Cargo Depot Configuration?

[Didz]

Can anyone recommend a decent guide on 'How to configure a cargo depot?'

I am thoroughly fed-up with my trucks getting into a cluster-♥♥♥♥ trying to get in and out of cargo depots and simply can;t believe there is no way to configure a depot so that they enter at one end pick up the goods and exit at the other end like sensible truckers instead of having a barn dance in middle and tripping over each others shoe laces.

Wasted hours trying to work it out.
Can anyone help?

[Metacritical]

add a screenshot of your current situation

[Vimpster]

Remember that vehicles can only travel counter-clockwise within a truck station and that they can only load from their right hand side. With that in mind you should have no trouble making them do what you want.
Here are some examples I have made:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3053979185
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2567214333

[lozacenz]

Once you get one way roads, for more complicated and busy truck stations, you probably want to use them to make flyovers so that trucks heading in opposite directions don't have to interact. Takes money and space but Significantly improves throughput.

[hayspggammer]

Originally posted by Vimpster:

Remember that vehicles can only travel counter-clockwise within a truck station and that they can only load from their right hand side. With that in mind you should have no trouble making them do what you want.
Here are some examples I have made:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3053979185
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2567214333

What Vimpster said plus;
In topic Configuring Cargo Depots
There is no "optimum" layout because there are so many different situations. That said, some general guidelines are:

When possible don't bring all lines into the depot. In the case of the iron, coal and steel depot at the steel mill, only the steel loading truck needs to enter the depot. The coal and iron ore trucks can deliver to a cargo drop off (not a depot) within the steel mill catchment area. That way you don't have those trucks going in circles in the depot, and they return to the ore or coal mines much sooner. Note, the drop offs don't even have to be on the same side of the steel mill.

When multiple lines must use the same depot, experiment with the street access function. You can really smooth things out with multiple access points.

Use multiple depots. Cargo will transfer from one depot to another depot if they share catchment. They don't have to be connected, but can be. Example 1, depot A and depot B both connect to the same road across from each other. Example 2, depot A has a road in its catchment but is not connected to it, depot B has the same road connected to it within the catchment area of depot A. In both examples a truck could drop off cargo in it's depot and another truck could pick up that same cargo in it's depot.

Note that the same things apply to passengers.

Some screenshots:
https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198856965280/screenshots/?appid=1066780

[Didz]

Originally posted by Metacritical:

add a screenshot of your current situation

I don't have one at the moment as I have paused Mission 8 just before the big Cargo shipping missions of delivering 100 x Asphalt and 100 x Constriction Materials. But its the standard problem Transport Fever has always had with Cargo Depots where trucks waiting to fill up block the access and exit for trucks trying to reach the platforms for collect materials that are waiting or in some cases to get leave the depot after becoming full.

The primary cause is the default design that forces trucks to complete an anti-clockwise dossey-doe in the middle of the depot before reaching the platform.

[Didz]

Originally posted by Vimpster:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2567214333

That looks exactly like what I want but whenever I try it the damned trucks still insist on going around the depot in a circle first.

How did you create that layout to make sure that it worked?
I find it very hit and miss.

Also changing the subject slightly.
How do you manage to get the cargo lines to show up without having the screen turn into a glaring white mess that gives you a headache.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3063760643

[Didz]

Originally posted by hayspggammer:

Use multiple depots. Cargo will transfer from one depot to another depot if they share catchment. They don't have to be connected, but can be. Example 1, depot A and depot B both connect to the same road across from each other. Example 2, depot A has a road in its catchment but is not connected to it, depot B has the same road connected to it within the catchment area of depot A. In both examples a truck could drop off cargo in it's depot and another truck could pick up that same cargo in it's depot.

I tried using multiple depots but i got the impression the game didn't like it.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3063756783
I had two fuel depots side by side and the fuel flowed into one until it was overflowing before any started to be delivered to the second. In fact, the trucks waiting for feul in the second blocked the road to the first for a while thus creating a complete log jam when nothing was getting delivered.

In the end I had to sell all the trucks on the overloaded depot just to get the fuel to flow to the second.

[Metacritical]

Originally posted by Didz:

I had two fuel depots side by side

were they going to different cities?

[Didz]

Originally posted by Metacritical:

Originally posted by Didz:

I had two fuel depots side by side

were they going to different cities?

Yes! Or different delivery depots close to different cities anyway.
One was near Calais the other near Paris.

[Didz]

Worked Example
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3063775236
This is the basic problem with the cargo line doing a piontless loop inside the truck station.
STEP !: Delete the extrea platform and the existing entrance.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3063779073
So, if I understand the process correctly looking at the end result, The first step is to delete one of the platforms and the original entrance and create a one way entrance and exist for the remaining plaform.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3063782931
That produces an almost straight line through the depot.

STEP 2: Add the extra platforms and additional access pionts,
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3063788859
That seems to have worked. The trick seems to be to delete one of the intial platforms at the start.
p.s. I screwed up a bit by not allowing enough space for the green line to have its own vehicle approach for queued trucks. But I can correct that on the final version.

Likewise I ought to make the platforms longer.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3063811337
It seems to be working 10 trucks on both lines waiting for a full load and no snarl ups.

It's still finicky though and my second attempt produced the same loopy truck pathing
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3063845443
Experimentation suggests that it is very particular about which platform you delete. There is a choice of two on the basic depot and if you choose the wrong one then the depot won;t work as expected. What I am not sure about is how to pick the correct one to delete. I think it has to be the one on the left as you look at the basic depot from the entrance. But i need to confirm that.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3063856367

[Metacritical]

Originally posted by Didz:

Worked Example
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3063775236
This is the basic problem with the cargo line doing a piontless loop inside the truck station.

how is that loop pointless? how else are trucks supposed to leave without turning around?

[Didz]

Originally posted by Metacritical:

Originally posted by Didz:

Worked Example
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3063775236
This is the basic problem with the cargo line doing a piontless loop inside the truck station.

how is that loop pointless? how else are trucks supposed to leave without turning around?

Pointless as in unnecessary the trucks could simply drive through the depot and out of the other side. Thus avoiding all the snarl ups that occur if you don't configure the depots.

[Vimpster]

As stated before, Trucks can only travel counter clockwise and can only load on their right side. So if the platforms are on the right the vehicles need to enter from the bottom and if they are on the left they have to enter from the top. Or in your case the platforms are all on the bottom of the center part so all lines should be entering from the left side where as you have them entering on the right side.

So just pay attention to which side the platforms are on and make them enter the appropriate side. It isn't hit or miss, it works 100% of the time the same way.

[numbat]

@Didz, you don't need to delete an existing platform and you don't need to delete the existing entrance either.

When creating the cargo station, you have the option of how many platforms on which side. Make use of that.

With two lines you can easily have one platform either side, and have trucks enter from either end. If you place waypoints near the entrance and exit of the station, you can use those to force your trucks to use a particular entrance/exit.

And yes, definitely make those cargo bays longer. I tend to use 60 or 70m as my default for pickup stations, which allows for a good number of cargo buildings.

Cheers,
Chris.

[Oakshield]

Originally posted by Didz:

Originally posted by Vimpster:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2567214333

That looks exactly like what I want but whenever I try it the damned trucks still insist on going around the depot in a circle first.

How did you create that layout to make sure that it worked?
I find it very hit and miss.

Also changing the subject slightly.
How do you manage to get the cargo lines to show up without having the screen turn into a glaring white mess that gives you a headache.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3063760643

To get the lines working as in the first screenshot:

Add waypoints on the road leading to the truck station.

When setting up a route, simply create it from Station A -> Waypoint -> Station B to make sure it enters at the top.
Occasionally it may be Station A -> Station B -> Waypoint; but that's something you need to find if that's working better.

If not mistaken, you can actually see two waypoints in close to the top right T-crossing. One of them does cast a shadow.

As for your 2nd question:

When opening up the panel to create a line or to get the overview, click at the line itself.
A now panel will show up, showing that line. After that, close the overview panel and the one that appeared (usually at the top right corner of your screen) will remain there and show that line on your screen.

Hope this helped!

Thorin :)