Abstract: As a common treatment method in soft foundation treatment, the preloading process of pile load has been widely applied in soft foundation treatment engineering, and the factors affecting its reinforcement effect have also received widespread attention. This article takes the soft foundation treatment of a embankment project in Nansha, Guangzhou as an example, and uses finite element software to establish a calculation model. By calculating the changes in parameters such as loading time, insertion depth, drainage plate spacing, etc., the impact on the consolidation settlement of the soft foundation is analyzed. The results showed that the best treatment effect was achieved when the spacing between drainage boards was 1m, the insertion depth was 1m above the treated soil layer, and the stacking time was 120 days. The results of this study can provide reference for similar projects in the future.