Iowa: Community Spotlight

Since the launch of the Iowa DLC in American Truck Simulator, we’ve been overwhelmed by the incredible feedback, photos, videos, and comments pouring in across our official social media channels. It’s always a highlight for our team to see how you’re enjoying the roads, landmarks, and landscapes we've worked hard to recreate.

Just like with previous expansions, we’re excited to highlight some of the creations from our #BestCommunityEver as you explore everything Iowa has to offer.

Have something exciting to share from your journey through Iowa? Be sure to tag us with #CruisingIowa on X/Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok, or post your thoughts on the official SCS Forum. A huge thank you to everyone who's already shared their adventures with us. Keep those posts coming, we love seeing what you're up to out there on the road!

Source: @ArnVtc

Source: @P_Nezzie

Source: @xavior09

Source: @GenadijOv

We also connected with a variety of content creators across the web to hear what they think about the Iowa DLC. Take a look at some of their impressions below! We really appreciate their insights and the time they put into creating content about our games. Be sure to check out their channels and give them a follow to show your support!

A. P. 101 Gaming

"SCS has done it once again! I really enjoyed the contrast of driving through small, remote towns and larger, bustling cities. It made the whole state feel alive and diverse. Trucking along peaceful country roads and then jumping onto major interstates like I-80 was super fun. Of course, one of the first places I had to check out was the largest truck stop, and SCS didn’t disappoint; it is HUGE! The new and unique industries are fantastic. Plus, there are so many small and big landmarks across the map. The attention to detail is absolutely incredible."

- A. P. 101 Gaming

DaSimSimma

"I’ve always dreamed of visiting the world’s largest truck stop, but never thought a game would get me there first. The Iowa DLC surprised me with how personal it felt—pulling off at the biggest truck stop in the game and just soaking it in was one of those moments that remind you why ATS is so special. It’s more than a game—it’s a way to explore the country in ways you didn’t think were possible." - DaSimSimma

Arrow's Realm

"The Iowa DLC for American Truck Simulator is another stellar addition to the game’s line-up of expansions. As a detail enthusiast, I began my journey in Des Moines, where I spent over an hour marveling at the meticulously crafted cityscape. From iconic buildings and monuments to the vibrant flowers that brighten the surroundings, the attention to detail is impressive. Eager to explore further, I set out across the state, driving from city to city and uncovering real-world landmarks beautifully recreated by the development team. Kudos to SCS Software for making Iowa—a relatively flat state—visually engaging and far from monotonous. Even after hours of gameplay, I’m still soaking up new details like a sponge, though I’ve yet to spot that elusive Amish horse and cart. If you’re seeking hours of immersive exploration and fun, the Iowa DLC is a must-have. SCS Software continues to raise the bar with their commitment to realism and technical excellence. I’m already excited for what they’ll deliver next." - Arrow's Realm

Kworey

"DLC after DLC, the quality standards always increase. Iowa DLC's small details are outstanding. I am not familiar with the United States since I am from Europe, but when driving in American Truck Simulator, I can really feel the vibe of what it would be like in real life. Congratulations to everyone involved in the development of the DLC."  - kworey

As we close out this post, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support. Your thoughtful feedback, generous reviews, and helpful suggestions truly matter to us. Our team is always striving to bring you the best possible content, and your encouragement drives us forward. Thank you!

Iowa DLC Release

You don’t need the eyes of a hawk to see what’s coming, the Iowa DLC for American Truck Simulator officially releases today! Get ready to explore everything that the Hawkeye State has to offer.

The Iowa DLC for American Truck Simulator is now released!

It’s been quite the journey since we first revealed that Iowa was in development, and today, we're thrilled to finally share it with our #BestCommunityEver. With expansive road networks, charming towns, and plenty of jobs across the heart of the Midwest, there’s a lot to look forward to behind the wheel. We're also updating the Farm Machinery DLC and launching a new World of Trucks event, so be sure to read the full blog to catch all the details surrounding this release.

Make the most of your visit to the Hawkeye State and enjoy every moment as you:

• Truck through 12 cities including Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Burlington, Iowa City, and more!
• Discover beautifully recreated landmarks like the Iowa State Capitol, Historic Cedar Covered Bridge, Tree in the Middle of the Road, or the world’s largest grain bins.
• Deliver cargo to or from new depots – the agricultural factory and agricultural dealer.
• Visit the biggest truck stop we have ever built in ATS on Interstate 80!
• Become a vital part in transporting farm produce from the Hawkeye State all over the USA.
• Explore more than 15 scenic towns (settlements) on your travels such as Spencer, Clear Lake, Dyersville, Oskaloosa, or Traer!
• Pick up and deliver equipment and goods to the Aluminum Factory, a brand-new prefab depot featuring custom-designed assets.
• Admire the state’s stunning expansive hills with terraced fields and picturesque farms.
• Keep goods flowing in and out of Iowa’s huge ethanol plant depots, supporting its lead in U.S. ethanol production.
• Uncover Iowa’s hidden gems, find hidden roads, viewpoints, and more!

Cruise through lively river cities and quiet farming communities as you discover the diverse scenery of Iowa, from elevated prairie hills to expansive fields lined with silos and wind turbines. This map expansion brings detailed landmarks like the Iowa State Capitol and iconic bridges spanning the Mississippi. With a road network featuring major interstates, rural highways, and small-town streets, Iowa offers a unique and immersive journey for any driver!

Farm Machinery DLC Update

With the 1.55 update, we introduced a new cargo addition to the Farm Machinery DLC, the Windrower! This essential piece of agricultural equipment is used to gather and align crops into neat rows for drying and harvesting, and now it’s your job to haul it where it’s needed most.

The Windrower will be available on the job market in two color variants: a classic green and a yellow version branded with OWL, one of our in-game farming equipment manufacturers. Designed for lowboy trailers, it’s a wide and impressive load that brings more variety to your agricultural deliveries.

You can find the full details about this update here.



Iowa Freight & Fields Bundle

Get ready to haul big cargo in style with the Iowa Freight & Fields Bundle for American Truck Simulator! Celebrate the release of the Iowa map expansion, the heart of America's agricultural industry - with this special bundle which includes four DLCs: Iowa, Special Transport, Farm Machinery, and the Retrowave Paint Jobs Pack.

Haul farming equipment across Iowa with the Farm Machinery DLC, from the iconic I-80 to the capital city of Des Moines, and through charming towns along the Mississippi River, and put your driving skills to the test with oversized cargo from the Special Transport DLC.

Top it all off with bold, retro flair drive in vibrant ‘80s style with the Retrowave Paint Jobs Pack as you cruise through the Hawkeye State.

Cruising Iowa World of Trucks Event

Right with the release of this map expansion, we are also introducing the #CruisingIowa World of Trucks Event for you to enjoy! We challenge our #BestCommunityEver to achieve a collective goal of driving 125,000,000 miles while delivering cargo to or from any city in Iowa. The personal goal is to deliver cargo to or from all 12 cities in the Hawkeye State, with each job being 100 miles or more. You can read more about the event here.

Unique rewards await those who complete the challenge! Truckers who achieve their personal goal will earn the Golden Flight ATS truck paint job and a World of Trucks Achievement.

When the community goal is met, and if you’ve also completed your personal goal, you’ll receive the beautifully crafted Porcelain Wild Rose hanging ornament for your cabin.

But that’s not all, truckers who complete a job using External Contracts or the External Market TO or FROM Iowa City will be rewarded with the Happy Hog cabin plush! Soft, snuggly, and full of Midwestern charm, this cheerful piglet pays tribute to Iowa’s proud farming heritage and is sure to keep you company on your travels! 

We can’t wait for you to start trucking through the Hawkeye State. Don’t forget to tag us in your photos and videos using the hashtag #CruisingIowa on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram,and Bluesky. If you’re enjoying your time #CruisingIowa, we’d really appreciate it if you left a review on the Iowa DLC Steam store page. We thank you for all your support and until next time, keep on truckin'! 

Cruising Iowa World of Trucks Event

Join us on Thursday, the 10th of July, to celebrate the release of our new Iowa DLC, by taking part in our World of Trucks event - Cruising Iowa! Get ready for an unforgettable ride through the heart of the Midwest and explore the rural beauty of the Hawkeye State, while on the job.

We're calling on our #BestCommunityEver to achieve the goal of driving 125,000,000 miles (201,168,000 km) while delivering cargo to or from any city in Iowa.

While #CruisingIowa, you'll enjoy losing yourself in beautiful scenic farms and crop fields. But don't forget to also visit Iowa's biggest cities Des Moines, Cedar Rapids or Davenport - especially at night, when the city lights create a magical atmosphere as you drive across its iconic bridges.

The Hawkeye State is well known for its agricultural wealth and stands at the top in production, especially of corn, hogs, eggs, and ethanol. As you contribute to the state's economy by hauling not only farming goods but also machinery, you'll have the chance to explore new agricultural factories, dealerships, and ethanol plants along the way.

While travelling through Iowa, you'll encounter breathtaking views and memorable highlights, including:

• Burlington, offering riverfront charm and historic streets in beautiful scenery
• Dubuque Lock & Dam 11, vital to navigation and water control on the Upper Mississippi
• Cedar Rapids, where innovation meets Midwest charm in the City of Five Seasons
• Baseball Field, a legendary Iowa ballfield where dreams and nostalgia still echo

As with past cruising events, you can use your own trailer and experience all the fun using the external market!

Explore 12 incredible cities in the Iowa DLC, and unlock a uniquely crafted reward by achieving your personal goal of delivering to or from every one of them. All event jobs need to be 100 miles (161 km) or longer.

Are you ready to hit the road? Join us in #CruisingIowa and let's explore the Hawkeye State's endless prairies, crop fields, unspoiled nature and historic cities.

Rules

 

Using External Contracts or External Market, with a World of Trucks-connected profile in American Truck Simulator, the community goal is to drive 125,000,000 miles (201,168,000 km) while delivering cargoes to or from any city in Iowa.

 

When a player completes a delivery to or from 12 different Iowa cities, they will achieve their personal goal.

 

All jobs for the event need to be at least 100 miles each (161 km), or more.

 

You can check if your recent deliveries met these conditions using your Log Book in your World of Trucks profile.

 

Rewards

• Personal: Players that deliver cargo to or from 12 Iowa cities will gain a personal World of Trucks Achievement and a Golden Flight ATS truck paint job Steam inventory item.

• Community: When the community goal of driving 125,000,000 miles (201,168,000 km) during deliveries to or from any city in Iowa is met, and if the player has also achieved their personal goal, then they will receive a Porcelain Wild Rose hanging ornament Steam inventory item.

Note: In order to qualify for any community reward, you must complete at least your personal goal in American Truck Simulator. Each reward will be a Steam inventory item for American Truck Simulator. Once completed, claim your reward in the Events page on your World of Trucks profile.

The event will be concluded on Sunday, the 14th of September at 23:59 UTC. 

We can't wait to hear about your discoveries as you cruise through the beautiful Hawkeye state! So, please share your screenshots and videos with us using the hashtag #CruisingIowa on our Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram profiles and we will share our favourite ones (we may even feature some of them in a future blog post!).

BIG In Iowa

Abnormal Loads ahead! Those looking for an extra challenge in our upcoming Iowa DLC can find new Special Transport contracts in the job market. Think you've got the skills to deliver heavy and oversized loads? Let us show you what's on the road ahead!

Drivers ready to take on the challenge will find 3 new Special Transport jobs in the Hawkeye State, each of which have been carefully planned ahead with escort vehicles and local police enforcement ensuring a smooth delivery. Even with the extra help and clear roads, completing these job contracts will require careful driving and full attention to the road, especially when manoeuvring around built-up areas.

Whilst the job is tough, drivers who do successfully complete these Special Transport deliveries will be paid pretty well! If you're up for the challenge, look out for Special Transport DLC job contracts in Iowa between the following cities:

Dubuque to Mason City
Burlington to Iowa City
Sioux City to Des Moines

If you already own the Special Transport DLC, these new contracts will be ready for you to pick up once the Iowa DLC is released on July 10th. Excited? Don’t forget to add the Iowa DLC to your Steam Wishlist to be notified of its release. We appreciate all your support and look forward to seeing you take on these challenging deliveries. Until next time, keep on Truckin'! 

Iowa: Des Moines

The capital city of the Hawkeye State is getting ready to welcome truckers from all over the country. Today, we're sharing a preview of this key stop in the upcoming Iowa DLC for American Truck Simulator - another look at what's coming for our #BestCommunityEver.

Des Moines sits at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers. It began as a fort in the mid-19th century, but the community grew quickly and was officially incorporated as a city. In 1857, it took over from Iowa City as the state capital. From those early beginnings, Des Moines has grown into a major city with a population of over 214,000 residents.

We've already teased Des Moines' most iconic landmark in the Iowa DLC announcement - the State Capitol, featured prominently in the graphic. This striking building, known for its golden dome, was completed in 1886 and showcases the Greek Revival architectural style. Make sure to admire its beauty when passing by!

Of course, the State Capitol isn't the only landmark our map and asset teams have brought to life. You'll be able to drive through downtown Des Moines and spot several faithfully recreated locations, including the local sports arena, administrative buildings, bridges (such as the Iowa Women of Achievement Bridge), and even some local art, all carefully designed to reflect their real-world counterparts.

If you head north from the Capitol, you'll spot a local liberal arts university founded in the late 19th century. Its campus blends classical and modern architectural styles, making it a distinctive and eye-catching part of the cityscape.

When it comes to job opportunities for truckers, Des Moines offers two main logistics hubs for pickups and deliveries. In the northern area, you'll find a construction and a shopping mall depot, along with a key local tire factory that features a unique office building suspended above the road. The southern logistics zone is home to a chemical plant in need of regular supplies. In addition, there's a grain elevator and train service depot in the city that both require your hauling expertise.

We hope you are excited to visit this metropolitan hub in Iowa! If you do, make sure to add this map expansion to your Steam Wishlist! Also, remember to follow us on our social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky, and YouTube) or sign up for our newsletter for more news from the world of American Truck Simulator. We will see you on the road!