Small fleets, owner-operators, and trucking enthusiasts now have a new way to experience Volvo’s latest truck technology from the driver’s seat, even if that driver’s seat is virtual.

Volvo Trucks North America’s all-new Volvo VNL and Volvo VNR Electric are now available in American Truck Simulator, the truck simulation game developed by SCS Software. The update gives players access to both Volvo’s newest long-haul diesel truck and its battery-electric regional-haul model.

American Truck Simulator has sold more than 7 million copies worldwide and lets players haul freight, choose routes, buy trucks, and grow a virtual trucking operation across the United States. For small fleets and owner-operators, that business-building element is part of what makes the game more than a traditional driving simulator.

“This is a very exciting way to introduce our trucks, both the diesel and the battery-electric versions, to millions of truck enthusiasts around the world,” said Peter Voorhoeve, president of Volvo Trucks North America. “American Truck Simulator has built an incredibly passionate community that appreciates great trucks and authentic driving experiences. We’re proud that the most modern trucks on North American roads are now part of that experience.”

A Virtual Look at Diesel and Electric Trucking

The all-new Volvo VNL is Volvo’s flagship long-haul truck and represents its largest redesign in more than 25 years. The truck features updated aerodynamics, a digital driver environment, and advanced safety technologies.

In American Truck Simulator, the Volvo VNL was recreated with input from Volvo’s design and engineering teams. According to Volvo, the digital version reflects the truck’s appearance, performance, sounds, and driver environment.

“As designers, we obsess over every detail of the driver experience, from the way the truck looks and feels to the sounds drivers hear every day on the road,” said Brian Balicki, head of design for Volvo Trucks North America. “Together with the SCS Software team, we translated that experience into the virtual world with an exceptional level of authenticity. Players are not simply driving a digital truck; they are experiencing the same design vision and attention to detail that shaped the real vehicle.”

Volvo VNR Electric Adds an EV Option

The Volvo VNR Electric is the first battery-electric truck available in American Truck Simulator. The truck is designed for regional haul and urban operations, areas where some small and mid-sized fleets continue to evaluate whether electric trucks fit their routes, charging access, payload needs, and operating budgets.

A simulator is not a replacement for real-world testing, but it gives players a more accessible way to see how battery-electric trucks are represented in freight operations.

Volvo introduced the VNR Electric in the United States and Canada in 2020. Today, more than 750 Volvo VNR Electric trucks are operating across the region, collectively logging more than 30 million miles and helping avoid an estimated 50,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions, according to Volvo.

The Volvo VNL and Volvo VNR Electric are available now as part of a free update to American Truck Simulator.

Why a Truck Simulator Matters to Small Fleets

While American Truck Simulator is still a game, its focus is familiar to anyone running a small trucking business. Players start with freight jobs, manage routes, earn money, purchase equipment, and eventually expand into larger operations.

That makes the addition of new Volvo models notable beyond the gaming community. The game gives players a low-pressure way to become more familiar with different truck types, driver environments, freight movement, and operational decisions that shape trucking businesses every day.

Work Truck recently saw American Truck Simulator in action during Western Star’s Star Nation Experience, where SCS Software brought a motion simulator version of the game for attendees to test.

Oscar Lee, chief partnership officer at SCS Software, said the event version is built on four hydraulic actuators, allowing the simulator to respond to acceleration, cornering, and braking.

Lee noted that some professional drivers are skeptical at first, assuming a video game will not feel like driving a real truck. But many are surprised once they see how closely the dashboard layout, interior, and driving feel are modeled after the real vehicle.

“We’re not going to say it’s the exact same, but it gives them a close approximation of it,” Lee said. “You can feel the weight transfer when you go around corners, and you can get a pretty accurate representation of how it feels to drive in a truck.”