Several sand transport rate data sets and eight representative transport rate formulae are transformed using the dimensionless parameters = gQ/U3* and r = U*t/U* and the results compared on the (, r) plane. The formulae generate three different geometric patterns - constant, monotonic decreasing and concave downward - and the corresponding data displayed one more pattern, a monotonic increasing one. Stimulated by this discrepancy, a new general formula for the sand transport rate with and r as its basis is introduced; each of the representative formulae is either a particular case of it or an approximation to it. The four parameters in the new formula are determined for description of the four possible patterns exhibited by the data; their variation is established and their physical interpretation is discussed in relation to measured data of the characteristic parameters of wind flow and sand.