Loadout

Truck: Volvo FH16 Classic Cabin: Sleeper (but probably not relevant) Chassis: 4x2 (While taglift is tempting to take, it is not very stable, and does not really corner any better)

Engine: D16G750 Euro 5 (750 bhp)

Transmission

• IGT: I-Shift ATO3512D (11.73-0.78, diff 3.08 = 2.4024 top gear ratio) While the Allison 6 is tempting for acceleration, the lower top ratio and lower differential multiplier mean the 12 speed gets much higher top speeds, which is generally more important for IGT runs as you are motorway driving for most of the run.
• RTA: This depends on the length of the run and how much time you spend at top speed across the overall run. For short runs with lots of technical elements, like Edinburgh-London, the Allison 6 starts to gain ground. But for runs with longer top speed sections, like Paris-Berlin, the 12-speed remains stronger.

Tyres

Michelin DLC is required for best speeds.

• Front: Personal preference, may affect handling but will not affect speed as front wheels are not drive wheels. I use 385/55 or 385/65, but have been experimenting with more standard 315/70 with custom rims as the model demonstrates them being thinner and sitting closer to the midline. However I do not really know if this makes any physical difference in-game. At best it's very hard to notice;
• Rear: 315/80, either variant - the larger wheel size means slightly slower acceleration out of tight corners such as in towns, but means higher top speeds.

Interior and cosmetics: Personal preference. Extra fittings do not appear to add weight to slow you down.

NG+

If you have been playing this game for a while, you likely have sufficient exploration and resources to fast travel anywhere on the map to set up a save for most categories, and the wealth required to buy the best truck immediately.

New profile - Save Game Editing

If you are just getting started, or are setting up a profile in a down-patched version, you will start with very little. (Down-patching guide after release version summary here: https://www.speedrun.com/ets2/guide/g5mmg)

Start the game as normal, but select one of the Volvo designs as your "preferred Truck". Choose a starting city that is reasonably central. Amsterdam is a good choice, especially if you want to try your like on the Deliveries category roulette while you're there.

Complete the first delivery, and ideally a few other quick jobs, until you get the email advertising the ability to buy a truck, and level up to choose your first Skill.

Since you selected a preference for Volvo, you should automatically be able to visit one of their dealerships, regardless of which city you started in and where the nearest other truck dealer is.

At this point, unless you want to work your way up to level 3 and getting the 400K loan to afford things (and level to 20 to unlock the best parts), save your game. Then check the Resources section for Virtual Speditor. This is a save game editor designed to add specific deliveries to your profile. However all we care about at this point is that it decodes the save game file into a readable (and editable) format.

• Select Profile directory. e.g. C:\Users{user}\Documents\Euro Truck Simulator 2\profiles{profile name hash}\save\1 (In Windows Explorer, sort folders in the relevant profile directory by 'Date modified' to determine the save you just made)
• Click 'Load'. A command prompt window will flash up and go away. At this point, you can close the application - it has decoded 'game.sii' in the save directory.
• Open 'game.sii' with a text editor, e.g. Notepad++
• Find using Ctrl+F the string 'adr' The line above the 'adr' line will be 'experience points' - set this to at least 160,000 to define your driver level above max skill points.
• Set 'adr' to the value '63' to unlock all cargo types.
• Set the following 5 lines ('long_dist' to 'mechanical') to 6 to max out those skills.
• Find the string 'money_account' This is the bank balance - win the lottery and give your profile what you want (within reason, there may be an overflow limit...), just a couple of million will be plenty.

It is possible to define visited cities, and many other things, but you should be careful. A backup file will have been created by Virtual Speditor if you break something and cannot load.

Save the file, then back in the game, Load the save you just made. Congratulations! You should now have enough funds to buy trucks, and all the skills required if you wish to pick up deliveries.

From version 1.35: Own 3 garages (including your starting HQ, just buy 2 more by visiting them) and you will unlock the ability to remotely purchase any garage, which you can then travel to, without having first visited the city, in order to quickly set up City-City runs.