The invention relates to a method for determining the specific power requirement of a belt web conveyor system for bulk goods in operation with nonconstant loading. The invention comprises the assignment of a measured mass flow to individual segments of a belt system and to the measured drive power, a continuous determination of a segment load of the belt web for n segments of the same length, the calculation of a load-dependent resistance to movement for each of the n segments initially by utilizing an estimated specific resistance to movement, the calculation of power required per segment, and the calculation of the overall power requirement of the belt web conveyor system by means of adding up the segment power requirements. The calculated overall power requirement is compared to the measured electric power requirement, and from the comparison a specific resistance to movement is determined for the belt web system. Inferences can be made about the condition of the system by utilizing the specific resistance to movement of the belt web system.