ETS2HubGuide hubETS2Hub

Controls guide

ETS2 Cruise Control Guide: Speed, Hills, Retarder, and Safe Use

Learn when to use cruise control in ETS2, how to adjust speed, when to turn it off, and how it works with hills, traffic, and retarder use.

UpdatedJul 1, 2026

Read6 min

LevelBeginner

ByETS2Hub

Euro Truck Simulator 2 motorway route where cruise control is useful

Quick answer

Use cruise control in ETS2 on steady roads when traffic, weather, and curves are predictable. Set a safe speed, adjust it before hills or towns, and turn it off near junctions, tolls, cities, and delivery yards. Cruise control helps consistency, but it does not replace braking or route awareness.

Cruise control makes long ETS2 routes calmer, but it can also carry you too fast into hills, towns, toll booths, and traffic. Use it as a steady-road tool, not an autopilot.

Euro Truck Simulator 2 motorway route where cruise control can hold steady speed
Cruise control is best on open roads with predictable traffic.

When To Use It

Use cruise control on:

  1. Motorways.
  2. Long straight roads.
  3. Light traffic.
  4. Familiar routes.
  5. Jobs where steady speed matters more than fast acceleration.

Turn it off before cities, depots, tolls, sharp descents, and heavy traffic.

Map The Controls

Map:

  1. Cruise on/off.
  2. Increase speed.
  3. Decrease speed.
  4. Retarder increase/decrease.
  5. Service brake.
Euro Truck Simulator 2 mountain route where cruise control needs careful speed adjustment
Lower cruise speed before descents, then use retarder instead of panic braking.

Common Mistakes

MistakeFix
Leaving cruise on into citiesTurn it off early
Setting speed at the limit in rainLeave safety margin
Ignoring hillsLower speed before descents
Using cruise in tight trafficDrive manually

Pair this with the Retarder and Engine Brake Guide and Traffic Fines Guide.

Read next

Continue through the next task instead of jumping to a random tag page.