Targeting the performance optimization of an automotive diesel engine under transient operation conditions, in this research, the effect of several non-linear loading strategies on diesel performance have been experimentally analyzed using a heavy-duty turbocharged diesel engine running under transient conditions based on the constant 1650 r/min speed, the load is increased from 10% to 100% in a 5 s transition time The results show that the larger the early loading rate and change point load, the better the dynamic torque response. The peak values of smoke and CO and the transient average of brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC), soot and CO can be decreased by increasing the early loading rate by the loading strategies with the appropriate change point load during transient operation. However, combustion deteriorates under the loading process with an overlarge change point load, causing emissions to increase, and the larger the early loading rate, the worse the worsening. Based on the trade-off consisting of torque dynamic response, transient total and transient average of the BSFC and brake specific emissions, peak values of smoke and CO emissions, it is concluded that the loading strategy with the early loading rate is the 50% load per second and the change point load in the 25% load is the most suitable in these strategies.