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Yes. American Truck Simulator (ATS) has built-in online multiplayer called Convoy. You can host a public or private session, invite Steam friends, and drive the same jobs or routes together. The Steam edition is labeled as supporting online co-op.
Convoy is hosted from inside ATS rather than being a separate launcher. Everyone needs a Steam account, an online Steam friends connection, the same current game version, and—if you use mods—the same mod files in the same load order. This guide explains how to host and join, what the host controls, and how to fix the most common visibility and compatibility problems.
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What multiplayer means in American Truck Simulator
ATS multiplayer is the in-game Convoy mode. One player creates a session and other players join it through Steam invitations or the Convoy browser. The group then drives together in the same coordinated session, taking the same job or following the same route.
SCS Software introduced Convoy as a way to create private sessions, optionally protect them with a password, and drive with friends or other truckers. Public sessions are also available when you want people outside your Steam friends list to find the lobby. The mode is therefore closer to a host-led co-op room than to a permanently running public server.
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SCS’s 2021 announcement for the 1.41 launch said Convoy supported up to eight players. That number describes the original launch implementation, not a guaranteed limit for the current 2026 build. Check the player limit shown by your installed version before planning a large group; do not assume the historical eight-player figure is still the live cap.
What you need before starting
Set up these basics before anyone attempts to join. Most failed joins are caused by a missing prerequisite rather than by a broken lobby.
| Requirement | What it affects |
|---|---|
| American Truck Simulator installed through Steam | Convoy uses the Steam edition’s online co-op and invitation flow. |
| Steam account for every player | Players must be connected as Steam friends for the documented invite flow. |
| Steam status set to Online | Offline or invisible friends may not appear as available to invite or join. |
| Same current ATS version | A player on an older build can fail to join a session running the latest build. |
| Matching mods and load order, when mods are enabled | Different mod sets or ordering can prevent a modded convoy from loading consistently. |
A no-mod profile is the simplest compatibility baseline. If you are troubleshooting, first try a convoy with every participant using the same unmodded profile. Add mods only after that test succeeds.
How to host an ATS Convoy
The host creates the session and determines its basic access settings. Use this sequence for a normal private game with friends.
- Launch ATS through Steam and wait for the main menu.
- Open Convoys, then choose Convoy Lobby.
- Select the option to host a convoy.
- Choose whether the session is public or private. Use a password for a private room when you want an additional barrier beyond Steam invitations.
- Give the session a distinctive name. Avoid a generic title such as “Convoy,” because an exact name makes global searching easier if a friend cannot see the room in the normal list.
- Keep Steam online and use the Steam overlay or the in-game friend invitation flow to invite the people who should join.
- Wait until each player appears in the convoy roster. Confirm that everyone is on the same game version and has compatible mods before starting a job.
- Select the job or route you want the group to run, then start the convoy.
The host should remain available while players join and coordinate the first departure. Convoy is a host-led session, so the host’s selected session context is the reference point for the group rather than each driver’s separate single-player state.
Public versus private sessions
A private convoy is appropriate for a fixed group. A password can reduce accidental joins, while Steam invitations let the host control who receives a direct entry request. A public convoy is discoverable by other players through the lobby browser and can be useful for meeting additional drivers.
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Public does not mean the session is guaranteed to appear in every player’s default list. Region visibility and search filters can affect what the browser displays. If a friend cannot find a public room, have them search for the exact session name globally.
How to join a friend’s convoy
- Start ATS from Steam and leave Steam set to Online.
- Ask the host to send a Steam overlay invitation, or open Convoys and choose Convoy Lobby to browse available sessions.
- If the session is listed, select it and choose the join command. Enter the password if the host enabled one.
- If it is not listed, use the lobby’s global search and enter the host’s exact session name. Check spelling, capitalization, and spaces.
- Accept any Steam overlay prompt and wait for ATS to load the convoy profile.
- Before accepting a job, confirm that your game version, enabled mods, and mod load order match the host’s setup.
- Choose the same job or route the group agreed on and depart when the host is ready.
Steam friendship and online status matter even when you intend to use the browser rather than a direct invitation. Have both players verify that they are actually connected as Steam friends and that neither account is appearing offline.
How the group drives together
Convoy coordinates players inside one multiplayer session. The practical way to use it is to agree on a destination, select the same job or route, and leave together. The host can organize the departure and keep the group on the same plan while each driver controls their own truck.
Use a short pre-departure checklist:
- Confirm every intended player is visible in the convoy roster.
- Agree on the job, destination, and departure point.
- Check that everyone has loaded the same mod set and order, if any.
- Ask late arrivals to join before the group begins the route.
- Give the session name and password to anyone who needs to reconnect.
Convoy is designed for coordinated session play, not for silently merging unrelated single-player trips. If one driver selects a different job, that player may no longer be following the group’s planned route, so settle the job choice before departure.
Why you cannot see a friend’s convoy
Work through these checks in order. Change one condition at a time so you know which fix solved the problem.
1. Steam status or friendship is wrong
Both players should be connected as Steam friends, and both accounts should show as online. Ask the host to reopen the Steam friends list and confirm the invite is being sent to the correct account. The joining player should restart Steam’s online connection if the status is stuck on offline or invisible.
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2. The game versions do not match
Exit ATS, let Steam finish any pending update, and ask every participant to do the same. A host who has updated while another player is still running an older build can create a session that the older client cannot join. Reopen the game only after Steam reports that ATS is current for everyone.
3. Region filtering hides the lobby
Convoy listings can be filtered by region. Have the friend perform a global search using the exact session name supplied by the host. This is the documented workaround when a room is not visible in the normal regional list.
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4. The session name was entered incorrectly
Copy the name exactly, including spaces and punctuation. If the host used a common name, ask them to rename the room to something distinctive, then search again.
5. A password is required
Confirm whether the host enabled a password and obtain the current password. A failed password entry can look like a missing or inaccessible lobby, especially when the room is private.
6. A mod mismatch blocks the join
Compare the enabled mod list with the host’s list, not just the number of mods. Every participant in a modded convoy should have the same mods in the same load order according to recent joining guidance. Disable all mods on every profile for a clean test; if that works, re-enable a synchronized set one mod at a time.
7. The host closed or restarted the room
A player-hosted convoy exists only while the host’s session is available. Ask the host to confirm that the lobby is still open, then refresh the Convoy browser or repeat the invitation.
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Mod compatibility: the rule that prevents most failures
Mods are not automatically synchronized just because players are friends. For a modded convoy, each player should install the same mod versions and place them in the same load order. A single missing, outdated, or differently ordered item can stop a client from joining or cause the session to load differently.
Use this controlled process:
- Have the host write down the enabled mods in order.
- Every participant disables unrelated mods and matches that list exactly.
- Verify that everyone has the same ATS version before launching the convoy.
- Start a short test convoy and join before selecting a long delivery.
- If the test fails, return all players to a no-mod profile, confirm that the basic convoy works, and then add the shared mods back in small groups.
Do not troubleshoot a version mismatch and a mod mismatch simultaneously. Establish a successful no-mod connection first; it tells you that the Steam relationship, game build, and basic lobby flow are working.
What the host controls and what players should coordinate
The host creates the room, chooses public or private access, optionally sets a password, and provides the session context in which the group drives. Players should agree on the route and job before starting so that everyone is actually traveling together.
For a reliable group run, appoint one person to manage invitations and another to communicate the route if the group is large. Give late players the exact session name and password instead of asking them to guess from a long public list. If the host must leave, plan a new session because the original room is tied to that host’s game.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Convoy’s player limit: what can safely be said
The original SCS 1.41 announcement in 2021 stated that Convoy supported up to eight players. That is a historical launch figure. It should not be presented as the confirmed limit for every later ATS release, including the 2026 version. The active game build may show a different limit or session behavior.
Before inviting a large group, open the current Convoy lobby and check the capacity displayed by your installation. If the room fills, split the group into multiple sessions rather than relying on the old announcement number.
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Convoy compared with playing alone
| Activity | Single-player profile | Convoy session |
|---|---|---|
| Session owner | Your own game session | A player hosts the room |
| Other drivers | No invited co-op participants | Friends or public participants can join |
| Access | No lobby or Steam invitation required | Steam connection, lobby visibility, and compatible versions matter |
| Route planning | You choose independently | The group coordinates a shared job or route |
| Mods | You can manage your own load order | All players need matching mods and load order for a modded run |
This difference explains why a profile that works perfectly alone can fail in Convoy: multiplayer adds a host, a lobby, Steam presence, and compatibility checks.
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- Steam is running and every participant is set to Online.
- All participants are Steam friends with the host.
- Steam has finished updating ATS on every computer.
- The host has chosen a distinctive session name.
- Everyone knows whether the room is public or private and has the password if needed.
- All modded players have the identical mod list and load order.
- The host has invited the group through the Steam overlay or provided the exact name for a global search.
- The group has agreed on one job or route before departure.
- The host has checked the capacity shown by the current game version.
Frequently misunderstood points
Is Convoy a separate multiplayer download?
No. Convoy is an ATS game mode accessed from the main menu. You launch ATS through Steam and open the Convoy lobby from inside the game.
Can friends join if they are not online in Steam?
The documented SCS flow expects friends to be connected through Steam and set to online. An offline or invisible status can prevent invitations and lobby discovery, so set Steam to Online before trying to join.
Can one player use different mods from the host?
That is not a reliable setup for a modded convoy. Recent joining guidance requires the same mods in the same load order. Use a shared no-mod profile when you want the simplest compatibility test.
What should I do when the lobby is missing?
Confirm Steam status and friendship, update ATS on every computer, then search globally by the exact session name. Region filtering is a documented reason a friend’s room may not appear in the default list.
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It was the limit stated in SCS’s 2021 1.41 launch announcement. Treat it as historical and read the capacity shown by the current in-game lobby before organizing a group.
Bottom line
ATS is multiplayer through its built-in Convoy mode. Host or join from the Convoy lobby, use Steam invitations or an exact global session-name search, keep every player on the same current version, and synchronize mods and load order when mods are enabled. Those steps address the normal setup and the most common reasons a friend’s session cannot be found or joined.
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