The level of machine useful time could be evaluated in terms of the power spent on work-related tasks. The power inputs during potato harvesting are evaluated using the volume of harvested and then transported potatoes, starting from bin filling and ending in truck loading. It is reasonable and quite possible to analyze dependencies of power inputs and find ways of improving overall performance by reducing overhead of harvest transporting by implementing different bin capacities. Analysis of bin capacities of modern domestic and foreign combines shows significant dispersion of their values - from 2 to 10 tonnes and higher. Results of the research indicate that power inputs depend, to a large degree, on a path length of bin filling, which, in turn, depends on potato crop yield and a combine’s grasp width (the number of rows grasped at a time). Depending on crop yields, ranging from 50 to 300 centners per hectare, power inputs for transporting crops could vary up to 6 times, and, depending on bin capacities, ranging from 0,5 to 4 tonnes, they could increase 8 times. Sparing power consumption over transporting harvested crops could be achieved by using combines of three- or four-row grasp, or two-phase harvesting from four or six rows and with potatoes being stacked onto swaths, or bin capacities optimized for relevant crop yields. Perspective course of action for reducing power inputs and levels of soil structure failure due to deformation would be to upgrade harvesting technology by using reversible bins of optimal capacity while correspondingly upgrading harvesters.