Packed bags can be handled in at least three ways--on 2-wheel hand

trucks, conveyors, and fork trucks. In this report, costs are compared for

the hand truck and conveyor methods for loading motor trucks and rail cars,

and all three methods for loading motor trucks only. In most situations,

costs are lower for the hand truck method. An important exception is in

loading motor trucks only--the conveyor method has lower costs at average

to high annual volume levels. In other words, when trucks only are loaded,

this method has a cost advantage at the annual volume at which most packing-

houses operate. The conveyor method is well adapted to use in this situation.

However, when both trucks and rail cars are to be loaded, the hand truck

method has the lowest costs, except at the highest volume levels used in

this study. It is concluded, therefore, that in loading a combination of

trucks and rail cars, the use of hand trucks is advisable from a cost stand-

point. The fork truck method has higher costs than either of the other two

methods, although it is possible that its use would be feasible under certain

circumstances.