18 Wheeler is an electro-mechanical arcade game notable for its large steering wheel, four-position gear shift, and individual gas and brake pedals. There is no video monitor in the cabinet; instead the action involves manipulating a plastic truck that remains fixed in the foreground. The "road" continuously loops underneath the toy truck once the gas pedal is depressed, giving the appearance the truck is moving forward. The object is to keep the truck on the road by steering left and right. Shifting gears at the right time will increase the truck's speed, and light-up displays will show your points, time remaining, and warning signs. Cargo zones will periodically appear, requiring you to hit the brake and throw the truck in reverse to deliver its haul for bonus points.