In-game time vs real time
The tachograph can run its drive, break, rest, and EU hours clocks on either ETS2 game time or your PC’s real clock. Same rules — different clock source.
Quick answer
Timers follow the ETS2 clock from Funbit. When you pause the game, drive and break time freeze. Best for realistic roleplay with the sim day/night.
Timers follow your computer clock. Breaks keep counting even if you alt-tab, pause the game, or Funbit drops for a moment. Best if you want breaks to tick in the real world.
How to switch
- Open settings with F3
- Find Use ETS2 game time
- On = game time · Off = PC real time
- Save / apply — TIMERS page shows GAME or REAL as the clock source
Default is game time on.
What uses this clock
- Continuous driving (4.5h → break)
- Qualifying break (45m or 15+30)
- Daily driving (9h / 10h)
- Weekly / fortnight EU hours
- Trip / session timers
- Rest time while in REST / parked BREAK
Everything shares one clock — you do not mix game and real time for different counters.
When the game is paused
- Game time: pause = clocks frozen (drive and break stop advancing)
- Real time: pause does not stop the PC clock — breaks can still finish while you are AFK
Parked / engine off / r REST still count toward the break when the chosen clock is running.
Telemetry offline / no game clock
- Game time on + Funbit offline: counters pause (no sim clock). Switch game time off if you want real-time breaks without telemetry.
- Game time on but no clock in the feed: overlay falls back to PC real time so breaks still work.
- Real time mode: keeps counting from the PC even if Funbit disconnects briefly.
Green/red telemetry dot = whether Funbit data is connected. That is separate from which clock you chose for hours.
Other things that work with the timers
w = WORK · r = REST · park/engine off → REST then auto BREAK after stopped time.
↑/↓ to TIMERS — see CONT / DUE and whether the source is GAME or REAL.
End key — session, break, daily, weekly bars and a line showing the clock source.
4.5h → 45m break, daily/weekly limits. See Drivers’ hours for the full limits.
Which should I use?
- Convoy / roleplay with game days: keep game time on
- Want a coffee break in real life to count: turn game time off
- Funbit keeps dropping: real time is more forgiving for break counting