Terminals and spawn pods
How Diesel n' Steel terminals, spawn pods and drop-off points fit together, where each one sits in Balagtas, Guiguinto, Bulakan and Malolos, and how to queue.
Terminals, spawn pods and drop-off points are three different things in Diesel n' Steel, and mixing them up is why new drivers queue in the wrong place. A spawn pod is where you pull a jeepney out. A terminal is where passengers wait to board. A drop-off point is where they get off, and it is marked with green paint on the road.
There are three terminals, four spawn pods and four drop-off points on the map. Bulakan has the spawn pod and the drop-off point but no terminal of its own, because every route begins and ends there anyway.
Spawn pods
| Spawn pod | What it does |
|---|---|
| Bulakan | Role selection, jeepney shop, route selection |
| Balagtas | Same, close to the Balagtas terminal |
| Guiguinto | Same, close to the Guiguinto terminal |
| Malolos | Same, close to the Malolos terminal |
A spawn pod is not where your character respawns. It is the in-game menu gate: you interact with it to pick a role, pull out a jeepney from the shop and choose the route you intend to run. Only the Driver role can use it to produce a vehicle.
Terminals
| Terminal | Character |
|---|---|
| Balagtas - Bulakan | Busy, reliable loading, popular with drivers |
| Guiguinto - Bulakan | The most crowded. Junction town, competing jeepneys |
| Malolos - Bulakan | Highest passenger density, narrow street, slower loading |
Terminals are where large numbers of passengers spawn, so they are the best place to fill a jeepney. A Terminal Dispatcher NPC manages the departure queue and boarding order, and cutting the line is both a bad idea socially and a loss of time when the queue reorganises around you.
The two ways to load are queuing inside the terminal and collecting passengers from the roadside once you have empty seats. Most drivers do both: fill at the terminal, then top up on the route.
Drop-off points
Each of the four towns has one, marked in green on the road. Passengers getting off at the designated point pay out the trip and give extra EXP compared with an ordinary stop. Missing the drop-off costs you the fare and the EXP for that trip.
| Drop-off point | Nearby |
|---|---|
| Bulakan | Right in front of the Bulakan spawn point |
| Balagtas | Near the Balagtas spawn point, after the clock tower junction |
| Guiguinto | A gas station sits right in front, and the terminal is across the street |
| Malolos | In the large plaza near the market |
A loading routine that keeps the queue moving
- Pull out the jeepney at the spawn pod and set the correct destination placard.
- Queue at the terminal and wait your turn with the dispatcher.
- Load until the seating you are authorised to carry is full.
- Top up at roadside stops on the way out.
- Drop passengers at the green-marked drop-off point in their town.
- Turn around, refuel if needed, and repeat.
FAQ
What is a spawn pod?
The in-game menu point near each terminal where you pick a role, choose a jeepney and select a route.
How many terminals are there?
Three: Balagtas-Bulakan, Guiguinto-Bulakan and Malolos-Bulakan. Bulakan is the shared end of all of them.
What do drop-off points look like?
Green markings on the road. There is one in each of the four towns.
Do passengers pay the same at a roadside stop?
Yes. The fare depends on their destination, not on where they boarded.
