Groundwork Simulator Trucks: Hauling and Driving Guide

What Do Trucks Do in Groundwork Simulator?

A loaded truck needs a usable road before that dirt can become gold. Groundwork Simulator trucks handle material hauling, equipment transport, and mobile drilling, connecting the different jobs around your claim. Understanding how Groundwork Simulator trucks fit into that operation helps you position machinery, keep access clear, and spend less time wrestling loads through ground you just excavated.

The fleet covers several distinct jobs. Your opening pickup tows the caravan, dump trucks move excavated material, and heavy trucks pull machinery on trailers. The DR64 carries drilling equipment for testing deeper ground before you commit to a larger cut.

Truck or vehicle type	Role in your operation	Relevant equipment
Pickup truck	Tows the caravan during the opening tutorial	Caravan
Dump truck	Carries excavated pay dirt to a stockpile	Excavator and wheel loader
Heavy truck	Hauls machinery between worksites	Machinery trailer
DR64 drill truck	Samples underground layers and gold-bearing bands	Mounted drilling rig

The machine dealer also includes cab-over, conventional American-style, and military-style trucks, alongside dump trucks and trailers. Focus on the job you need to complete before adding another vehicle to the yard.

These are different parts of the same mining operation. Excavation exposes material, transport moves it, and the washing setup separates concentrate for cleanup. Adding trucks alone will not solve an awkward loading area or a conveyor that is still switched off.

Groundwork Simulator entered Early Access on October 22, 2026. This guide covers its launch gameplay, including the tutorial hauling loop and truck-mounted drilling.

Move Pay Dirt From the Excavator to the Wash Plant

The starting workflow gives Groundwork Simulator trucks a clear purpose: move excavated dirt to a stockpile that the wheel loader can reach. The loader then transfers that material into the conveyor feeding the mobile trommel.

Image: Steam / XYZ STUDIO

That intermediate pile matters. In the starting setup, the dump truck does not reach high enough to unload directly into the conveyor hopper. Follow the stockpile workflow and give the loader room to operate.

Stage	Machine or equipment	What to do
Excavation	Excavator	Dig material and empty the bucket into the dump truck
Hauling	Dump truck	Carry the load to the designated stockpile area
Stockpiling	Dump truck	Raise the bed and unload the material
Feeding	Wheel loader	Scoop the stockpile and fill the small conveyor
Washing	Conveyor and trommel	Run the wash plant before starting the feed belt
Cleanup	Sluice boxes and cleanup table	Stop the equipment, collect concentrate, and process it

Position the truck before digging

Park the dump truck where the excavator can reach its bed without repeatedly moving its tracks. Leave enough clearance for the bucket to pass over the sides.

Use the load indicator to track how much material is aboard. The visible shape of the dirt does not tell the whole story: the truck can reach its displayed capacity while the bed still appears to have space.

Stop loading when the truck reaches capacity. Avoid repeatedly dumping another bucket into the same full bed.

Keep the exit from the loading position clear, too. Excavation changes the surrounding ground, so a convenient parking spot can become awkward once you have cut a trench beside it.

Give the wheel loader a workable stockpile

During the tutorial, unload inside the marked stockpile area. Afterward, keep your piles accessible from the loader’s approach and leave room to turn toward the conveyor.

Lower the dump bed before returning to the excavator. If material remains trapped against the pile during unloading, move forward carefully to create space for it to fall.

Park the empty truck away from the loader’s scoop path. A truck beside the pile can force the loader into an awkward approach, especially near a slope.

Before feeding the conveyor, get the washing equipment ready:

• Supply water through the pumps and hoses.
• Position the generator within reach of the washing setup.
• Start the trommel’s drum and spray bar.
• Start the conveyor to feed material into the running plant.

When feeding finishes, stop the belt. Let the remaining material process, then stop the wash plant before emptying the sluice boxes.

Drive Through Mud Without Ruining Your Haul Route

Groundwork Simulator trucks operate on terrain that changes as you work. Mud affects traction, excavators create new edges and slopes, and piles can obstruct routes that were clear earlier.

Image: Steam / XYZ STUDIO

The opening caravan journey introduces differential lock and the recovery winch. Those tools help with difficult ground, but route preparation remains part of the job.

Terrain or access problem	Relevant mechanic	Driving or planning tip
Mud	Traction and differential lock	Engage differential lock when tackling the muddy section
Truck stuck near trees	Recovery winch	Open the winch controls and follow the attachment prompts
Tight corner	Truck and trailer maneuvering	Leave room for the trailer before committing to the turn
Rough access track	Deformable terrain	Improve the ground before repeating loaded trips
Steep or uneven approach	Slopes and heavy loads	Choose your approach before driving onto the slope
Flooded work area	Flowing water and pumps	Check the water supply and stop unnecessary pumping

At launch, X toggles differential lock, while L opens the recovery winch. Follow the current on-screen controls for selecting an anchor and operating the winch.

Use the camera view that lets you judge the immediate obstacle. The opening pickup supports alternate views with C, including a cab view. Check your surroundings before backing a caravan or lining up beside another machine.

Keep excavation away from the access lane

Leave a continuous route between the digging area, stockpile, and wash plant. Avoid cutting across that lane just because the next bucket of promising material sits beneath it.

If the road deteriorates, pause hauling and reshape the ground. Bulldozers move material and alter the worksite, giving road preparation a practical place in the mining loop.

Check water management before blaming the truck for a difficult return trip. A pump left filling the holding pond can flood the surrounding claim. Stop the river supply when continued filling is unnecessary, while managing the separate water connection serving the wash plant.

Keep hoses and equipment placement in mind when choosing a route. Plan vehicle access alongside the water system as the site grows.

Haul Heavy Machinery on a Trailer

Moving an excavator or bulldozer to another worksite gives Groundwork Simulator trucks another job. Load the machinery onto a trailer, tow it to the destination, and unload where the next operation will begin.

Image: Steam / XYZ STUDIO

The transport challenge includes lining up for loading and navigating turns, slopes, and rough ground with machinery behind the truck. A route that works for the pickup deserves another look before you take a loaded trailer through it.

Use this sequence when preparing a move:

1. Choose the unloading area. Leave enough space for the machine to come off the trailer and reach its work position.
2. Check the route. Look for narrow turns, rough sections, and steep approaches.
3. Prepare difficult ground. Improve access before bringing the loaded combination through.
4. Line up for loading. Approach the trailer deliberately rather than correcting a large angle at the last moment.
5. Drive with the trailer in mind. Watch its path through corners and uneven sections.
6. Unload at the worksite. Position the equipment where it can begin the next job.

Plan the destination as carefully as the journey. Delivering a bulldozer beside a crowded wash line creates another maneuvering problem before work begins.

The game also provides a machine transport tool for relocating company machinery and trailers. It displays the selected equipment and moving price before placement. Use that displayed cost when deciding how to relocate equipment.

For nearby work, compare the existing access with the route the machine would need to travel. For a trailer move, prepare both ends before loading.

Use the DR64 and Coordinate Your Truck Work

Groundwork Simulator trucks also support prospecting through the DR64. A surface scan checks shallow ground; drilling reveals deeper layers and gold-bearing bands, helping you choose where to excavate.

The tutorial introduces the drill after your initial gold cleanup. Hire it through the machine dealer, select the requested delivery slot, and drive it back to the claim.

Drilling stage	Required action	What it accomplishes
Delivery	Collect the hired DR64 from its delivery slot	Brings the drill into your operation
Positioning	Align the rear of the truck with the borehole marker	Places the drilling equipment over the test location
Setup	Deploy the stabilizers and prepare the mast	Sets the rig for drilling
Sampling	Start drilling and add rods as needed	Records deeper material layers
Completion	Pull the drill and finish the hole	Completes the borehole
Review	Select the borehole markers on the gold map	Shows recorded depth, layers, and gold-bearing bands
Rental return	Exit the truck and return it through the fleet menu	Ends the daily hire charges

The tutorial calls for a hole reaching 3 meters, followed by another reaching 4 meters. Watch the depth display and follow the active objective rather than stopping as soon as the drill reaches a different material.

Position the truck with its rear in mind. Leave clearance behind it for the drilling equipment, and retract the stabilizers before driving to the next location.

Finish the requested sampling before returning the rental. Exit the vehicle first, then use the company fleet menu to return it and stop further daily charges.

Divide hauling and digging in online co-op

Online co-op lets one person operate the excavator while another handles transport. Coordinate the loading position and stockpile location before separating into different machines.

For a shared site, establish a simple routine:

• Bring the empty truck to the agreed loading position.
• Keep it still while the excavator fills the bed.
• Announce departure before pulling away.
• Unload where the loader has access.
• Return along the prepared route.

When working solo, use Tab to switch between machines instead of walking across the claim for every change of job.

Keep Groundwork Simulator trucks moving through a site that supports them. Clear loading positions, accessible stockpiles, and prepared roads give every machine a useful place in the operation. If you want to start building that fleet, get Groundwork Simulator on Steam.

FAQ

What are Groundwork Simulator trucks used for?

Trucks tow the caravan, haul excavated dirt, transport machinery on trailers, and carry drilling equipment. Dump trucks connect excavation to stockpiling, while the DR64 samples deeper ground.

Can the starting dump truck unload directly into the wash conveyor?

The starting truck does not reach high enough for that setup. Unload into a stockpile, then use the wheel loader to transfer material into the small conveyor.

How do you use differential lock and the winch?

At launch, press X to toggle differential lock and L to open the recovery winch. Follow the on-screen prompts to attach and operate the winch.

How do you stop paying for the rented drill truck?

Complete the drilling work, exit the DR64, and return it through the company fleet menu. Returning the hired drill stops its daily rental charges.