American Truck Simulator Console Commands Guide
American Truck Simulator is a truck driving simulation developed by SCS Software. While the game does not feature traditional in-game cheat codes, it includes a developer console inherited from the Prism3D engine. This console allows players to teleport, manipulate time and weather, disable traffic or police, and access the free camera. This guide covers the exact activation method and every verified console command.
How to Enable the Developer Console
The console is disabled by default and must be activated through a configuration file edit. This is a one-time setup; once enabled, the console remains accessible across all future sessions.
- Close the game completely if it is running.
- Navigate to the game configuration folder:
- Windows:
Documents\American Truck Simulator\ - macOS:
~/Library/Application Support/American Truck Simulator/ - Linux:
~/.local/share/American Truck Simulator/
- Windows:
- Locate the file named config.cfg and open it in a plain text editor such as Notepad.
- Find the line uset g_developer "0" and change it to uset g_developer "1".
- Find the line uset g_console "0" and change it to uset g_console "1".
- Save the file and relaunch the game.
- During gameplay, press the ~ (tilde) key, located below the Escape key, to open the console window.
On Windows 10 with non-standard keyboard layouts, the tilde key may not register. In this case, navigate to Documents\American Truck Simulator\steam_profiles\[profile_id]\controls.sii, locate the line mix console `modifier, and change keyboard.grave?0 to an alternative key such as keyboard.f10?0.
Complete Console Command List
All commands are entered into the console window followed by any required parameters. Press Enter to execute.
Navigation and Teleport Commands
| Command | Effect |
|---|---|
| goto (x;y;z) | Teleports the free camera to the specified coordinates. Press Ctrl + F9 to move the truck to the camera position. |
| goto [city name] | Teleports to a named city. Only the first 3–4 letters are required. Example: goto salt teleports to Salt Lake City. |
| goto "[city name]" | Teleports using the full city name in quotes. Useful for multi-word city names. |
Time and Weather Commands
| Command | Effect |
|---|---|
| g_set_time [hours] [minutes] | Advances the game clock to the specified time. Uses a 24-hour format. Minutes are optional. Caution: advancing time may cause late deliveries. |
| g_set_weather [index] | Changes weather. Even numbers (0, 2, 4...) set dry conditions. Odd numbers (1, 3, 5...) set rain. |
| g_set_skybox [1-3] | Sets the skybox to the specified index number. |
| warp [speed] | Adjusts the simulation speed. Default is 1.0. Lower values such as 0.8 or 0.9 slow perceived movement. |
Traffic and Police Commands
| Command | Effect |
|---|---|
| g_traffic [0 or 1] | Toggles AI traffic. 0 removes all vehicles from the road. 1 restores normal traffic density. |
| g_police [0 or 1] | Toggles police fines. 0 disables all traffic penalties. 1 re-enables standard enforcement. |
Camera and Display Commands
| Command | Effect |
|---|---|
| g_flyspeed [number] | Sets the free camera flight speed. Also adjustable with the mouse scroll wheel while in free camera mode. |
| g_fps [number] | Toggles the frame rate display on screen. |
| g_minicon [0 or 1] | Toggles the mini-console overlay showing technical values and debug data. |
| r_fullscreen [0 or 1] | Toggles fullscreen mode without restarting the game. |
| r_vsync [0 or 1] | Toggles vertical synchronization. |
| r_texture_detail [0-3] | Sets texture detail quality. 0 provides the highest quality. |
| r_mirror_view_distance [value] | Sets the rendering distance for side mirrors. |
System and Utility Commands
| Command | Effect |
|---|---|
| save | Triggers a quick save without opening the menu. |
| screenshot | Captures a screenshot and saves it to the default directory. |
| pause | Pauses the game. Functions identically to pressing F1. |
| game | Reloads the current profile. |
| exit [reason] | Exits the current profile and returns to the main menu. |
| g_show_game_elements [0 or 1] | Toggles in-game UI elements such as gas station icons, repair markers, and trailer hookup boxes. |
| g_remove_missing_accessories [0 or 1] | Toggles removal of missing accessory items. Set to 1, manually reload the save, then set back to 0 to clean the truck configuration. |
| sys_info | Displays operating system information in the console. |
| vid_mem | Displays graphics card memory information. |
| vid_name | Displays the exact name of the active graphics card. |
| vid_ver | Displays the graphics driver version. |
Free Camera Mode
With the console enabled, press the 0 (zero) key during gameplay to enter free camera mode. The truck becomes invisible and the camera can fly freely through the map.
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Numpad 8 | Move forward |
| Numpad 5 | Move backward |
| Numpad 4 | Move left |
| Numpad 6 | Move right |
| Numpad 9 | Move up |
| Numpad 3 | Move down |
| Ctrl + F9 | Teleport truck to camera position |
Free camera mode is automatically activated when using the goto command. Fly to the desired location just above the road surface, then press Ctrl + F9 to land the truck.
Money and Experience
American Truck Simulator does not include a native console command to add money or experience points. Unlike some other simulation titles, there is no add_money or add_xp function. Players seeking financial or progression boosts have two alternatives:
Free Fuel Exploit
- Drive to any service station and refuel the truck.
- Save the game immediately after refueling.
- Exit to the main menu or close the game entirely.
- Reload the saved game.
- Drive away from the service station without paying.
Community Cheat Mods
The SCS Software modding community provides dedicated cheat mods that add high-paying jobs to the freight market. These mods can award between $3,000,000 and $115,000,000 per delivery, depending on the mod version and installed DLCs. Such mods are distributed as .scs files and activated through the in-game Mod Manager.
Safety Tips and Best Practices
- Always create a backup of config.cfg before editing. If the file is corrupted, the game may fail to launch.
- Teleporting with goto during an active delivery can place the truck far from the intended route. Use free camera and Ctrl + F9 to position the truck on a valid road near the destination.
- Disabling traffic with g_traffic 0 makes backing into tight delivery spots significantly easier. Remember to re-enable traffic with g_traffic 1 afterward.
- Advancing time with g_set_time while carrying cargo can cause the delivery to become late. Only use time commands when not on an active job.
- Console commands do not disable Steam achievements.
- Using g_police 0 removes fines but does not prevent collision damage to cargo. Drive carefully even with police disabled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a money cheat in the console?
No. The developer console does not include a command to add money or experience. Financial boosts require either the free fuel exploit, community mods, or standard gameplay progression.
Can the console be used in multiplayer?
No. The console and all associated commands are disabled in TruckersMP multiplayer sessions to maintain competitive fairness.
Why does the tilde key not open the console?
On certain keyboard layouts, particularly non-QWERTY or non-English configurations, the game may not recognize the tilde input. Reassign the console key in the controls.sii file as described in the activation section.
Does enabling the console affect save files?
No. Editing config.cfg only unlocks the input interface. It does not mark saves as modified or disable any game features.
What is the difference between g_developer and g_console?
g_developer enables developer features such as the free camera and teleportation. g_console unlocks the text input window. Both must be set to 1 for full functionality.
Conclusion
American Truck Simulator's developer console provides powerful tools for navigation, weather control, traffic management, and camera manipulation. While it lacks native money or experience commands, the teleport system, police toggle, and time controls offer significant quality-of-life improvements for players who want to customize their experience. Combined with the free fuel exploit or community mods, players have multiple paths to accelerate their trucking empire without compromising the core simulation mechanics.
