If you’ve ever dreamed of building a trucking empire in Euro Truck Simulator 2 (ETS2), you know that the road to riches isn’t always smooth. Every player faces the same early-game grind: cheap quick jobs, small deliveries, tight budgets, and long hours before real profits roll in.
But what if there’s a smarter route — a tanker tactic that multiplies your earnings and accelerates your journey from rookie driver to logistics magnate?
This article dives deep into a player-tested experiment inspired by a community idea shared by Joe Sam: using ADR Class 3 (flammable liquids) as the foundation for a high-income trucking strategy. We’ll explore two paths — one pure vanilla and one mod-enhanced — to find out which approach delivers better results, faster progression, and deeper satisfaction.
So buckle up — we’re about to haul some serious data down the digital highway.
🛢️ 1. What Is the Tanker Tactic and Why It Matters
The tanker tactic revolves around one principle: hauling dangerous cargo equals higher pay.
In both real-world trucking and ETS2, transporting flammable liquids (ADR Class 3) pays premium rates due to higher risk and strict certification. By investing early skill points into ADR, you unlock access to lucrative contracts that can double or even triple your per-delivery earnings compared to ordinary freight.
However, the catch is that ETS2 doesn’t hand out ADR jobs immediately. You need your own truck and tanker trailer first — and those come at a steep early-game cost. That’s where strategy and patience enter the picture.
🧠 2. Essential Skills for Maximum Payouts
Before we dive into gameplay, let’s unpack the three key skills that form the core of this strategy.
🧯 ADR Class 3 — Flammable Liquids
The heart of the tanker tactic. Unlocking this certification enables high-risk jobs that pay top euro. In early levels, one skill point here can change the entire job market available to you.
📏 Long Distance
Think of this as your base-pay multiplier. The further you haul, the more you earn. Combining ADR cargo with long-distance bonuses produces exponential income growth.
⏱️ Just-In-Time Delivery
This rewards efficiency. Deliver early, earn extra. It also unlocks more urgent, time-sensitive contracts that pay bonuses for punctuality.
Together, these three skills act as the “holy trinity” for income optimization. The idea is simple: the farther you go, the more dangerous the cargo, and the faster you deliver it — the bigger the paycheck.
⚙️ 3. Setting Up the Experiment
The author of this test began two identical new profiles in Euro Truck Simulator 2 to keep the comparison fair.
- One profile was pure vanilla, no cheats, no mods — the game as designed by SCS Software.
- The other used a few popular community mods, primarily:
- Unlock Everything Mod (to open skills, trucks, and trailers early)
- ProMods Map (for expanded routes and realism)
Both profiles had the same goals:
- Earn the ADR Class 3 certification.
- Own a truck and a tanker trailer.
- Reach maximum payoff by combining all three skill paths.
- Record total game days to first tanker job, skill growth, and average profit per delivery.
The aim wasn’t to cheat — it was to measure how efficiency and accessibility differ between approaches.
🚚 4. The Modded Route: Unlock Everything & ProMods Map
Let’s move to the first leg of the experiment — the modded world.
At the start, the driver used quick jobs to build minimal savings, avoiding traffic fines and fuel waste. A few deliveries later, with a modest bank loan, they purchased a Renault truck (local to their France HQ) and a tanker trailer.
That purchase changed everything.
Owning both meant immediate access to flammable-liquid contracts — something normally locked until much later levels. ADR jobs began appearing on the board, and with each successful haul, earnings spiked dramatically.
In-game time to first tanker job: 4 days.
Within 11 days, the profile had reached the skill level needed for maximum tanker payouts.
Highlights of the modded run:
- Rapid access to high-value ADR contracts.
- Ability to unlock skills faster through extra XP from fuel and gas deliveries.
- Earnings surpassed € 290,000 after loan and maintenance costs within the same period the vanilla profile was still grinding.
However, the success felt almost too easy. As the player described, it was like “pressing a turbo button.” The thrill of fast progress was real, but the sense of struggle — the classic ETS2 grind — was missing.
🚛 5. The Vanilla Route: Starting from Scratch
Now let’s switch gears to the pure vanilla journey — no unlocks, no boosts, just patience and perseverance.
The first hours were slow: short-distance quick jobs, low-value cargo, and no tanker offers in sight. Even after investing the first skill point into ADR, the job board remained stubbornly ordinary.
Progress required discipline: finishing contracts, avoiding fines, and slowly leveling up.
Not until level 17 could the player finally afford to buy their own tanker trailer. That purchase unlocked a wave of high-paying flammable-liquid jobs — and with it, genuine excitement.
From that point on, earnings skyrocketed. Although it took 18 game days to reach the first tanker contract (compared to 4 days in the modded path), each subsequent delivery felt earned.
By the end of the experiment, the vanilla profile achieved a total of € 372,000, completing six more jobs than the modded counterpart — and even unlocking multiple Steam achievements previously achieved by fewer than 2 % of players.
📊 6. Comparing Results — Time, Earnings & Achievements
Let’s summarize both experiments side by side.
| Metric | Modded Profile | Vanilla Profile |
|---|---|---|
| First tanker job | 4 game days | 18 game days |
| Max payout skills unlocked | 11 days | 13 days |
| Total earnings (after costs) | € 290,000 | € 372,000 |
| Average profit per job | ≈ € 14,000 | ≈ € 14,000 |
| Jobs completed | Fewer ( ~ –6 ) | More ( + 6 ) |
| Steam achievements | “Nuclear” achieved | None ( locked due to late tanker purchase ) |
The numbers tell a fascinating story:
- The modded path achieved goals faster and unlocked ADR income early.
- The vanilla path earned more overall, thanks to longer play time and additional deliveries.
In other words, speed vs longevity. The modded version front-loads rewards; the vanilla one sustains them.
❤️ 7. Emotional Journey: Turbo vs Triumph
Beyond data, the emotional experience differed drastically.
The modded playthrough offered instant gratification — quick truck ownership, fast leveling, and powerful hauls. It felt efficient and productive, but also slightly detached; the sense of “earning” success was missing.
The vanilla path, on the other hand, was a marathon. Long hours of low-paying jobs tested patience, yet every milestone — first truck, first trailer, first ADR job — felt deeply satisfying. The achievement carried emotional weight that shortcuts simply can’t replicate.
It mirrors real life: easy gains feel good; hard-earned wins feel better.
🧭 8. Lessons for Every ETS2 Player
Let’s take what we’ve learned and apply it to your next ETS2 career.
1. Prioritize ADR early
Even a single point in ADR Class 3 opens doors to the game’s most profitable contracts. Make it your first investment.
2. Balance Long Distance and Just-in-Time
Long-distance deliveries expand your base income; Just-in-Time adds bonus pay. Keep both climbing alongside ADR.
3. Own your trailer as soon as possible
Owning equipment is the biggest turning point in ETS2. Once you own a tanker, the job board transforms from low-tier to elite.
4. Play your style
If you enjoy experimenting, mods offer faster progress and creative freedom. If you value authentic progression and Steam achievements, stay vanilla.
5. Track your numbers
Keeping a record of earnings and time spent reveals efficiency gaps in your playstyle. It’s a powerful tool for optimizing career growth.
❓ 9. FAQs
Q1. What is ADR in ETS2?
ADR stands for “Accord Dangereux Routier,” the European agreement for transporting hazardous materials. In ETS2, it unlocks dangerous-cargo contracts like fuel, gas, and chemicals that pay premium rates.
Q2. Do I need mods to use this tactic?
No. The tanker tactic works perfectly in vanilla ETS2. Mods simply speed up access to skills and equipment.
Q3. Which mod was used in this test?
Primarily the Unlock Everything Mod plus the ProMods Map for expanded routes and realism.
Official link for ProMods map: https://www.promods.net
Q4. Why do I need my own tanker trailer?
Quick Jobs rarely include flammable-liquid contracts. Owning a tanker is the only way to control your cargo and unlock those premium hauls.
Q5. What about loans and truck repayments?
They cut into early profits, but owning assets earlier pays off long-term. Just avoid fines and idle fuel use to stay profitable.
Q6. Is using unlock mods considered cheating?
That depends on your goals. If you enjoy realistic progression, play vanilla. If you’re testing strategies or streamlining experiments, mods are just tools — not shortcuts to bragging rights.
🏁 10. Final Thoughts
The tanker tactic proves that success in Euro Truck Simulator 2 is as much about planning as it is about driving. Whether you use mods to accelerate progress or stick to the slow burn of vanilla play, the core principle remains the same:
ADR is the gateway to high-income trucking.
In the modded path, you get rich quickly but risk skipping the joy of growth. In the vanilla path, you grind harder but earn every achievement and euro through persistence. Neither is wrong — it’s about choosing the journey that feels right to you.
So next time you fire up ETS2, ask yourself: do you want the fast lane or the long haul? Either way, your tanker’s waiting. Start the engine and take your shot at Europe’s most profitable hauls.
⚠️ Disclaimer
This article is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Game modifications can alter performance and save-file stability. Always back up your profile before installing any mod and download only from trusted sources such as ProMods.net or the official SCS Software Steam Workshop.
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