Identify the first failed handoff
Watch one vehicle and compare its load before and after each stop. Then inspect the producer, any warehouse and the final receiver. Fix the earliest failed step instead of rebuilding every part of the line at once.
| Observation | Start here |
|---|---|
| No cargo exists at the producer | Production and input stocks. |
| Producer has cargo, vehicle leaves empty | Pickup access, cargo compatibility and loading settings. |
| Arriving vehicle is loaded, warehouse stays empty | Incoming unloading and the warehouse handoff. |
| Warehouse fills, next vehicle leaves empty | Stored cargo type and outgoing pickup configuration. |
| Cargo reaches town, but is not delivered | Final consumer coverage, demand and unloading. |
These checks also address the player-reported two-line logistics hub problem. That discussion supplies the user question; the mechanics below come from the official manual.
1. Cargo never reaches the first vehicle
Open the industry window. The official industry manual distinguishes production, input stock and output stock. If a processor has no required input, investigate the supply stage before purchasing more outgoing capacity.
If output cargo exists, compare the cargo type with the vehicle's supported load and the pickup stop's configuration. Produced goods remain at their industry until a suitable configured vehicle collects them; an empty station is not proof that the industry has nothing to ship.
Check station catchment or the industry's integrated loading dock. Do not assume that a road beside a factory creates the required cargo connection. Read any line or terminal warning and confirm that the vehicle actually visits the intended stop.
2. A transfer between lines fails
Use warehouse storage when freight changes service. Select the relevant cargo stations and verify that the warehouse is within their working catchment. The warehouse manual explicitly says the warehouse does not need road access, but that does not remove the need for station coverage.
Inspect the warehouse's Stocks section. A specialized module must be assigned to the actual cargo item you are moving. Two items in the same broad category, such as crude oil and fuel, are not interchangeable storage assignments.
Check the incoming service's unloading and the outgoing service's loading at that handoff. If the incoming vehicle is already empty, return to pickup; the warehouse cannot create missing cargo.
3. Cargo reaches the area but not the customer
A warehouse is intermediate storage. Town buildings and factories do not automatically consume its contents, so provide the onward movement to the real consumer. Check that the receiver demands the item being delivered and is covered by the destination stop.
Before adding capacity, compare delivered quantities with consumption and storage. Use the current receiver window rather than treating last year's demand as permanent. A town can change what it needs as it grows.
Verify the change before scaling
Write down the cargo type and the failed stop. Change one relevant setting, then observe the same handoff again. Success means the intended cargo enters the vehicle, crosses any required storage handoff and reaches the consumer—not simply that vehicles move around the map.
For a planned starter chain, read cargo networks. If you are setting up your first company, start with the beginner guide.
Sources and version
Checked October 5, 2026: Industries and Cargo, Warehouses, Lines and Vehicles, and Stations and Depots. No first-hand playtest or guaranteed fix is claimed.
