This paper investigates the indentation rolling resistance of steel cord conveyor belt and compares the results with those for fabric reinforced conveyor belt. Due to the steel cables imbedded in the conveyor belt, the pressure distribution between the belt and a conveyor idler roll is not uniform. The fluctuating pressure means that a two dimensional viscoelastic finite element model - which is suitable for the analysis of fabric belt - cannot be readily applied to the analysis of steel cord belt. To cope with this problem, a static three dimensional finite element model was developed to determine the pressure distribution and reaction forces transmitted through the belt to the conveyor idler. The pressures determined by the finite element analysis are compared with experimental results found with the Tekscan pressure measurement system, and the reaction loads are used in the two dimensional viscoelastic finite element model developed by Wheeler [2]. The results from Wheeler's model are summed to determine an overall indentation rolling resistance for the steel cord belt.