Plan pickup and delivery
Cargo stays at its point of origin until collected. It has no destination assigned when produced, so you can pick it up and ship it anywhere within your network.
An industry's integrated loading dock is cheap and quick to set up, but it loads slowly and can develop queues as traffic grows.
Warehouses and specialized terminals offer intermediate storage and logistics options. Account for time spent waiting at a warehouse when delivering to town customers.
Delivery deadlines differ by cargo type, and shorter loading times can affect financial results. Investing in a faster supply chain may increase its environmental impact.
Universal vehicles can carry anything. Specialized vehicles serve their own cargo category and load and unload it faster. Combining specialized vehicles, stations and warehouses can amplify those gains, with extra costs and potential pollution impact.
Cargo planning questions
- Where does cargo wait, and when is its destination chosen?
- It waits at its point of origin until collected. Production does not assign a destination; you choose where to ship it within your network.
- When should I consider storage or faster loading?
- An integrated industry dock offers a cheap, quick start, while its slower loading can create queues as traffic grows. Warehouses and specialized terminals offer intermediate storage, but cargo waiting at a warehouse can delay delivery to town customers. Cargo-specific deadlines make loading time consequential.
- How do universal and specialized vehicles compare?
- Universal vehicles can carry anything. Specialized vehicles serve their own cargo category and handle it faster. Combining them with specialized stations and warehouses can amplify the speed benefit, with extra costs and potential pollution impact.