The official multiplayer in Euro Truck Simulator 2 (ETS2) is called Convoy, and it’s been a free part of the game since update 1.41 in July 2021. One private session holds up to 8 players who share the same AI traffic, time of day and weather, and you can even take the same job together. This guide covers hosting a session, finding a friend’s session, how DLCs and mods work in Convoy and what happens when the host leaves.
Short answer: Convoy or TruckersMP?
Convoy is made by SCS Software, the Prague studio behind the game, and it works in both ETS2 and American Truck Simulator (ATS). It’s built for a small group: you, your friends and no more than eight trucks on one map.
TruckersMP is something else. It’s a free multiplayer mod run by community volunteers, and it isn’t made or supported by SCS Software. Instead of a small private session, it gives you a shared world with thousands of players. Our TruckersMP guide explains how to get in. If you mostly want to drive with your own crew, Convoy is the simpler route, because there’s nothing extra to install.
What Convoy does
- Up to 8 players per session. The same limit applies on a dedicated server.
- Synced world: AI traffic, time of day and weather are the same for everyone.
- Shared jobs: several players can take the same job and haul it together.
- Private sessions: a password is optional.
- Free: Convoy comes with the base game, you don’t buy anything extra.
Convoy is more demanding on your hardware than single-player, simply because there are more player trucks around you. If the game barely runs solo, check the system requirements first.
Hosting and joining a session
One of you hosts. The host creates the session, gives it a name and can set a password. Everyone else joins from the session list.
Here’s the catch: the session list only shows your own region. If your friend’s session doesn’t appear, you can still find it globally by typing its exact name into the search. Share the name before you start.
Two things have to be true for joining to work:
- Your friends are set to online in Steam.
- Everyone runs the same, latest version of the game. On 14 November 2026 that’s version 1.62.
The second point is the usual reason it fails. Anyone who turned off automatic updates or stayed on an older beta branch has to update first.
DLCs and mods
You don’t need any DLC to join a session. The difference is the map: you won’t see or drive into regions from map DLCs you don’t own. So if the host plans a run through Scandinavia and you don’t have the Scandinavia DLC, you can’t follow them there. The ETS2 DLC list shows which expansion adds which countries.
Mods have been supported in Convoy since version 1.42 (October 2021). The session screen shows which mods the host uses, so you can check compatibility and download them. Our guide on installing mods covers Steam Workshop and manual installs.
Host leaves, speed limiter, nametags
A session depends on its host. When the host leaves, the session ends. The game then asks whether you want to keep the progress from that session or roll it back.
The host can switch off the speed limiter for their session. The exception is World of Trucks jobs: they always enforce the limiter, whatever the host sets.
Press Z (default key) to hide the nametags above other players’ trucks.
Since version 1.59, the service menu (F7) has a Tow to Road option. It puts an overturned or stuck truck back on the road, which is handy when the rest of the convoy is waiting.
Dedicated server
Since 8 December 2022 you can run your own dedicated server for free. It’s listed in Steam under Tools as Euro Truck Simulator 2 Dedicated Server (ID 1948160). If you don’t own the game, you can download it through SteamCMD.
The main advantage: the session keeps running even when nobody is on it, so it doesn’t depend on the host being online. You set server admins in the configuration. The limit stays the same, 8 players. The details are in the official SCS documentation.
Steam Deck and Coaches
On Steam Deck you play Convoy together with PC players, it’s cross-platform. For more on gaming on the handheld, see our Steam Deck guides.
The Coaches bus DLC, released on 12 November 2026, also works in Convoy with friends. Our Coaches DLC guide explains what’s in it.
Join our Discord to find people for your next convoy and other games: GamersTogether Discord.
FAQ
Up to 8 players per session. The same limit applies on a dedicated server.
No, you can join a session without any DLC. You just won’t see or enter regions from map DLCs you don’t own.
The list only shows your region. Search for the session by its exact name to find it globally. You both also need to be online in Steam and run the same, latest game version.
No. Convoy is the official 8-player multiplayer by SCS Software. TruckersMP is an unofficial community mod that isn’t made by SCS Software, with a shared world for thousands of players.
The session ends, and the game offers to keep or roll back your progress from it. If you want a session that keeps running, set up a dedicated server.
Information verified on 14 November 2026. We update this article after new DLCs and game updates. Find more guides in our ETS2 guides section.