Tanker Shuttle Cycle Time

Builds the cycle time tanker-shuttle-flow needs from the four field measurements: fill = tank/fill_gpm, dump = tank/dump_gpm, travel = 2 x distance/speed (round trip), cycle = fill + dump + travel, and one tanker sustains tank/cycle. A 3,000-gal tanker filling and dumping at 1,000 gpm over a 2-mile haul at 35 mph runs a 12.9-min cycle and sustains only 233 gpm alone - which is why rural supply needs a fleet. Techs forget the dump time or count one-way travel; both oversize the flow. A planning aid, not incident command.

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Formula and source

fill_min = tank_gal / fill_gpm; dump_min = tank_gal / dump_gpm; travel_min = 2 x distance_mi / speed_mph x 60; cycle_min = fill_min + dump_min + travel_min; single_tanker_gpm = tank_gal / cycle_min.

IFSTA / NFPA 1142 rural water-supply shuttle cycle time, by name.

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