According to Cody DesRoches, Vice President of Digital Terrain Solutions, FJD Trion excavator guidance can reduce labor requirements by up to 50%. He has also seen customers recover their investment within one year and, in some cases, within a single project.

These results reflect customer experiences reported by Digital Terrain Solutions. Actual results vary by project, machine, crew, workflow, and site conditions.

Helping Contractors Put Machine Guidance to Work

Digital Terrain Solutions is a geospatial solutions provider serving civil construction companies across Canada and the United States. Its team helps contractors select, install, and use GNSS positioning and machine-guidance technology in daily field operations.

The company has worked exclusively with FJD Trion products in Canada and the United States for four years. For Cody, the value is not technology for its own sake. What matters is whether operators can use the system confidently and whether the investment creates a measurable return.

“FJD’s key value is usability.”

Cody DesRoches, Vice President, Digital Terrain Solutions

The Challenge: Too Much Time Spent Checking Grade

Without machine guidance, excavation can depend on repeated manual measurements and grade checks. The operator may need to stop while another team member checks elevation, confirms the design, or marks the next cut.

Those interruptions use labor, slow the excavator, and create more opportunities for inconsistent work or rework. The cost and complexity of traditional systems can also make adoption difficult for small and mid-sized contractors.

Digital Terrain Solutions needed a system that contractors could integrate into existing operations without turning machine guidance into another source of friction.

From Design File to In-Cab Digging Guidance

The FJD Trion EC100 Excavator Guidance System brings the project design and real-time machine position into the excavator cab.

1. Load the Project Design

The team imports the CAD design file into the system, giving the operator a clear digital reference for the excavation task.

2. Track the Excavator in Real Time

GNSS antennas and sensors track the position and posture of the excavator. The EC100 displays the machine and bucket relative to the design, with guidance accuracy up to ±3 cm.

3. Follow the Design from the Cab

The operator can see where and how much to excavate without relying on the same frequency of external grade checks. This helps the crew keep the machine working, reduce repeated measurements, and limit avoidable over-excavation or rework.

Explore the FJD Trion EC100 Excavator Guidance System

The Results: Less Manual Checking, Better Use of Labor

Up to 50% Lower Labor Requirements

Cody reports that FJD Trion excavator guidance can reduce labor requirements by up to 50%. By putting guidance in the cab, contractors can reduce their dependence on additional personnel for repeated measuring and grade-checking tasks.

This does not remove the need for sound site controls or qualified people. It allows contractors to deploy their crews where their time creates more value.

A Faster Path to Payback

Digital Terrain Solutions has seen some customers recover their investment within one year. In certain project conditions, Cody says payback can be achieved within a single project.

A faster payback can come from fewer manual checks, better equipment utilization, and reduced rework. It depends on total workflow savings, not the purchase price alone.

A System Operators Can Use in Daily Work

Machine guidance only creates value when it becomes part of the normal excavation workflow. Digital Terrain Solutions highlights usability as a key reason contractors can move from initial adoption to regular field use.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does an excavator guidance system do?

An excavator guidance system shows the operator the machine and bucket position relative to the project design. This helps the operator understand where and how much to excavate while working from the cab.

How can excavator guidance reduce labor requirements?

In-cab guidance can reduce the frequency of manual measuring and grade checking performed by additional ground personnel. The labor impact depends on the project, crew structure, machine, and site conditions.

How quickly can machine guidance deliver ROI?

Payback varies by contractor and project. Digital Terrain Solutions reports that some customers have recovered their investment within one year and, in certain cases, within one project.

See What EC100 Could Change on Your Next Project

Repeated grade checks, additional ground personnel, and rework can all increase excavation costs. The EC100 provides a more direct path from the project design to the finished grade.

Tell us about your excavator, project type, and current workflow. An FJD Trion specialist can help you assess compatibility and build the right guidance setup.