Earth loading and hauling optimal trade-off

In loading and hauling of earth with loader and trucks, it is reasonable to expect that the truck's capacity (either gravimetric or volumetric) is not a whole multiple of the loader's bucket volume. Therefore, the truck's maximum exploitation requires a partially filled pass, which inevitably prevents the loader from achieving its maximum performance. This research investigates the cost implications that the above loading and hauling trade-off involves for the fleet and introduces a method for the selection of the most expedient Loading Practice. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer review under responsibility of the Programme Committee of the Transport Research Arena 2012