s the motor’s torque when the shaft is held stationary. This is the motor’s available starting torque. It is important when selecting a motor to drive a load that has large starting resistance, such as a loaded conveyor belt. It also indicates how rapidly a motor can accelerate a load that has high inertia, such as a centrifugal fan or a balanced elevator. Starting torque is less important with loads that move freely and have little rotational inertia, such as centrifugal pumps.