Abstract: A bulk conveyor system has a longitudinally extending conveyor belt, devices at the ends for tensioning and relaxing the belt and for advancing the belt, a carriage movable along the belt between the ends, and a transverse conveyor cooperating with the belt, mounted on the carriage, and extending from the belt to a pickup/deposition location. This conveyor is laterally shifted through a predetermined turnover distance by first displacing the carriage longitudinally along the belt from one of the ends to the other end while lifting the belt and deflecting it transversely at the carriage along an S-path through the turnover distance thereby leaving the belt offset transversely at the other end by the turnover distance from the one end. Then the belt is arrested and transversely shifted at the other end of the belt by the carriage through twice the turnover distance. The belt is then relaxed and the device at the other end is shifted transversely by the carriage through twice the turnover distance.