Swell factor is the percentage increase in soil volume when material is excavated from its natural (bank) state to a loose state in the truck or stockpile. Common clay might swell 20–40%; rock can swell 50% or more. Swell converts bank cubic yards (BCY) to loose cubic yards (LCY) and drives truck counts and haul planning — ignoring it is one of the most common earthwork estimating mistakes.
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