A method for scheduling messages transmitted on a forward common channel of a CDMA system. The method includes determining the ratio between the slotted and unslotted messages transmitted over the forward common channel over a period of time. For each time slot S(i) of the forward common channel, s % time is allocated from the duration of the time slot to slotted messages and u % time is allocated from the duration of the time slot to unslotted messages. The s % time and u % time are determined based on the ratio between the slotted and unslotted messages transmitted over the forward common channel over a period of time.