Virtual Trucking Companies - Discussion

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BK Vissers
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Virtual Trucking Companies - Discussion

#1 Post by BK Vissers » 14 Jun 2017 23:06

I joined this community late last year, discovering ETS2 in September and getting ATS not long afterwards.

One of the things I really like about these forums is that we can actually make some more meaningful contacts than we can on WOT. Not to complain about WOT - it serves a different purpose than these forums.

A few times over the past few months that I've been immersed in the virtual trucking world, I saw Virtual Trucking Companies mentioned. I'm curious how they work, how one is set up, can I do it on a Mac, etc etc. Is it actually multiplayer?

Can you collectively share a bit about the VTC world, your experiences and so on?
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Re: Virtual Trucking Companies - Discussion

#2 Post by Wolfi » 15 Jun 2017 06:10

I'll answer this question first: YES, you can do it on a MAC ;)

And now some in-depth look (well, as in-depth as I can provide :P):
VTC is generally a group of friends, who decided it would be fun to have a virtual company. It can be handled in multiple ways:
1. Multiplayer: Those kind of VTC's usually drive in convoys (duh), although they rarely keep any "paperwork" and they don't exist outside of MP, so technically it's hard to call them VTC's, it's more "friends who like to drive similarly looking trucks together".
2. No-data VTC: Those are simple VTC's that usually involve players sharing their mods to make their trucks look identical or fit a certain style (for example all trucks have a matching paintjob), those usually don't include any "paperwork" either, they're just for fun and screenshot stories.
3. Basic feedback VTC: Similar to point 2. - players drive identical trucks, or trucks with a certain skin style (this isn't a rulle tho, since players are actually monitored, some VTC's allow them to use their own trucks). In those VTC's all drivers are sending their feedback info back to the "boss". Usually it's a screenshot of the final deliverry summarise screen, so that the boss knows what and where they deliverred and keeps track of the number of jobs they acomplished. (each member usually has a "required ammount of jobs to complete"). Some of those VTC's have a webpage where players upload their screenshots to make it easier to monitor them.
4. RPG-style VTC (that's the one I'm currently operating): Those are the "intense" ones, although most of the time quite small. The "boss" keeps full paperwork, keeps track of where his drivers currently are, monitors their trucks state, assigns new contracts and establishes budget for fuel/repairs. Those VTC sometimes have a webpage and usually use external programs to modify ingame data for more immersion and "realism". As for the jobs and trucks: this kind of VTC usually (but not always) concnetrates on a speciffic type of cargo (only boxes, only refrigerated, only heavy, etc) and as such may have quite strict rules regarding trucks. "Company paintjob" is usually obligatory in those and tuning is also limited to certain parts.

And after this boring stuff ( :P ) some info on how my VTC works. (since you wanted us to share)
It's a small one, I currently have 4 drivers (2 in EU, 2 in US) + me = 5 fuzzbutts. We operate mostly on heavy and specialised cargo. (other jobs pay only half the price) I don't really have any tuning limits for the trucks, although we tend to use our own mods, so the trucks look somewhat similar. Company paintjob isn't obligatory, although we do have 2 basic designs for each game and even when not using those we try to keep the "huge fuzzbutt on the side" :P .
Paperwork:
-every VTC member has a "no income" mod installed
-drivers are allowed to choose their own contracts, although they need to send me info about route length, trailer type, weight, etc, to allow me to calculate the income, costs, etc.
-drivers then receive certain ammount of money for the trip, based on route length, this money can be used for refueling and fixing truck (to change the ammount we use cheat engine), after each trip drivers are allowed to keep any remaining money
-each driver receives a payment for each job completed (depending on route length/trailer weight) and a " fixed sallary" on every Saturday
-"calculated income" from all the jobs is added to generall budget, this budget is then used to purchase new trucks and tuning stuff

I probably have ommited quite a few things which are obvious to me, but may not be obvious to you, so if you have any questions feel free to ask :?
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Re: Virtual Trucking Companies - Discussion

#3 Post by Cadde » 15 Jun 2017 06:21

I would like to add another type of VTC that hasn't been mentioned yet. (Or i just misread)

Automatic VTC: You submit your savegame to a webpage on every completed delivery. Or alternatively, an application reads your savegame and submits details about your current performance.
The latter (application type) can also submit your autosaves for automated updates on your current location in the world.
From that point on, contracts can be assigned to the savegame and the savegame can then be fetched back to the client for completion of new contracts etc.

It's also entirely possible (albeit also possibly buggy) to do this in a TruckersMP environment.

I don't know of any VTC's that employs this scheme but it's entirely possible and it would surprise me if none exists yet.

EDIT: Oh and there's another possibility, using a plugin to return real time data to a website or server of your current position, speed, contract etc etc. And then you fetch a savegame from that website as per above for your next job.
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Re: Virtual Trucking Companies - Discussion

#4 Post by BK Vissers » 15 Jun 2017 12:29

Thanks for the replies, gents!

You can probably disabuse me of some assumptions and misunderstandings.

Why I brought up the Mac is because from what little I've seen, one may need a trailer editor to arrange specific cargos, or some other profile editor. I've seen both here but they do not work on the Mac. So some of the options that you both described do not seem feasible, or if they are, would be more work than the reward offered. Then again, it's not clear to me why one would need to submit trip info for scrutiny? What do you get out of that? (Tone does not come across well sometimes so I'll just say for clarity, I'm asking questions because I am intrigued, it's not judgement in any respect. I want to understand why this appeals to you.)

I did find http://virtualtruckingmanager.com but it is unclear to me how one sets up a VTC, and what one does to participate. There are few links that go anywhere I found informative.

I'm not keen on actual Multiplayer, I think the demands of being online at a specific time to be able to meet your online colleagues can be difficult with disparate time zones and busy lives. But it seems MP is not an intrinsic component of running or being in a VTC.
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Re: Virtual Trucking Companies - Discussion

#5 Post by Hounddog » 15 Jun 2017 12:50

I drive since a couple of weeks for a VTC, never done this before.
Drivin as a charter with my own trucks but trailers from the VTC .

Once a week (or often,depends on how much I drive) I recieve a job,route with all the needed info in a dropbox account file..
Pick up the needed trailer and start my route .
I take pictures of every loading and unloading and in the end we post our journey on a forum and ask for another job.

This is how it works in this VTC as charter (for me it is the perfect and easiest combo )
we've got rid of the kids.....our dogs were allergic

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Re: Virtual Trucking Companies - Discussion

#6 Post by Wolfi » 15 Jun 2017 13:47

Ok, so, yeah, some VTC's do use apps that work on Windows only, but I've seen quite a few that do just fine on all platforms.
Not to mention, some VTC's don't arrange contracts, they just work on what the game offers. (existing cargo lists)
The trip info sumbmission is for the VTC "boss" to calculate your sallary, assign rewards etc. Without it, imo VTC doesn't really make sense. (what's the point of driving for a "comapny" where you can do whatever you want and aren't checked in any way?)

As for the trucking manager... I've seen it before, but I'm not amazed. (maybe because I'm anti-social :P) The idea of creating a VTC where random people can join, or joining a random group of people isn't appealing at all. (real life work is for that) I'm doing the VTC stuff to have fun and some additional challenge with friends. (tbh, we're not doing very well-almost bankrupt, but I guess that's what happens when you gather 5 fuzzbutts together and "order" them to do something :roll: )
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BK Vissers
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Re: Virtual Trucking Companies - Discussion

#7 Post by BK Vissers » 15 Jun 2017 14:02

Yes, I agree, to me the notion of a VTC that is appealing is one where I'd be doing this with a few people that I know (at least here) and like. Doing it with total strangers isn't what I'd want to do.

So when you talk about software that works on any platform, what do you refer to?

Does one start off at level 0, doing quick jobs?
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Re: Virtual Trucking Companies - Discussion

#8 Post by Wolfi » 15 Jun 2017 14:55

Quick jobs? No. I mean, it depends on the VTC really. Some do allow you to play on your main profile and do jobs for them from time to time, some require you to have a separate profile and only allow VTC contracts. Those obviously don't allow you for quick jobs. Again, depending on VTC you may start from level 0 or any higher level. (Depends how much of a nazi your new boss is :lol: ) For example I allow any level for the start, but the first truck budget is limited (so you either get a nicely tuned, base-engine truck, or bare truck with abit more bhp) :twisted:

As for software, the most basic one my company uses is Cheat Engine, for money manipulation. We dosn't really need anything else. (though Steam is more than helpfull for sharing screenshots and stuff) I'm not 100% sure if CE is all platform, but I'm preety sure Poke (slightly more basic alternative) is.
For more indepth programs I recall seeing Sim-Sped, V-Manager and TransSim, but for some reason I can't find any links for those anymore :?
Also I'm not an expert, but can't you get emulators for non-Mac software?
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BK Vissers
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Re: Virtual Trucking Companies - Discussion

#9 Post by BK Vissers » 15 Jun 2017 16:02

This all sounds quite intriguing. I asssumed I would need a new profile, and I'm fine with that, actually. To devote one character to just the VTC seems logical.

But how - in your situation - does one get cargo etc? And what controls the budget? Do your drivers have to edit stuff or do you control that and all they do is download a file and off they go?
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Re: Virtual Trucking Companies - Discussion

#10 Post by Wolfi » 15 Jun 2017 17:01

Ok so a full list of how it works in my lil company:
1. Strating:
-start a profile (in one of available company garrages) and level it up to the desired level (you have to ask, which garrages are available as a starting place, since the company slowly grows bigger)
-get the "no-income" mod and cheat engine
-set the money ammount to 220,000€ (ETS2)
-go and buy your first truck
-send me a screenshot with your truck data screen
-I input your truck data into my data sheets (just to keep track)

2. Deliverries:
-go to freight market, sellect a contract you like (preferred are heavy, oversized cargo, cargo mods are allowed)
-send me the info about load and route distance
-I recalculate the job info (like job income) using my own data sheets and send you the "advance money" for the trip
-input that money into your profile via cheat engine
-take the sellected contract and deliver it
-take screenshot of the deliverry summary screen and all the eventual fines, tolls info you got during your trip and send it to me
-get yourself a cookie for a job well done

3. Sallary:
-after each of your jobs completed, based on trailer damage (if applies) I recalculate job income, send you your part of money you earned for the delivery (20%, other 80% is assigned to company's budget) and assign you a score of 0-10
-input that money into your profile via cheat engine
-every saturday I send you info about how high your sallary is (fixed ammount multiplied by your driver rating - the one calculated by me)
-input that money into your profile via cheat engine

4. Expenses:
-if you damage your truck and can't afford a repair you may take a company loan (if company's budget allows it) - this money will be deducted from your sallary untill the loan is paid
-if you ran out of money due to fines or tolls you may request a company loan

5. Trucks and truck tuning
-you may purchase a new truck if you can afford it, or you may take a "company loan" if you have high enough driver rating
-after getting a new truck, send me a screenshot with your new truck data screen
-realistic tuning of your existing truck is allowed (changing sunvisors, bullbars, lights, etc), but major part change (cabin, chassis, engine, transmission, interior) is not allowed - for that you have to buy a new truck

6. Company budget is used for: (purely roleplay purposes)
-paying out weekly salaries
-company loans
-purchasing new garrages (members vote on which garrage to purchase)
-ordering new paintjob designs (if necessary)
-ordering new trailers (new trailer mods)
-signing contracts with truck manufacturers (new truck mods)


So as you can see the drivers generally use cheat engine to change their ingame money value. Other than that, they only keep track of fines and tolls (they don't have to sum them up, just send: "fine 450, fine 500, toll 27") and send it to me, I then take care of all the "paperwork". It's very basic and very "stone age-y" VTC, without fancy software controlling, counting and assigning everything, but it works quite fine for us. (mostly because we don't really do much VTC deliverries [max 2 per day], it's mostly CB-radio-chat VTC :P )
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