Take the wheel of a fast paced, high intensity trucking business. Start as a one man show, bidding on jobs, then build your fleet into an unstoppable convoy and deliver the goods. Grow your business and your fleet, but beware - your reputation is everything. Fail at a job or pass on the wrong offer and you'll find yourself haulin' manure!
To start 18 Wheels of Steeel: Convoy:
Double-click he 18 Wheels of Steel: Convoy
icon on your desktop, or
Click Start
-> Programs
-> 18 Wheels of Steel Convoy
-> Play 18 Wheels of Steel Convoy
.
Key to menu features:
1 | Scroll menu left. |
---|---|
2 | Menu-bar. |
3 | Current Selection. |
4 | Current Selection Description. |
5 | Scroll menu right. |
6 | Click to activate your current menu selection. |
7 | If you do not wish to play anymore, click the Quitbutton to exit the game. |
After a brief introduction sequence, you will be presented with the main menu, as shown above.
In the center of the menu, the New Game
icon will be flashing.
Press the Enter key on your keyboard, to select this option.
To explore other options, use the Left and Right arrow keys to scroll to them, and press Enter to select.
After selecting the New Game
option, there will be a brief pause as the game loads.
A message box then appears, reading Welcome to 18 Wheels of Steel: Convoy
.
Use the mouse to click the flashing OK
button, and read the messages that follows.
Click the OK
button after reading each message.
Eventually, you will be asked to press Enter with the truck positioned over the mission
indicator
.
The mission indicator is the spinning yellow star icon, shown below.
Your truck will already be positioned over it, so just press Enter.
The 18 Wheels of Steel: Convoy tutorial will then begin. Just follow the on-screen instructions to learn how to play!
Note that if you do not wish to play the tutorial, drive instead to the green star icon, and press Enter
You can use the following keys to maneuver your truck:
Left Arrow ← | Steer Left |
---|---|
Right Arrow → | Steer Right |
Up Arrow ↑ | Accelerate |
Down Arrow ↓ | Brake |
E | Switch Engine On/Off |
Space Bar | Engage/Release Hand-brake |
B | Motorbrake |
Left Shift | Gear Shift Up |
Left Ctrl | Gear Shift Down |
R | Cruise Control |
T | Attach/Detach Trailer |
Lights:
L | Head-lights On/Full Beam/Off |
---|---|
[ | Left Turn Signal On/Off |
] | Right Turn Signal On/Off |
F | Four-Way Flasher On/Off |
Other vehicle controls:
P | Wipers On/Off |
---|---|
H | Horn |
Cameras:
1 | Inside Camera |
---|---|
2 | Free Rotate Camera |
3 | Bumper Camera |
4 | Top Camera |
5 | Drive-by Camera |
C | Cycle to Next Camera |
F10 | Screenshot |
Game Controls
Esc | Show Main Menu - see Main Menu |
---|---|
M | Show Map - see Map |
Note that you can change these controls to ones which you may feel more comfortable with, via the Control Options menu.
The above picture shows the in-game view, or HUD (Heads Up Display).
The various components of the HUD are labeled.
1 | Shows the current in-game time |
---|---|
2 | Shows how many trucks you have in the convoy (if any). |
3 - Your Account | Shows how much money you have. |
3 - Police Status | The larger the yellow bar, the less 'popular' you are with law-enforcement, and the more likely you are to be stopped for minor traffic offenses. |
3 - Truck Damage | The more your truck gets damaged, the more useless it becomes. The size of the red bar indicates the state of the damage. |
3 - Trailer Damage | Any damage to the load will be deducted from your final pay. |
4 | MiniMap - map of the local area. Nindicates North. |
5 | Dashboard Dials Shows RPM, speed, fuel tank, and lights status. |
You can make use of your office manager to handle the paperwork of running your trucking business.
The Office Manager can:
To reach the Office Manager, simply press Esc and select the Call Office Manager
(the mobile phone icon). You will then be presented with a menu of choices.
As you successfully complete jobs, you will be able to expand your business by hiring other drivers. Be sure to use the Office Manager to accomplish this.
To cancel the delivery contract of your current job:
Press Esc and select Cancel Current Job
.
Select Yes
to the Do you really want to cancel current job?
question.
You will then have the option to retry the mission.
If you wish to retry, select Yes
and you will instantly restart at the depot.
If you do not wish to retry, select No
, and you will remain on the road, but
without a cargo to deliver.
To access the Map, press the M key.
The map will appear. Choose features you wish to display or hide, by clicking next to the appropriate option.
Press M again to close the map.
Key to map features:
1 | You-are-here indicator. |
---|---|
2 | Click to zoom in/out on map detail. |
3 | Click to return to the previous screen. |
4 | Target point - you should aim to deliver your cargo here. |
5 | Map features toggles. Click to turn various map features on/off. |
Note that the various colored spots are also visible on the Minimap - see HUD Section.
Go to the the Showroom by selecting it from the Main Menu.
Key to showroom features:
1 | Scroll menu left. |
---|---|
2 | Menu-bar. |
3 | Current vehicle. |
4 | Name of vehicle. |
5 | Scroll menu right. |
6 | View different paint-jobs. |
7 | Go Back to Main Menu. |
8 | Click to switch between trailers and trucks. |
9 | If you do not wish to play anymore, click the Quitbutton to exit the game. |
You will already be familiar with jobs from experience gained in the tutorial.
Position your truck over the icon, and press Enter to choose a new cargo delivery job!
To take on a special mission, position your truck over the mission icon, press Enter, and follow the on-screen instructions.
To refuel, position your truck over the refuel icon in the gas station, and press Enter.
Got a damaged truck?
Position your truck over the service icon, and press Enter to get it repaired!
To stay in a hotel, drive your truck over the hotel icon, and press Enter.
If you think you have enough cash to buy a new truck, call in to the nearest truck dealer.
Drive in, position your truck over the icon, and press Enter to see what they have for sale.
Call at a Truck Stop-shop to buy new parts for your truck. There's a variety of engines, tires, transmissions, brakes and other accessories and paints with which to tweak and customize your truck.
Position your truck over the icon, and press Enter to visit the shop.
Make sure you stop on the customs icon when you reach it, otherwise you may have problems with the law!
You must allow your truck to be weighed at certain points along the highway. Be sure to pull off the road and stop on the icon, or risk paying a fine!