If you’re just beginning your journey in Star Trucker, this guide has everything you need to get started on the right foot. We’ve gathered the most valuable tips and strategies to help you navigate space more efficiently, manage resources wisely, and upgrade your truck for optimal performance. Whether you’re looking to maximize your earnings or simply avoid early mistakes, these beginner-friendly insights will ensure you’re well-prepared for the challenges ahead.
Star Trucker: Tips and Tricks for Beginners
Here are some of the most effective tips for Star Trucker that every new player should know. These insights will help you navigate space smoothly and improve your skills from the start.
0. Map
1. How to re-open the job board
- Exit your seat.
- Close the airlock door (the button is next to the suit).
- Door turns blue. Click the door.
This also works for shops, and presumably any station service you’re docked to.
2. Life or Death
These might just save your life:
- Being docked at a station does not give you oxygen.
- Don’t release the airlock without your spacesuit. Unless you want an achievement (save first).
3. Cargo Storage Tricks
The game doesn’t offer any cargo straps to secure your cargo in the cab, but we have a solution!
Shelves
Place containers on the shelves, and when you open them, they wedge into place. This prevents them from moving when you turn off the Gravity Compensator.
Note: Even if cardboard boxes and hard cases are wedged in place with this method, crashing into objects can still dislodge them and create a mess.
Angle cardboard boxes just right to help secure other cargo.
Note: The previous method with gas cans didn’t work for securing them.
Airlock
The airlock is ideal for storing items while you travel.
Don’t worry about accidentally ejecting the items; the airlock will be obstructed by anything you’re not holding when you try to open it to space.
4. Power
I keep old batteries around and use them when I’m idling, waiting for a Just-In-Time job. This allows me to squeeze out every last bit of juice from them. I then store them until I enter a sector with a high markup and sell them for a profit.
Being docked seems to use station power, as indicated by ‘external power connected’.
Core Power / Maglock Controls will continue to operate with just a single battery.
Gravity Compensator
I turn off the Gravity Compensator while driving and load as much as I can into containers and the airlock.
This system is a major power drain, so I box all my cargo items and turn it off.
To prevent boxes from floating around, store everything in the airlock while driving.
Maglock Controls
I frequently unhitch the trailer while waiting for Just-In-Time delivery windows.
When not moving, unhitch your trailer to save on Maglock Battery Power (zero power usage).
Oxygen Generator
Regularly maintain the filters to reduce power consumption and keep oxygen levels optimal.
Suit Power
I don’t replace the batteries in the suit power directly. Instead, I transfer the lowest battery from another system to the suit, then replace that one with a new battery.
The suit power only consumes energy when recharging the suit or when the suit is refilling with oxygen.
This method helps drain old batteries, allowing you to allocate new batteries to more critical systems and use the leftovers for the suit power.
Lights (Exterior/Interior)
I turn off all lights and drive in the dark to conserve power.
Lights use Core Power, so turn them off when they are not needed.
5. Fuel
If you’re in a system where gas is less than $2.00 a gallon, FILL YOUR TANKS!
Gas Canisters are more expensive than getting fuel directly from the pump. Use them only in emergencies!
6. Gravity
Tired of constantly monitoring the gravity compensator? Is it annoying that you constantly have to sort everything all over again because you forgot to change the battery?
Just open the lid of the container while they are on the shelves. So they will constantly try to open completely.
Thats it! Now you can turn off gravity and fly calmly without fear that all things will fly around the cabin.
7. Sector Information
Anomalies
Sectors unlocked when gaining the Scanner Upgrade (Side Job).
- Scanning reveals crystal-like asteroids that are normally invisible. They will become visible briefly before fading back to invisibility.
Electrical Storms
Sectors unlocked when gaining the Shock Pod Upgrade (Side Job).
- Up to three Shock Pods can be installed at once. They have no hit points and are only valuable if they ‘pop’ for selling.
- Electrical Storms move around, so if it’s in the shop now, don’t sit in it to buy or sell. Wait for it to move.
- Or you’ll risk popping all three of your original (free) Shock Pods.
Solar Storms
Sectors unlocked when gaining the Shutter Upgrade (Side Job).
- Solar Storms spike temperatures to 2,500°F.
- Keep the shutters closed and either stop or rely on your monitors to keep trucking.
- You’ll receive an audible warning if you’re outside the truck in your suit when a solar storm is approaching.
- If you need to leave the truck in a sector with solar storms, close the shutters first to avoid overheating when exiting your suit. Also, close them when docked at any stations.
Upgrade Shop
This is where you upgrade your truck (functional upgrades). You can also repair your hull and service upgrades here.
- Atlas Prime, Crossvale, Darkside, Kingsweave
Black Market
Still learning more about this one.
- Sells the unique item Stardust (narcotics).
Security Checkpoint
Occurs when first entering a system with a security checkpoint.
- $1,000 fine for illegal goods found (confirmation needed, haven’t been caught yet).
- If you place items in the hidden compartment, they cannot be scanned by the checkpoints.
Weigh Station
- The Weigh Station will be active when you are near it, even if it moves to your sector after you have already been in it.
- If found overweight, you’ll be required to surrender items until you’re under the weight limit.
- Check the bugs section; there is currently a bug related to this, as well as a potential workaround.
- Ejecting, selling, or otherwise removing items from your truck counts as an illegal act in the eyes of Rosso, resulting in a $1,500 fine. However, this option avoids the need to surrender items. In some cases, this may be preferable to surrendering cargo.
8. Trading (Salvaging)
Salvaging is currently more profitable than doing hauls, so prioritize the most valuable items to maximize your payout. Make sure to bring a container with you while salvaging, allowing you to collect more small items without constantly returning to your trunk.
Tip: Once you unlock the scanner, leaving the gravity on can be useful as you’ll encounter many large items (like batteries) that can’t fit into containers.
Trading for Maximum Profit
When trading, always aim for a 40%+ markup to make the most of your sales. Some sectors, like Dustbrook and Solitude, offer markups as high as 60%, making them perfect spots to sell high-value and rare goods.
For example:
If you have a Golden Cone with a base value of $1,000, selling it in a sector offering a 40% markup will earn you $1,400.
High-Value Items to Prioritize
Chemicals
Mining Charge (explosives / illegal) – Base Value: $2,500
Electronics
Data Tape – Base Value: $1,000
Micro Stabilizers – Base Value: $5,000
General Goods
Golden Cone – Base Value: $1,000
Textiles
Eveningwear Carton – Base Value: $5,000
Always check sector prices before offloading your cargo, as some goods can yield significantly higher profits in specific locations.
Pro Tip: Once you unlock the hidden compartment, you can safely store illegal items there. It fits two containers’ worth of cargo, perfect for keeping those high-risk, high-reward items safe during transport.