Overview

This hauling & trading guide shows you how to efficiently make money in Star Citizen by running contract hauls across reputation ranks — from Rookie to Master. You’ll find optimized ships, routes, mission selection, and bug-avoidance rules for the Hull C, plus official RSI cargo guidance and an internal tactics thread for advanced tips.

Featured Video Summary (Money-Making With Hauling Contracts)

The featured video covers end-to-end hauling: best ships, routes, and strategies per rank. Highlights include efficient Constellation Taurus rentals for early game, Hull A for broke-start pivots, Member-rank rep-power missions, and Hull C auto-load loops for peak aUEC/hour.

• Best Early Rental: Constellation Taurus for cargo space + integrated tractor beam (Regal Luxury Rental Kiosk, New Babbage Airport [00:14]). Tip: renting two Tauruses enables fast resets via the “backspace” method [00:27].
• Broke Starter: Rent Hull A at Vini Point cargo deck for ~34,000 aUEC [00:48]; one run can net ~300k aUEC [00:52].
• Must-Have Tool: Tractor beam (ship-integrated is best). For Hull A, buy a Max Lift or Pyro Multitool + tractor attachment [01:05].

RSI Official Cargo Guide (Key Points)

For fundamentals on contracts, commodities, and logistics, review the
RSI Cargo Guide.
Core takeaways:

1. Start via Contract Manager: Accept Covalex’s “Opportunity for Independent Cargo Hauler”, sign the terms, then execute pickup → delivery.
2. Route Planning: Optimize legs across distribution centers, Lagrange points, and major ports. Upgrade your quantum drive early.
3. Market Awareness: Track supply/demand and prices via mobiGlas Journal when doing commodity trades.
4. Security & Risk: Arm up, plan evasive options, and never risk more capital than you’re willing to lose. Illegal cargo carries severe penalties.

Reputation Ranks, Mission Pay & Best Use

Note: You must be in the correct area (e.g., ArcCorp) to see localized contracts [02:57].

Ranked Strategies & Routes

Rookie → Junior (Taurus Rental)

• System: ArcCorp
• Route: Vini Point → New Babbage Airport loop [03:53]
• Orders: Stack up to six 50k Rookie missions + one Small Cargo Haul + a Stems return (≈8 orders)
• Payout: ≈400k aUEC per cycle; do ~2 cycles in ~75 minutes with Taurus tractor efficiency [06:26], [08:22]
• Loading Trick: Park the Taurus optimally and press Q to engage ship tractor with FPS controls for rapid crate handling.

Member Rank (Taurus — Reputation Focus)

• Mission: Direct Interstellar Medium Cargo [11:34]
• Location: Magnus Gateway
• Why: Single pickup + single drop-off yields +1,000 rep, accelerating progress to Experienced [13:36].

Experienced Rank (Hull C — Maximum Profit)

• Ship: Hull C — automatic load/unload (no tractor needed) [15:30]
• Loop: Everest ↔ Magnus (use return-trip mission) [23:44]
• Earnings: ~2.8M aUEC/hour for ~3 round trips [24:02]
• Peak: With two Hull C’s focusing only big missions, up to ~3.5M aUEC/hour [25:34]

Hull C Auto-Load: Bug-Free Checklist

1. Don’t store at pickup/dropoff locations to avoid state conflicts [15:52].
2. For station pickups: Position very close to the cargo disc near containers before calling the pickup [16:24].
3. Docking: Be perfectly level and centered in the blue box, then stop and power off engines to trigger auto-load [16:43].
4. Departing: After a full load, back out and wait ~30s to prevent random conflicting cargo requests [18:11].

Ships & Tools

• Constellation Taurus (Rental): Best early hauler; integrated tractor; rentable at Regal Luxury (New Babbage Airport) [00:14]. Dual-rental enables fast resets [00:27].
• Hull A (Budget): Rent at Vini Point (~34k aUEC) [00:48]; one run ≈300k aUEC [00:52].
• Hull C (Endgame): Auto-loading for high-volume loops [15:30].
• Tractor Beam Options: Ship-integrated > Max Lift > Pyro Multitool + tractor attachment [01:05].
• Upgrades: Prioritize quantum drive improvements to compress travel time and boost runs/hour.

Pro Tips (Efficiency & Safety)

• Plan routes to minimize quantum legs and atmosphere climbs; cluster pickups/deliveries.
• Monitor markets if trading commodities; for contracts, stack compatible missions.
• Risk management: Equip shields/weapons; learn evasion; never risk more cargo value than you can afford to lose.
• Escorts: Consider security for high-value runs or hostile routes.
• Illegal cargo: High reward, higher consequences (confiscation, fines, impound, imprisonment).

FAQ

Further Reading & Community Tactics

• Official reference: RSI Cargo Guide
• Discuss advanced routes, loadouts, and org logistics in our companion thread:
  Hauling Trading Guide (Citizens of Interest)

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