In this paper, the dynamics of multiple-drive belt conveyors during starting is discussed. The aim of the research is to determine whether the belt sections in a multiple-drive belt conveyor can be viewed as a single-drive belt conveyor, and whether the DIN 22101 standard for the starting of a single-drive belt conveyor can still be used for the starting of a multiple-drive belt conveyor. A finite element model of a belt conveyor system was built in Matlab, consisting of a model of the belt and its support structure, and a model of the drive system. In this work, the simulations were carried out for the starting procedures of empty belt conveyors with varying number of drives. For each simulation case, the linear start-up procedure was tested. The simulations focused on the study of the axial elastic response of the belt. The simulations revealed that, by using more drives, the maximum belt stress during non-stationary as well as stationary conditions decreased. However, when using reduced starting times, negative stresses occur in the system. Overall, it was observed that the behaviour of each section between two drive stations in the multiple-drive belt conveyor differed from those of the single-drive belt conveyor. Therefore, the DIN 22101 guidelines for the start-up of a single-drive belt conveyor cannot be applied directly for the start-up of a multiple-drive belt conveyor.@en