A method and apparatus for improving storage controller throughput and reducing unit control block contention when selecting a Utility Volume for servicing non-specific read requests. Throughput is increased by enabling the storage controller to service non-specific read requests issued against a Utility Volume which is not the same as the device associated with the data that the non-specific read is requesting. The Utility Volume is dynamically selected by considering the current loads on the available devices for both specific and non-specific processing. A Penalty Index is assigned to each volume, wherein the Penalty Index is a weighted average of the specific and non-specific processing. The device having the lowest Penalty Index is selected as the Utility Volume for a session. A Penalty Index evaluation is made at a Reference Point which is further enabled by a random clock to ensure that sessions do not likely pick the same Utility Volume.