Summary Implementing efficient fluid-carrying capacity of drilled cuttings is an essential process for a good drilling program, either for a better rate of penetration (ROP) or a safer drilling operation. In this paper, I present a methodology that is based on the transfer function representation, which can be used to analyze the consumed fluid energy used in lifting the drilled cuttings in vertical wells to estimate the maximum carrying capacity index (CCI), which leads to performance at the desired ROP. The consumed hydrodynamic energy equation has been formulated using a second-order differential equation as a function of the drilling fluid, cuttings properties, and drilling operating parameters. Therefore, it allows an accurate quantitative monitoring of the fluid's CCI, which is the best alternative method to the currently empirical model. Moreover, it determines the perfect hydrodynamic energy required for any designed ROP to prevent excessive or poor hole-cleaning performance.