Calculator · Sheet T-208
Haul truck cycle time calculator
Load, haul, dump and return: cycle time, trips per hour, and how many trucks keep the excavator busy.
STA 0+120How it works
Cycle time = load + haul (distance ÷ loaded speed) + dump and spot + return (distance ÷ empty speed). Trips per truck per hour = efficiency minutes ÷ cycle time. Trucks required = excavator production ÷ (trips per hour × capacity), rounded up. Actual production is the lower of the loader and the fleet.
STA 0+240Assumptions and sources
All inputs are yours: speeds depend on haul road grade, surface and rolling resistance; capacity depends on the truck and material. Check legal payloads: in Alberta, for example, a tandem axle group with eight or more tires is limited to 17,000 kg1, and spring road bans reduce it further.
Questions people ask
How do you calculate truck cycle time?
Add load time, haul time (distance ÷ loaded speed), dump and spot time, and return time (distance ÷ empty speed).
How many trucks do I need for an excavator?
Divide the excavator’s hourly production by one truck’s hourly production (trips per hour × capacity) and round up. Too few trucks idle the excavator; too many trucks queue.
What is a typical job efficiency?
It depends on the site. Estimators often plan on fewer than 60 working minutes per hour to allow for delays; enter the value your company uses.
Sources
- Commercial Vehicle Dimension and Weight Regulation, Alta Reg 315/2002, s. 9 (current as of April 1, 2025)Alberta King's Printer · current as of 2025-04-01