Variables
Description
What is this formula?
Truck Cycle Time calculates the total time required for a haul truck to complete one full production cycle.
A complete cycle normally consists of loading, hauling loaded material to the dumping point, unloading, and returning empty to the loading point.
This is one of the most important calculations in mine haulage because production capacity depends directly on cycle time.
When to use it
Use this formula when:
- Estimating mine production capacity.
- Sizing truck fleets.
- Evaluating haulage efficiency.
- Comparing haul road alternatives.
- Optimizing mine operations.
Example
A haul truck requires:
Loading time = 3 min
Loaded haul time = 12 min
Dumping time = 1 min
Return time = 9 min
Data:
tl = 3 min
th = 12 min
td = 1 min
tr = 9 min
Formula:
Tc = tl + th + td + tr
Substitution:
Tc = 3 + 12 + 1 + 9
Result:
Tc = 25 min
The truck requires 25 minutes to complete one production cycle.
Applications
- Open-pit mining
- Underground haulage
- Fleet management
- Equipment selection
- Production scheduling
- Mine planning
Note
This formula provides the theoretical cycle time. Actual operating cycle times may be longer due to traffic delays, equipment queues, road conditions, operator performance, weather, maintenance interruptions, and dispatching constraints. Many mine planning studies apply an additional utilization or efficiency factor to account for these losses.