PE Civil Construction reference search example
PE Civil Construction earthwork haul: bank volume, swell, and truck capacity
Work through an original earthwork example and learn how to select the governing volume basis before estimating truckloads.
Reviewed for the current ReasonSpan™ exam profile · Updated September 27, 2026By the ReasonSpan™ editorial team · Our content standards
Start with the units that control the decision
Illustrative project condition: an excavation produces 135 bank cubic yards (BCY). The problem gives an 18% swell from bank to loose volume. Available trucks carry 12 loose cubic yards (LCY) each. Estimate the minimum whole truckloads. These facts are fictional practice inputs, not a claim about a standard soil or vehicle.
The decision is which volume basis controls hauling. Truck capacity is stated in LCY, so convert the bank excavation volume to loose volume before dividing by truck capacity.
Select and check the reference path
| Step | What to verify | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Identify the source | Use the swell factor supplied in the project data or exhibit. | A generic soil factor should not replace a stated project assumption. |
| Confirm the units | Excavation is BCY; hauling capacity is LCY. | Dividing unlike volumes gives the wrong load count. |
| Convert volume | 135 BCY × 1.18 = 159.3 LCY. | Swell changes the transported volume, not the bank excavation quantity. |
| Round trips | 159.3 LCY ÷ 12 LCY per truck = 13.275; allow 14 whole loads. | The final partial load still requires a trip. |
What would make a wrong answer attractive?
Using 135 ÷ 12 ignores the specified swell and understates hauling. Adding 18 cubic yards instead of applying 18% confuses a percentage with a volume. Rounding 13.275 down leaves material behind. If the question instead asks for bank volume, do not report the loose hauled volume as the excavation quantity.
ReasonSpan™ treats the volume basis, reference path, and rounding decision as separate checks. After review, try a materially different estimate with a new swell assumption and a capacity stated on a different volume basis. A remembered 14 is not evidence that the method transfers.
Sources and further reading
Exam requirements can change. Confirm current details with the organization that administers your exam and use the cited sources for the preparation principles summarized here.