cargo with it.

Nope, I have no idea what that brick building in Carson City is!

I am not sure if I remember the capitals of all the US states either anymore, and I live here! Some of them are pretty obscure, like Lincoln, Nebraska. I have no idea what the capital of Delaware is. Ok, I looked it up, Dover. Just so Delawaran's do not think I am throwing shade on them, I am sure most folks do not know that the capital of Michigan is Lansing either.

A new Lopov secret base, and a big KW rig to go with it? Wowzers!

I wouldn't know Delaware either. I know of Nebraska, because the capital city shares its name with the car brand. And the president was also namef after the car brand I might think of Lansing if I thought long enough. But Delaware & Dover no way. It's like I hear it for the first time.

What I call the 'Reno-Fallon-Tahoe triangle' of Nevada is a beautiful area. It includes Carson City and is where the old Bonanza tv show took place with the Cartwright family and their Ponderosa Ranch.

That particular style of the older Kenworths with the long bonnet and sharp angles is absolutely gorgeous. You could not have made a more beautiful choice!

I think I've been through Carson City. Holy [censored] there's a green cross! That's a marijuana dispensary!

How many miles have you racked up so far?

You're back in Oregon / Washington. Must be nice to have a garage there, too. If you stay in this area you should see more rain for sure. Drizzly rain though, not downpours.

You gave her your Volvo cab? I have to get this game. American Truck Simulator is not Rockstar. Anyway I am glad you kept the Volvo. I dunno.... I've become attached to it and I'm not even playing.

Your pearl white Kenworth has a sleeper, can you sleep anywhere now?

EDIT: Delaware = Dover, but I know this only because it's not far from Maryland.
EDIT 2: I knew Michigan and Lansing too, but only because I had relatives who lived there.

@Acadian - that truck is beautiful indeed, rarely I'v seen such a good-looking truck. It really stands out among others. Can these or similar types still be seen in the USA? I chose it particularly because of its retro style.

@Renee - the only way to keep my first Volvo truck was to buy another garage. When that was done, it felt pointless leaving it there without any further use, so I hired a driver. Now my Volvo is being in use, and I also get money from contracts, which my driver completes, but of course she gets a regular pay as well. This is all done automatically in the game, you can't decide not to pay your drivers.

Although having a sleeper cab, that's purely cosmetic, you can't use it and can only rest in designated areas.

I must check miles counter the next time that I'm behind the wheel.

The green cross stands for the marijuana shop? In our parts it stands for pharmacy.

America's Finest

First haul with the new truck

White Prince in Flagstaff

We stopped on the side to admire the sunset

Onwards

Big flash

White steering wheel

Sleeping area

I assume that's some landmark? Between Elko and Salt Lake City.

Tunnel ahead

Ujo Bujo

Empty road, take me home...

The White Prince has been heavily modified - additional mirrors, lights, black alloy wheels, new bumpers and protectors, etc etc.

There's the red flag too!

Time to rest

Good night

I placed two shields with the inscription Lopov on both sides on the front windshield, but why would I have double Lopov, when I can have...

...this?

Left "front leg" out - even more lights have been placed on the roof alongside with the metal spoiler

That classic Kenworth and Peterbilt style seen on the White Prince is getting harder to see on the roads as aerodynamics and newer efficient trucks are gradually replacing those older beauties.

In your big flash, the truck looks almost as awesome at night as it does during the day.

Beautiful shots of Arizona and surrounding desert areas.

My, you certainly have got the White Prince all pimped out in full LopovChorrol regalia!

Move over Wayne Newton, there is a new Mr. Vegas!

The Lopov-mobile is a pimped out ride!

Here's a fairly long LP, about 1 hour, that I made in July, uploaded in August and forgot to share it here until now, that Renee reminded me. If anyone's interested and has a lot of time, you're welcome to watch it.

Long LP

To avoid copyright issues and troubles with viewing the video I was tuned to some popular German radio, so there shouldn't be problems with watching it.

That triple Lopov pic at the end is funny (to me).

Okay, Lopov has his Eurotunes on. Nice job going in reverse, using only mirrors! Looks like Lopov is hauling a ... I'm not sure what that construction vehicle is called. Payloader? Yes, I am right.

I absolutely love you for using turn signals. Even virtually!

Uh oh. Ran a red light! And now you're making a right turn but it's red. I wonder if this game allows right turns on red lights? This is legal in Maryland (unless there's a sign prohibiting this) but not in all states.

Ha, I just saw a FedEx truck, except they call it PostEd in the game.

A police SUV just passed you. That's a good sign! This is a game which rewards the player for being slower, not faster.

Wow, and actual detour. Good thing you were paying attention. This music is grooving today, by the way.

If you are driving at night and forget to turn your high beams off, will other cars/trucks flash their lights to remind you?

Hey, there's a Wait button in this game. See, that part could be your driver sleeping in the rear cabin.

Hot air balloons!

Is that Salt Lake City? I don't think I've ever been there, or through there. I have been through Utah though.

Greetings from Europe!

Church in Wien

I'm in the left truck

Fields of Wien

Destination Graz

Toll time

Salzburg

Rainy night

Munich

Lopov

Nuremberg

Heavy rain

Still raining

Austria, right? It looks really pretty. I think Salzburg is where Mozart was born. How much do you pay at that toll?

Whoa, look at the rain falling on that windshield. It looks all blurry!

I think you already got a new cab? I notice in Fields of Wien there's a Mercedes symbol on the steering wheel. But in one of the latter pics it says MAN.

Yeah, Mozart was born in Salzburg, well done!

I forgot how much I paid in the game, IRL there aren't tolls on roads in Austria anymore, because each vehicle needs to have a so called vignette - you can buy the cheapest one that's legible for seven days up to the most expensive ones that's legible for one year. The same rule applies for Slovenia. There are some exceptions to this rule in Austria, meaning that there still are some tolls but those are rare.

I don't own any truck yet, ATM I'm driving for various companies, which means that I don't have any choice but to drive what I get.

Delightful to see more Lopov On the Road Again! Your game looks great and like it would be both interesting and fun.

Lopov is back, and on the road again!

In the second pic it looks like the traffic light is driving your truck!

I love that castle in Salzburg.

Munich looks like it has one of Iron Man's arc reactors.

The Lopov shot!

The other day me and my colleague from Austria discussed where did Salzburg got its name. Literally translated it means Salt Castle. Some googling revealed that the name derives from the barges carrying salt on the River Salzach, which were subject to a toll in the 8th century as was customary for many communities and cities on European rivers.

The blue building in Munich is the Allianz Arena, the football stadium.