The Best American Truck Simulator Server Hosting

Hosting an American Truck Simulator server

American Truck Simulator is SCS Software's trucking simulator set across the western and central United States. Its official multiplayer mode, Convoy, puts a group of drivers in one shared world with synced AI traffic, time and weather. Hosted from a player's PC, a session ends as soon as that player leaves, so groups who want a session that stays up use the ATS dedicated server.

The dedicated server is a free tool from SCS for Windows and Linux, and it never loads map or mod files directly. You export a server_packages file pair from the game on your own PC, describing the map, DLC and mods of the profile you play on, and upload those two files to the server.

What to compare

• Easy package uploads. Changing the map DLC or mod list means exporting fresh server_packages.sii and server_packages.dat files from the game. Simple uploads and quick restarts help.
• server_config.sii access. Session name, password, player limit and the moderator list are set in this file. Check you can edit it directly or through the panel.
• A stable mod list. Everyone has to run the mods the session was exported with, so keep the list consistent.
• Player limit. SCS supports up to 8 players per session. Raising max_players beyond that is possible in the config, but SCS does not support it and AI traffic can desync.
• Prompt updates. The server version must match the game. Choose a host that updates the server quickly after each ATS patch.
• US location. ATS drivers are often in North America, so check the host has a datacentre close to your group.

See the current American Truck Simulator hosting deals for offers from listed providers. For a whole machine, see dedicated servers.

American Truck Simulator server hosting FAQ

How many players can an ATS server hold?

SCS supports 8 players per Convoy session. Larger sessions can be configured, but they are unsupported and more prone to desync.

Do drivers need the map DLC to join?

No. Drivers without a map DLC can still join, but they cannot drive into the regions that DLC adds.

Can I run mods on an ATS dedicated server?

Yes. You export the mod list from the game in the server_packages files, and every driver needs the same mods to join.

Can I host an ATS server for free?

Yes. The American Truck Simulator Dedicated Server is a free download through Steam or SteamCMD for Windows and Linux. It only stays online while your machine does, which is the main reason groups rent one.