Optimizing off-highway truck characteristics for minimum haulage cost

Critical equipment characteristics are isolated and analysed by traditional operations research techniques, using off-highway trucks as an archetype. A computer search technique has been developed, employing various production and cost analyses. With this model, the optimum combination of horsepower, capacity, velocity, and total cost can be found, minimizing haulage cost per ton. Horsepower is treated as the most important characteristic. An example of the program's use and interpretation of its results conclude the paper. The optimization is useful as an aid to off-highway truck selection, evaluation, and design. Model limitations are offered and advantages to its use are given.