18 Wheels of Steel: Pedal to the Metal crosses 2 genres. It is a truck simulator and partly an economic strategy. This project is considered the third in the series. In the third one, you can travel around the USA. You can also drive through parts of Mexico and Canada. There is a change for and night. Weather conditions also change. In the game, you need to transport goods between cities (there are 30 directions in total), trying to fit into the timer and trying to avoid road accidents, traffic jams and problems with the police. Periodically, you need to weigh your truck or semi-trailer and repair your car. If you ignore the technical inspection and break the rules, the cops can issue a fine. This title has 3 modes that open as you progress. After unlocking, you can choose any of them.

In Russian localization, the video game is known under a slightly alternative name 18 Steel Wheels: Road Dust. It combines the gameplay of a car simulator with business management. There is career growth and a full-fledged progression system. The user starts as a hired driver. At first, he accepts various contracts and transports 45 types of cargo across North America. For orders completed on time, he receives money and a rating. Having saved up a sufficient amount, the user can upgrade the current truck or buy a new one. There are 35 cars available here. After purchasing his first vehicle, the gamer becomes a free truck driver and gets the opportunity to decide what to transport, as well as hire drivers (bots). Over time, he becomes an individual entrepreneur. Then the player stops personally engaging in cargo transportation and begins to manage his own transport company.