The box of Big Rigs states that the player may "race trucks across the country trying to deliver illegal cargo, with cops chasing [them]." GameSpot's Alex Navarro wrote that this description of the game is nothing more than "horrible, horrible lies"[1], since there are no police in the game. Additionally he pointed out that the computer-controlled opponent vehicles have no AI and never move from the starting position,[2] making even the description of the gameplay as a "race" questionable.
There are technically no obstacles for the player to negotiate in Big Rigs, as the truck may freely be driven on and off roads without any loss of traction, up or down 90° slopes with no loss or gain of speed, through structures such as buildings and trees, simply falling right through bridges, and even out of the boundaries of the map into an endless grey void. When the player's vehicle is put into reverse, it can accelerate indefinitely, but the truck will halt instantly when the reverse key is released.[3]
Though there appear to be five courses from which to choose, only four are playable. The fifth map, titled "Nightride", does not work and selecting it crashes the game.[1]
Upon completion of the race, the player is presented with digital representation of a large three-handled trophy and the text "YOU'RE WINNER !" [sic][4] The game occasionally fails to distinguish between whether the player is starting or finishing the race when they pass through the starting point, and so this congratulatory screen may appear within seconds of starting a game, ending the race before it even begins.