THIS is how your driver moves in Euro Truck Simulator 2! MotionCab changes the cockpit camera!

MotionCab has not only been available for a few days. The first versions of the plugin were released as early as summer 2026. At the end of September, however, the project was largely rebuilt technically: With version 1.0, MotionCab switched completely to the SPF Framework, all previous camera effects were revised and several new functions were added. One day later, version 1.0.1 followed, which is currently intended for Euro Truck Simulator 2 version 1.61 and later and requires at least SPF Framework 1.2.4.

The key difference from a normal camera setting is that MotionCab combines various states of the truck. When braking, the virtual head position tilts forward; when accelerating, it moves back accordingly, and in corners the view responds to lateral forces. The camera then does not snap back to its starting position, but instead smoothly returns. Steering also affects the viewing direction: When you turn the steering wheel, the camera follows the curve with an adjustable delay instead of immediately reacting to every small steering correction.

Particularly noticeable is the Mirror Check. As soon as you activate the turn signal, MotionCab can automatically move the camera toward the corresponding side mirror. When the turn signal is switched off again, the view returns to the front. The angle and speed of the camera movement can be adjusted. If desired, the function can also be configured to react only while stationary or to ignore a turn signal that was activated only while driving. Especially when turning, this creates a sequence in which the virtual view automatically moves in the direction a driver would check anyway.

There is also Manual Look. This allows you to trigger a smooth look to the left or right yourself and specify whether the relevant key must be held down or works as a toggle. A separate manual zoom is also part of the current feature set. These functions do not require a TrackIR camera, a Tobii Eye Tracker or any other head-tracking hardware. MotionCab generates the movements from the game's data and uses them to control the cockpit camera.

However, anyone already using real head tracking should not simply run MotionCab alongside all effects without checking. TrackIR, Tobii or OpenTrack can add their own head movements while MotionCab simultaneously generates the physics-dependent movements. As a result, the movements can overlap and become significantly stronger than desired. Individual MotionCab effects can therefore be switched off or reduced separately.

The truck's actual suspension also feeds into the camera movement. MotionCab processes the movement of the individual wheels and makes the driver's perspective react accordingly to bumps in the road. The plugin also takes inclines and declines into account. On an incline, the head may lower slightly; downhill, it may rise accordingly. This movement is separate from the so-called Road Irregularity, which additionally responds to the respective surface.

This was improved once again in version 1.0.1. Uneven surfaces such as Dirt, Grass, Soft Ground, Snow and Gravel can now also produce additional sideways swaying. Driving over gravel should therefore feel different through the camera than a smooth drive over asphalt. MotionCab separates the truck's actual suspension movements from the additional response to the road surface.

The engine also affects the view. The Engine Vibration produces a slight camera vibration depending on the current engine speed. At low revs, it differs from the vibration at higher engine speeds. In electric trucks, this effect is automatically disabled. There is also a separate effect for starting and stopping the engine, simulating a brief mechanical jolt.

Even when the truck is stationary, the camera does not remain completely motionless. Idle Breathing produces a very slight vertical movement and tilt while stationary, intended to suggest breathing. As soon as the truck starts moving, this effect is hidden and the physics-dependent camera movements take over. No visible driver is animated; it is solely a change to the driver's perspective.

Version 1.0 also brought significant changes to the configuration. Instead of making settings mainly through a file, MotionCab now has its own interface within the game. The individual effects can be enabled, disabled and adjusted in terms of their strength or smoothing. You can also save and switch profiles. This makes it possible, for example, to save a restrained setting for motorway driving alongside a much more dynamic profile for smaller roads or off-road routes.

Before using it, however, some of the normal ETS2 camera options should be disabled. MotionCab needs control over the same camera movements that the base game can also generate in some cases. The simulation of uneven surfaces should therefore be set to 0 percent, steering camera rotation should be disabled or set to 0, and physical camera movement and its factor should also be switched off. Otherwise, the game's and the plugin's movements may overlap.

How to install MotionCab in Euro Truck Simulator 2

MotionCab is not installed through Euro Truck Simulator 2's normal mod manager. The plugin uses the SPF Framework, which must first be set up separately.

The current SPF Framework is extracted into the folder bin → win_x64 → plugins of the ETS2 installation. Then download MotionCab and extract its contents into bin → win_x64. The next time you start the game, MotionCab will appear in the SPF Framework's Plugin Manager and can be activated there.

No separate installer or user account is required. MotionCab itself essentially consists of the plugin and its required files. Updates are displayed within the SPF Framework, but still have to be downloaded and installed manually.

At present, MotionCab supports Euro Truck Simulator 2 version 1.61 and later as well as American Truck Simulator version 1.61 and later. The plugin is still in development, so adjustments may be necessary with new game versions or unusual combinations with other camera plugins. Since MotionCab itself mainly controls the camera, it should generally be usable alongside many physics, sound, graphics and traffic mods. However, there is no guarantee for every conceivable combination.

Download

You can get MotionCab free of charge from the official project page:

MotionCab:

MotionCab — Dynamic Head-Motion for ETS2 and ATS

MotionCab brings dynamic realistic camera effects to Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator, for a more immersive driving experience.

motioncab.com

MotionCab is free and open source. So anyone who does not want to use additional head-tracking hardware gets a way to make the driver's perspective move solely based on what the truck is currently doing: When braking, the view moves along with it, bumps move the head, the engine produces slight vibrations, and when signaling, the camera can automatically move toward the mirror.

Which feature would you be most likely to use in Euro Truck Simulator 2: the automatic mirror check, the movements when braking and accelerating, or the stronger response to poor roads?