By Cory Maker, Manager, Product Marketing at Ditch Witch
In the world of underground construction, where efficiency, precision and uptime are non-negotiable, visibility into machine performance can make or break a job.
For years, tracking the health and productivity of horizontal directional drills (HDD) relied heavily on operator reports and manual inspections, often leaving too much room for guesswork.
As jobsites grow more complex and margins tighten, telematics has emerged as a vital tool delivering real-time, actionable insights that enable smarter, faster decision-making. From tracking machine utilization to optimizing maintenance schedules and adapting to jobsite variables, telematics is reshaping how HDD fleets are managed.
Within an industry grappling with rising costs, skilled labour shortages and stricter project timelines, telematics is no longer just a nice-to-have feature or a mere technological upgrade. For today’s crews, it’s evolved to be a strategic advantage.
Maximize profitability
To maximize the value of HDD machines, it’s essential for contractors and fleet managers to make informed decisions throughout the machine’s life cycle. This includes placing appropriate bids based on projected machine demand, selecting the right equipment for specific job requirements, operating machines efficiently and performing timely maintenance to extend their operational lifespan.
Telematics data can inform all these decisions by providing insights that improve ROI.
When deployed on the jobsite, HDD machines equipped with telematics can capture a variety of operating parameters, including rotation, speed, force, thrust and mud flow. This can help contractors better understand how machines perform in different terrain, enabling more accurate bids and smarter machine selection based on ground conditions.
Telematics may also reveal cost-saving opportunities in the field. For example, if machines are running idle for long periods of time, contractors can address fuel inefficiencies. Or if operators are overworking equipment, targeted training can be introduced to prevent future wear and tear. With these insights, operators can take any necessary actions to reduce future financial losses.
Maintenance costs can be reduced too. Predictive maintenance insights help ensure timely service and prevent costly breakdowns. With GPS-enabled fleet management tools like Ditch Witch’s Orange Intel, contractors can even set up digital jobsite fences to monitor machine movement and recover lost or stolen equipment.
Data-ready compliance
Beyond profitability, telematics also plays a critical role in helping contractors stay ahead of emerging compliance standards.
Increasingly, more and more bid specs now require the submission of electronic drilling records upon jobs completion. Some governments — including in California and Europe — also now mandate that contractors provide data records of underground installations.
Collecting and maintaining this data can create a more precise record of increasingly congested easements and help protect people and underground utilities. However, collecting and reporting the data can feel like another hoop to jump through.
Fortunately, modern HDD technology makes it easier than ever to comply with these data requirements. An HDD guidance system can digitally automate the generation of the as-built report, which can save time and reduce the potential for errors compared to writing bore logs by hand, helping contractors get paid sooner. Telematics data can also help operators comply with data-reporting requirements and over time enable more accurate estimation of the hours required for future jobs.
Keep crews moving
With more equipment data available, operators can gain valuable insights into machine health and performance to maximize productivity and reduce downtime on jobsites. And fleet management tools that allow operators to access telematics data on a smartphone, tablet or computer at any time make it easier than ever to get these insights.
For example, contractors can monitor machine performance indicators to assess how quickly crews are using components such as drilling bits and digging chains. Additionally, operators can track fuel and DEF levels, battery performance and other systems to identify potential issues early and address them proactively, thereby preventing downtime.
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If problems arise, diagnostic data can be shared instantly with teams and dealers for quick troubleshooting and resolution, minimizing delays. This enables swift troubleshooting and resolution of the problem, ensuring the machine is back up and running as quickly as possible.
Additionally, operators can monitor how their machines are being utilized and measure the number of products they are installing from one job to the next. This data can help identify issues such as machine misuse or underutilization that may require attention. Furthermore, it can assist in better planning workloads for future projects, ensuring optimal efficiency and productivity.
The future of HDD
As jobsites continue to demand greater speed, precision and accountability, contractors can no longer afford to operate in the dark. Telematics provides the clarity and control needed to make smarter decisions in real time, helping operators get the most from their machines to meet evolving jobsite requirements and keep crews productive.
By turning raw machine data into actionable insights, telematics is not just enhancing HDD operations; it’s redefining them. For contractors looking to stay competitive and profitable in today’s high-stakes environment, embracing this technology isn’t optional, it’s essential
