Fleet Capacity Exercise - Sphere & Food Aid

Example: Calculating Transport Fleet Capacity and Requirements

What tonnage of supplies must be moved? In what given period? What is the turnaround time, to move one load from its original location to its destination, and for the transport unit to return? Do not overestimate speed. Include loading time at source and unloading time at destination. What is the carrying capacity of one transport unit?

No. of possible trips per transport unit No. of loads needed No. of transport units needed = = =

given period turnaround time

total tonnage capacity of one transport unit no. of loads needed no. of possible trips / transport unit

Allow 20 to 50 percent contingent capacity for rest days and holidays, and to provide for maintenance and repair of transport units

EXAMPLE: 25,000 refugees are located 250km from the regional warehouse. They require 400g of cereals and 50g of edible oil per day, distributed every 30 days. Traveling on gravel roads and tracks, trucks can cover 125km per day. What size of truck fleet is needed? Tonnage to be moved = Turnaround time = =
(400 + 50g) x 25,000 x 30 days 1,000g / kg x 1,000 kg / MT 250km x 2 125 km / day

337.5 MT every 30 days

4 days +1 day for loading/unloading +20% down time = 6 days

30 days = 5 trips 6 days / trips

No. of possible trips per month =

No. of loads needed No. of trucks =

19 loads = trucks 5 trips

337.5 MT = 19 loads (using 20-MT capacity trucks, less 10% margin*) 18 MT

Allowing for contingencies, five 20-MT trucks should be provided to supply these refugees. The fifth truck should be on stand-by as a replacement or recovery vehicle. _____________________ * 10% margin accounts for voluminous cargoes or under-loading due to road conditions.