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Haul-Cycle Production and Fleet Match
Truck cycle time, loads per hour, single-truck and matched-fleet production.
Example
You enter
- Truck capacity (loose cy) 12
- Loader fill time (min) 2
- Loaded haul time (min) 8
- Dump / maneuver time (min) 1.5
- Empty return time (min) 6
- Spot time (min) 0.5
- Working minutes per hour 50
You get
- Cycle time 18
- Production per truck 33.3 lcy/hr
- Trucks to match the loader 9
- Matched fleet production 300 lcy/hr
Checked against published worked examples from: Caterpillar Performance Handbook cycle-time method.
Details, formula, and sources
ScopeTruck cycle time, loads per hour, single-truck and matched-fleet production, and the number of trucks that keep the loader working.
Formula or tablecycle = load + haul + dump + return + spot; loads_per_hour = working_min / cycle; production = truck_cap x loads_per_hour; trucks = ceil(cycle / load); fleet = min(production x trucks, truck_cap x working_min / load), the loader capping the fleet when the truck count rounds up.
Source and editionCaterpillar Performance Handbook cycle-time production-estimating method by name; first-principles cycle arithmetic.
Free accessThe cycle-time production method is published earthmoving practice.
What governsEstimate. AHJ and licensed professional govern.
API field namestruck_cap_lcy, load_min, haul_min, dump_min, return_min, spot_min, eff_min_per_hr, cycle_min, production_lcy_hr, trucks_to_match, fleet_production_lcy_hr
- Working minutes 50-minute hour (efficiency factor for real-world delays)Caterpillar Performance Handbook
- Spot time 0.5 min to spot under the loader (default)earthmoving practice