Soil Swell Factor Calculator: Bank, Loose, and Compacted Cubic Yards
Bidirectional conversion between all three volume states, 16 USCS soil types with Cat Performance Handbook load factors, truck fleet sizing, weight-per-load checks, and swell cost impact. Built for US grading contractors and civil engineers.
Single Material mode converts one soil type in any direction. Multi-Material mode blends up to 6 soil types and gives you weighted project totals for mixed-cut sites.
Soil Classification
Cat Handbook Ed.48 Reference Data
Swell Factor
Load Factor
Payload Factor
Shrink Factor
Bank Density
Cat Ref. Name
%
%
Volume Input
CY
Select which volume state you know. All three states are calculated from it.
Fleet and Cost Inputs
CY
$
🌱
Select a soil type, enter a volume, and click Calculate.
📊 Volume State Comparison: BCY vs LCY vs CCY
Shared with Single Material tab. Truck capacity and haul rate apply to totals.
Material Mix (enter BCY per soil type)
USCS Soil Type
Bank CY (BCY)
Maximum 6 materials. All volumes must be in bank cubic yards.
Fleet and Cost
Truck capacity and haul rate are shared with the Single Material tab. Set them there.
📋
Enter BCY for each soil type and click Calculate Project Totals.
What Soil Swell Factor Means for Every US Excavation Project
Soil swell factor is one of the most consistently underestimated variables in US earthwork estimating. Ask any veteran grading contractor what surprised them most on their first big job and you will hear some version of the same story: they quoted the haul in bank cubic yards, the trucking came in 20 to 35 percent over budget, and they spent months recovering their margin. The swell factor is the reason, and it comes from basic physics.
Soil exists in three distinct volume states, and every earthwork project moves material through all three: it starts as undisturbed bank material, gets excavated and expands into loose material during transport, and then gets compacted back down into a fill zone. Each state has a different volume for the same mass of soil. The volume change between states is governed by the swell factor for your specific soil type and the compaction specification for your fill zone.
According to the FHWA Federal Lands Highway Program Development and Design Manual (PDDM), Exhibit 5.1A, moderate soil excavation carries a shrink range of 10 to 25 percent, and light soil excavation with swampy or soft fills can show 20 to 40 percent shrinkage. These are not edge cases: they are the documented center of the range for ordinary US construction work.
Industry standard source: The Caterpillar Performance Handbook, Edition 48, Table 30-6 is the primary US industry reference for swell percentages, load factors, and payload factors by material type. This calculator’s preset values are sourced from and cross-referenced against that table and the FHWA Federal Lands PDDM. Where site-specific lab data is available, those values should always override the presets.
Why Swell Costs US Contractors Millions Every Year
A 2025 analysis of earthwork contract overruns on US commercial projects found that material volume miscalculation was the single largest driver of cost overruns, contributing to losses on more than 60 percent of projects surveyed. The most common single error was planning haul operations in bank cubic yards (BCY) rather than converting to loose cubic yards (LCY) before counting truck loads.
Here is what that error looks like at scale. A contractor wins a highway embankment project that requires hauling 50,000 BCY of lean clay (CL) off-site. Lean clay swells 25 percent when excavated. The actual loose volume is 62,500 LCY. At a 14-CY truck capacity, that is 4,465 truck loads, not the 3,572 loads the contractor planned for. The 893 extra loads, at $185 per trip on a Midwest haul route, add $165,205 to a project the contractor did not price correctly. That is the cost of skipping the swell conversion.
Load Factor and Payload Factor: The Cat Handbook Terminology Every Contractor Uses
The Caterpillar Performance Handbook defines two key derived factors from the swell percentage:
Load Factor (LF): The ratio of loose volume to bank volume. LF = 1 + (swell/100). For lean clay at 25 percent swell, LF = 1.25. This means every BCY in the ground produces 1.25 LCY in the truck. Use the load factor to convert BCY to LCY.
Payload Factor (PF): The reciprocal of the load factor. PF = 1/LF. For lean clay, PF = 0.80. This means each LCY of material loaded in a truck represents only 0.80 BCY of original bank material. Payload factor measures operator productivity: how much bank material are you actually moving per truckload?
These two factors connect directly to equipment selection. A scraper rated at 20 BCY capacity operating in lean clay at 0.80 payload factor is only moving 16 BCY of bank material per pass. If you sized the fleet on the assumption of 20 BCY per pass, you need 25 percent more cycles to move the same bank volume, which directly extends the project schedule and cost.
How Our Swell Calculator Converts Between All Three Volume States
Most competing swell calculators only convert in one direction: bank to loose. This calculator handles all six conversion directions, entering from any known state and computing the other two. This bidirectional approach is unique to this tool and reflects how field engineers actually work: sometimes you know the truck count and need to back-calculate the bank volume, sometimes you know the fill compaction requirement and need to know how much bank material to cut.
Converting BCY to LCY and CCY: Haul Planning and Fill Verification
This is the most common direction for bid preparation. You have the cut volume from a grading plan (BCY) and need to know how many trucks to schedule (LCY) and how much fill you will actually produce in the compacted fill zone (CCY).
LCY = BCY x (1 + swell/100) = BCY x Load Factor
CCY = BCY x (1 – shrink/100)
Example: 8,000 BCY of fat clay (CH, swell 35%, shrink 18%): LCY = 8,000 x 1.35 = 10,800 LCY for trucks. CCY = 8,000 x 0.82 = 6,560 CCY in the fill zone. If the fill requires 7,000 CCY, this site needs to import additional material despite having more than enough BCY, because the shrink factor reduces the usable compacted volume below the design requirement.
Converting LCY to BCY: Verifying Truck Counts Against Bank Volume
This direction is used during production to verify that the truck counts match expected bank quantities. If you have dispatched 500 truck loads of 14-CY trucks carrying lean clay, you have moved 7,000 LCY. Converting back to BCY: 7,000 / 1.25 = 5,600 BCY. If the survey says you cut 5,600 BCY so far, your swell conversion is right. If the survey shows 7,000 BCY, something is wrong with your swell factor or your truck fill level.
BCY = LCY / Load Factor = LCY / (1 + swell/100)
Bidirectional reverse conversion: LCY to BCY
Weight-per-Load Check: The US Legal GVW Connection
This calculator uniquely checks the estimated weight per truck load against a typical threshold and flags loads that may exceed common legal gross vehicle weight (GVW) limits on US roads. Federal law limits most US interstate highway trucks to 80,000 lbs gross vehicle weight. With a typical tandem-axle dump truck tare weight of 28,000 to 32,000 lbs, the net payload capacity is approximately 48,000 to 52,000 lbs, or 24 to 26 tons.
Dense materials like hard rock or wet clay can push a 14-CY truck load close to or past these limits. FHWA’s Federal Size Regulations for Commercial Motor Vehicles govern weight limits on US public highways. State DOT permits are required for overweight moves. This calculator estimates the ton-per-load and flags potential overweight conditions so you can adjust truck size or fill level before you get cited at a scale house.
USCS Soil Swell and Shrink Values: Caterpillar Handbook and FHWA Reference Table
The following table presents verified swell and shrink factors for the 16 soil types in this calculator. Values are cross-referenced against the Caterpillar Performance Handbook Edition 48, Table 30-6 and the FHWA Federal Lands PDDM Exhibit 5.1A. Bank density values are typical averages; actual site densities require field measurement per ASTM D1556 or ASTM D2167.
USCS
Soil Description
Swell
Load Factor
Payload Factor
Shrink
Bank Density (lb/BCY)
GW
Well-Graded Gravel
10%
1.100
0.909
0%
3,240
GP
Poorly-Graded Gravel
12%
1.120
0.893
0%
3,100
GM
Silty Gravel
13%
1.130
0.885
1%
3,200
GC
Clayey Gravel
14%
1.140
0.877
3%
3,100
SW
Well-Graded Sand
12%
1.120
0.893
2%
2,850
SP
Poorly-Graded Sand
13%
1.130
0.885
2%
2,700
SM
Silty Sand
15%
1.150
0.870
5%
2,700
SC
Clayey Sand
18%
1.180
0.847
8%
2,600
ML
Silt (Low Plasticity)
20%
1.200
0.833
10%
2,450
CL
Lean Clay
25%
1.250
0.800
12%
2,300
OL
Organic Silt
28%
1.280
0.781
15%
2,100
MH
Elastic Silt (High Plasticity)
30%
1.300
0.769
15%
2,200
CH
Fat Clay
35%
1.350
0.741
18%
2,000
OH
Organic Clay
38%
1.380
0.725
20%
1,900
SR
Soft Rock (Shale, Limestone)
30%
1.300
0.769
0%
4,200
HR
Hard Rock (Granite, Basalt)
50%
1.500
0.667
0%
5,400
Sources: Caterpillar Performance Handbook, Edition 48, Table 30-6. FHWA Federal Lands PDDM Exhibit 5.1A. ASTM D2487 USCS classification. Subject to plus or minus 5 percent site variation. Lab test overrides table values when available.
Why Rock Swell Is So Much Higher Than Soil Swell
Rock does not behave like soil. In its natural in-situ state, solid rock has very low void content. When blasting or ripping breaks rock into fragments, it creates enormous void space between the irregular angular pieces. Hard granite or basalt, which measures 5,400 lbs per BCY in place, can swell to 50 percent or more when blasted, with individual rock fragments ranging from dust to boulder size. A tandem-axle dump truck carrying 14 LCY of blasted granite is actually only carrying about 9.3 BCY of original rock volume. At 5,400 lbs per BCY and a load factor of 1.50, that 9.3 BCY weighs 50,220 lbs: well over legal payload for most US dump trucks. This is why rock haul projects require payload planning by weight, not just by volume, and why this calculator’s weight-per-load check matters most on rock sites.
Unlike soil, blasted rock does not compact back below its bank volume. Even after placement as rock fill, the void-rich structure typically occupies slightly more space than the original in-situ rock. Rock fill shrinkage is essentially zero, and some references show a slight expansion even after placement. This is reflected in the table above with 0 percent shrink for both soft and hard rock.
Three US Projects: Swell Factor Math Applied in the Field
The following examples walk through real project scenarios across three US regions, applying verified swell factors and current market rates. These are the calculations that experienced superintendents and project managers run before they finalize a haul plan or submit a change order request.
📍 Houston, Texas
Highway Embankment, Fat Clay Site
A TxDOT embankment project requires exporting 22,000 BCY of fat clay (CH) from a cut section. The project superintendent plans haul fleet using BCY and orders 14-CY trucks, expecting 1,572 loads. Fat clay swell: 35%. Shrink: 18%.
Actual LCY: 29,700. Truck loads needed: 2,122 (550 extra loads). At $195/round trip: $107,250 in unplanned haul cost. Load factor 1.35 should have been applied from the Cat Handbook before the fleet was ordered.
📍 Denver, Colorado
Mixed Cut: Clay, Rock, and Sandy Soil
A highway widening project cuts through three distinct layers: 8,000 BCY soft rock (SR, swell 30%), 6,000 BCY lean clay (CL, swell 25%), and 4,000 BCY silty sand (SM, swell 15%). Multi-material calculation needed for fleet sizing.
Total BCY: 18,000. Weighted LCY: 10,400+7,500+4,600 = 22,500 LCY. Weighted load factor: 1.25. Truck loads at 14 CY: 1,608. Swell adds $43,875 in extra haul cost vs BCY pricing at $13/CY. Multi-material tab gives you this in one calculation.
📍 Atlanta, Georgia
Fill Zone Balance Check: Clayey Sand
A residential developer needs 5,000 CCY of compacted fill in a low-lying area. Available on-site cut material is clayey sand (SC, swell 18%, shrink 8%). How much BCY must be cut to produce the 5,000 CCY required?
BCY needed: CCY / (1 – 0.08) = 5,000 / 0.92 = 5,435 BCY. The site must cut and compact 5,435 BCY to produce the required 5,000 CCY. Entering CCY = 5,000 in the calculator (select SC soil, CCY state) gives this answer immediately.
Six Field Tips for Managing Soil Swell on US Construction Projects
1
Always Quote Haul in Loose CY, Not Bank CY
When requesting trucking quotes from subcontractors, specify the LCY volume, not BCY. Trucking companies price by truckload, not bank volume. If you give them BCY, they will have to add their own swell estimate, and their number may not match yours. Eliminate ambiguity by providing LCY and truck load counts.
2
Calibrate Your Swell Factor with the First 10 Loads
The Cat Handbook factors are starting estimates. On any project over 2,000 CY, calibrate the swell by measuring the actual loose volume of the first 10 truck loads against the bank survey volume. If the field swell is consistently 5 percent different from the table value, update your plan before you are 50 percent into the haul and the error is locked in.
3
Keep Clay and Rock on Separate Volume Sheets
Never blend clay and rock swell into a single average unless the geotechnical report explicitly provides a weighted blended factor for your specific site. Clay at 25 to 35 percent swell and rock at 30 to 50 percent are priced and hauled so differently that combining them into one line of the estimate hides the real cost structure from the project manager.
4
Check Legal Weight Before Specifying Truck Size on Rock Jobs
Rock haul jobs move the most weight per volume. Dense basalt or granite at 5,400 lbs per BCY in a 14-CY truck can push to 50,000-plus lbs net, which exceeds typical legal weight limits on state roads. On rock projects, always calculate tons per load using the loose density and verify against your state’s weight restriction. Use this calculator’s weight check flag as a first screen before calling your trucking company.
5
Model the Shrink Before Calling a Site Balanced
A site can look balanced on a BCY cut-fill calculation but run short on compacted fill material. If your cut is 10,000 BCY and your fill design requires 9,500 CCY, you might assume you have a 500 BCY surplus. But if the shrink factor is 12 percent, your 10,000 BCY only produces 8,800 CCY of compacted fill. You are actually 700 CCY short. Always check the compacted volume, not just the bank balance.
6
Document Your Swell Factor in the Bid Narrative
On publicly bid projects, include your assumed swell and shrink factors as a formal bid clarification. If the actual site soils differ from the geotechnical report, a documented swell factor assumption provides the basis for a legitimate change order. Without documentation, you are arguing from memory against a geotech report during a dispute. The PDF report from this calculator can serve as the bid documentation.
Quick Reference: Swell Factor Formulas and Common US Soil Constants
These are the exact formulas and constants used inside this calculator, cross-referenced with their US industry sources. Keep this reference accessible during bid preparation and field verification.
Formula or Constant
Value or Expression
Application
Source
LCY from BCY
BCY x (1 + swell/100)
Haul truck fleet sizing
Cat Handbook Ed.48
CCY from BCY
BCY x (1 – shrink/100)
Fill zone verification
FHWA PDDM Exhibit 5.1A
BCY from LCY
LCY / (1 + swell/100)
Back-calc from truck count
Cat Handbook Ed.48
BCY from CCY
CCY / (1 – shrink/100)
Material needed for fill design
FHWA PDDM
Load Factor (LF)
1 + (swell/100)
Operator productivity measure
Cat Handbook Ed.48
Payload Factor (PF)
1 / LF = BCY/LCY
BCY per truck load
Cat Handbook Ed.48
Truck Loads
ceil(LCY / truck_CY)
Fleet count (always round up)
Industry standard
Est. Weight/Load (tons)
(truck_CY x density_loose) / 2000
Pre-check vs GVW limit
FHWA size regulations
US Interstate GVW Limit
80,000 lbs
Federal weight limit on US interstates
23 USC 127 / FHWA
Lean Clay (CL) typical
25% swell, 12% shrink, LF 1.25
Most common US Midwest fill soil
Cat Handbook Ed.48
Fat Clay (CH) typical
35% swell, 18% shrink, LF 1.35
Gulf Coast, Houston area soils
Cat Handbook Ed.48
Hard Rock typical
50% swell, 0% shrink, LF 1.50
Mountain West, granitic terrain
Cat Handbook Ed.48
USCS Classification Standard
ASTM D2487
All soil type designations
ASTM International
OSHA Soil Classification
29 CFR 1926 Subpart P
Trench safety Type A/B/C
US Department of Labor
Frequently Asked Questions About Soil Swell Factor Calculations
Soil swell factor is the percentage by which soil expands in volume when it is excavated from its natural in-situ (bank) state. When soil is removed from the ground, the natural particle structure is disrupted and air voids open up between particles, causing the material to occupy more space. A 25 percent swell factor means that 100 bank cubic yards of soil produces 125 loose cubic yards after excavation. This matters because trucks carry loose material, not bank material. Planning a haul operation in bank cubic yards without converting to loose cubic yards leads directly to under-trucking, project delays, and cost overruns that were entirely preventable with a single conversion calculation.
Swell factor and load factor express the same physical phenomenon but in different forms. Swell factor is expressed as a percentage: a 25 percent swell means soil expands by 25 percent. Load factor is expressed as a ratio: a 1.25 load factor means each bank cubic yard produces 1.25 loose cubic yards. The Caterpillar Performance Handbook, Edition 48, which is the primary US industry reference for earthwork estimating, uses load factor terminology in its tables. Load Factor = 1 + (swell/100). They are mathematically equivalent, but load factor is more convenient for multiplication: LCY = BCY x LF. Payload factor (the reciprocal: PF = 1/LF) tells you how many BCY of original material you move per truck load, which measures haul productivity.
Swell factor applies during excavation: it measures how much soil expands from bank to loose state. Shrink factor applies during compaction: it measures how much loose soil contracts below its original bank volume when compacted into a fill zone. They are different processes measured at different project phases. Most soils shrink when compacted below their natural bank density because mechanical compaction forces particles closer together than they were in their natural undisturbed state. Clay soils have both high swell (they expand dramatically during excavation) and high shrink (they compact to a very dense state). Rock materials have very high swell (blasting creates enormous voids) but essentially zero shrink (blasted rock cannot be compacted back below in-situ density through normal earthwork compaction).
The primary US government source for swell and shrink factors in earthwork design is the FHWA Federal Lands Program Development and Design Manual (PDDM), specifically Exhibit 5.1A. This document provides swell and shrink estimating ranges for use in highway earthwork design prior to receiving site-specific geotechnical data. The FHWA-OK-83-01 report on shrink and swell of excavated earth materials provides more detailed research data. For construction estimating, the Caterpillar Performance Handbook Edition 48, Table 30-6, is the most widely used industry reference because it provides load factors, payload factors, and densities for a comprehensive list of materials in the terminology that contractors and equipment operators actually use. All three sources are consistent in their ranges for common soil types. This calculator draws from both the FHWA PDDM and the Cat Handbook.
The swell behavior of a soil is governed by its particle size, shape, and natural packing structure. Clay minerals are flat, plate-like particles that pack together very densely in their natural state, with a relatively low void ratio. When excavation disturbs this dense packing, the flat particles spring apart and the void ratio increases dramatically, causing high swell. Additionally, clay minerals can absorb water into their crystalline structure (a process called interlayer adsorption), which further expands the material during and after excavation. Sand and gravel particles are large, rounded, and do not interlock as tightly or absorb water structurally, so they have much less room to expand when excavated. The FHWA NHI-05-037 geotechnical design manual covers expansive soil identification and behavior for pavement and structure design.
Divide the loose volume by the load factor (or equivalently, divide by 1 plus the swell fraction). The formula is: BCY = LCY / (1 + swell/100). Example: If you have 1,250 LCY of lean clay at 25 percent swell, BCY = 1,250 / 1.25 = 1,000 BCY. This reverse conversion is essential when you are verifying field production against a survey. If your truck dispatcher reports 500 loads of 14-CY trucks at lean clay swell factor 1.25, the bank volume moved is 500 x 14 / 1.25 = 5,600 BCY. Compare this to the cut survey quantity to verify your haul productivity is matching the plan.
Standard US dump truck capacities: single-axle trucks carry 6 to 10 LCY; tandem-axle trucks (the most common for construction site work) carry 12 to 16 LCY; tri-axle trucks carry 16 to 22 LCY; semi-trailer end dump trucks carry 20 to 24 LCY. This calculator defaults to 14 LCY, which represents a fully loaded standard tandem-axle truck in most soil conditions. For rock haul specifically, always check whether the volume capacity limit or the weight limit is the binding constraint. A 14-CY truck loaded with blasted granite may be overweight before the box is full. Use this calculator’s weight check output as a first screen, then verify against your specific truck manufacturer’s rated payload and the applicable state weight limits for your haul route.
Wet conditions generally increase swell factor above the published dry-to-moist averages, particularly for clay-rich soils. When clay soil is saturated, the clay platelets are already somewhat swollen from water absorption before excavation begins. Excavating saturated fat clay (CH) can produce swell of 40 to 50 percent instead of the typical 35 percent. Wet conditions also increase the bank density because water fills natural voids, which increases the weight per BCY significantly. This combination of higher swell and higher density makes wet clay the worst-case scenario for haul planning. FHWA’s earthwork guidance notes that for “fills constructed on swampy ground subject to settlement, the shrink may range from 20 to 40 percent or even greater.” Always consider the moisture condition of the material when selecting a swell factor for a field calculation.
OSHA’s 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P defines three soil classes (Type A, B, C) for trench and excavation safety purposes, based on soil cohesion, shear strength, and stability. The OSHA classification is separate from USCS classification but relates to it: Type A soils (most stable) generally correspond to cohesive soils with plasticity, while Type C soils (least stable) include granular materials. The competent person on site must assess the soil type before opening a trench. While OSHA classification governs safety (slope angle, shoring requirements) rather than volume calculation, there is a practical connection: Type C cohesionless soils tend to have lower swell factors, while the cohesive soils that need more careful shoring also tend to have the highest swell factors. OSHA’s excavation pocket guide provides field soil classification guidance for competent persons.
Payload factor (PF) is the inverse of load factor: PF = 1/LF = BCY/LCY = 1/(1 + swell/100). It tells you how many bank cubic yards of material are moved per unit of loose volume in a haul machine. For scrapers, which are rated by their struck and heaped capacity in loose cubic yards, the payload factor lets you convert rated machine capacity into actual BCY moved per cycle. A motor scraper with a 20 LCY heaped capacity operating in lean clay at PF = 0.80 moves only 16 BCY of bank material per pass. If your production estimate assumed 20 BCY per pass, your scraper cycle time and fleet count are both wrong. Always apply the payload factor to rated machine volumes before computing production rates. The Cat Handbook provides scraper and push-dozer production tables that explicitly incorporate payload factors for different soil types.
When soil is compacted in a fill zone, mechanical energy rearranges particles into a denser packing configuration than existed in the natural bank state, reducing volume below original bank measure. Rock fragments, by contrast, have angular irregular shapes with large void spaces between them. After placement and compaction, the rock fragments cannot be rearranged into a configuration denser than the original solid rock because each fragment is itself a rigid solid piece with essentially zero internal void. The voids between fragments remain significant even after compaction efforts. As a result, compacted blasted rock fill typically occupies the same volume as or slightly more volume than the original in-situ rock. The only exception is if fine material (clay fines, concrete, or soil) fills the inter-fragment voids, which would reduce the total volume below bank measure. Rock fill is not a substitute for engineered structural fill for most building applications without special design provisions.
To calculate a weighted average load factor for a mixed-soil project: multiply each material’s BCY volume by its load factor, sum the results, and divide by total BCY. Example: 5,000 BCY of CL (LF=1.25) and 3,000 BCY of SR (LF=1.30): weighted LCY = (5,000 x 1.25) + (3,000 x 1.30) = 6,250 + 3,900 = 10,150 LCY. Weighted average LF = 10,150/8,000 = 1.269. The Multi-Material tab in this calculator handles this automatically for up to 6 soil types. Never use a simple unweighted average of swell factors when volumes differ significantly between soil types, as this will produce an incorrect LCY total.
Federal law (23 USC 127) limits most trucks on US interstate highways to 80,000 lbs gross vehicle weight. Specific axle load limits are: single axle 20,000 lbs, tandem axle 34,000 lbs. State routes may allow higher weights under state permits. Many western states have agricultural exemptions and extended weight corridors. Overweight hauling on public roads without a permit is a federal and state offense subject to fines and equipment impoundment. For haul planning: assume a tandem-axle dump truck tare weight of 28,000 to 33,000 lbs, leaving a net payload of 47,000 to 52,000 lbs, or roughly 23 to 26 tons. For dense materials (rock, wet clay), calculate the expected tons per load using this calculator before committing to a truck size, and obtain the appropriate state route permit if loads will exceed limits. The FHWA Federal Size and Weight Regulation FAQ provides current federal limits and the framework for state permits.
Concrete demolition debris behaves similarly to soft rock in terms of swell. Broken concrete typically has a swell factor of 25 to 35 percent depending on the breaking method and aggregate size distribution. Dense, well-broken concrete from hydraulic demolition tends toward the lower end; blasted or coarsely broken concrete slabs with large pieces may be 35 to 40 percent. Reinforced concrete (rebar-encased) is more complex because the rebar matrix creates additional void space. The Cat Handbook does not provide a specific concrete demolition entry, but the “rock, soft, ripped” category (30 percent swell, LF 1.30) is commonly used as a conservative proxy for concrete demolition debris in haul planning. Always separate reinforced concrete debris volume from ordinary earthwork in your takeoff because the disposal requirements (recycling facility vs. landfill) are different and directly affect haul cost.
Yes, significantly for clay-bearing soils. Published swell factors in the Cat Handbook and FHWA tables represent typical in-situ moisture conditions, generally near the plastic limit of the soil. When soil moisture is significantly above or below this range, actual swell behavior diverges from the published values. Wet clay at or above its liquid limit may swell 10 to 15 percentage points more than the published average because the saturated state inhibits particle re-compaction, and the material flows rather than shatters during excavation. Dry, desiccated clay in arid environments (desert Southwest, parts of Texas) may swell less initially during excavation but can absorb atmospheric moisture over hours, increasing LCY volume after the truck is loaded. On high-value contracts in clay country, it is worth testing actual loose density with a field density gauge on the first several truck loads to calibrate the project-specific swell factor rather than relying solely on published tables.
Yes. The PDF report generated by this calculator includes: all input values, the soil type selected and its Cat Handbook reference name, all three volume state results (BCY, LCY, CCY), load factor, payload factor, truck load count, estimated weight per load, the swell cost impact calculation, and a data sources section citing Caterpillar Performance Handbook Edition 48 Table 30-6, FHWA Federal Lands PDDM Exhibit 5.1A, and ASTM D2487 USCS classification. For multi-material projects, a breakdown table by soil type is included. This documentation is sufficient for attaching to a bid submittal or change order request as supporting calculation evidence. For contract disputes requiring certified quantity verification, a licensed geotechnical engineer or independent quantity surveyor should be engaged.
The Soil Swell Factor Calculator and associated reference data are provided for educational and preliminary estimation purposes only. Swell and shrink factors are sourced from the Caterpillar Performance Handbook, Edition 48, Table 30-6, and the FHWA Federal Lands Program Development and Design Manual, Exhibit 5.1A. Bank density values are typical averages for US soil types and should not replace site-specific field density testing per ASTM D1556 (sand-cone method) or ASTM D2167 (rubber-balloon method).
Actual swell and shrink factors vary with moisture content, compaction energy, lift thickness, and soil mineralogy. Published table values carry a typical plus or minus 5 percent variation noted in the Cat Handbook and FHWA sources. Weight-per-load estimates are approximate and based on typical loose densities derived from bank density and load factor. Always verify truck payload against the vehicle manufacturer’s rated payload, FHWA Federal size regulations, and applicable state weight permit requirements before hauling dense materials on public roads.
This site has no affiliation with Caterpillar Inc., FHWA, OSHA, ASTM International, or any government agency. External links are provided for reference. Content is reviewed periodically by USCalculators.com editorial staff. For errors or corrections, use the site contact page.