A method, comprising: generating (502, 504), by a node B, a reference curve according to performance curves for a plurality of carriers of the node B, wherein a performance curve of a respective carrier in the plurality of carriers represents a relationship between carrier performance and carrier loads, and wherein the performance curves of individual carriers are obtained by direct observation of performance measures and load measures over time, and the reference curve represents the lowest carrier performance across the plurality of carriers corresponding to the carrier loads of the performance curves; determining, by the node B, an effective load for each of the plurality of carriers according to a measured load of a respective carrier in the plurality of carriers and the reference curve, wherein determining the effective load for each of the plurality of carriers comprises normalizing the measured load of the respective carrier in the plurality of carriers to the reference curve; selecting, by the node B, a subset of carriers from the plurality of carriers based on the effective loads for the plurality of carriers, the subset of carriers comprising at least two carriers each of which has an effective load greater than a load threshold; determining, by the node B, a heavily loaded carrier and a lightly loaded carrier from the subset of carriers according to effective loads for the subset of carriers; selecting (408, 410), by the node B, a mobile device assigned to the heavily loaded carrier as a candidate for handoff when a criteria is satisfied; and performing, by the node B, a handoff of the selected mobile device from the heavily loaded carrier to the lightly loaded carrier. generating (502, 504), by a node B, a reference curve according to performance curves for a plurality of carriers of the node B, wherein a performance curve of a respective carrier in the plurality of carriers represents a relationship between carrier performance and carrier loads, and wherein the performance curves of individual carriers are obtained by direct observation of performance measures and load measures over time, and the reference curve represents the lowest carrier performance across the plurality of carriers corresponding to the carrier loads of the performance curves; determining, by the node B, an effective load for each of the plurality of carriers according to a measured load of a respective carrier in the plurality of carriers and the reference curve, wherein determining the effective load for each of the plurality of carriers comprises normalizing the measured load of the respective carrier in the plurality of carriers to the reference curve; selecting, by the node B, a subset of carriers from the plurality of carriers based on the effective loads for the plurality of carriers, the subset of carriers comprising at least two carriers each of which has an effective load greater than a load threshold; determining, by the node B, a heavily loaded carrier and a lightly loaded carrier from the subset of carriers according to effective loads for the subset of carriers; selecting (408, 410), by the node B, a mobile device assigned to the heavily loaded carrier as a candidate for handoff when a criteria is satisfied; and performing, by the node B, a handoff of the selected mobile device from the heavily loaded carrier to the lightly loaded carrier.