When disaster strikes, only contractors with true operational readiness can respond without hesitation. This real world example shows how the adoption of the right technology enabled Mass Excavation—frequently referred to as Mass X—to mobilize fast, control costs, and deliver critical repairs under extreme conditions.
The Issue
Ten years ago, Mass Excavation operated on paper, Excel, and “gut instinct.” Time cards were handwritten, resulting in costly payroll delays and corrections, while estimators used software not designed for heavy civil work. This increased the risk of bid errors and made it impossible to scale. As many paper-pushing shops operate, fleet maintenance relied on guesswork rather than data, leading to reactive repairs. In extreme weather conditions, equipment must be in top shape to ensure operations run smoothly and on time.
The Solution
Instead of a frantic overhaul, the company built its tech stack gradually over 12 years. They first standardized estimating with HeavyBid, allowing them to replace their estimating software with one specifically designed for heavy construction. Seeing the benefits of a 400% efficiency improvement in their bidding process, they added HeavyJob to their operations, connecting the field to the office and building a smarter, more proactive field. Recently, they added Equipment360 and Safety to track asset health and compliance digitally, and won the AGC Excellence in Safety Award and the 2025 AGC Excellence in Construction Award for its Emergency Butte Dike Repairs in the Mat-Su Valley.
The Outcome
When Typhoon Halong devastated Western Alaska, the State needed immediate emergency repairs. This required managing a complex Time & Materials (T&M) contract in a remote disaster zone, which to anyone else could be a financial and operational nightmare. The company was able to demonstrate operational expertise when emergency repairs were requested and mobilized within hours of the state’s request. Mass X has more than doubled its annual revenue over the past decade and operates with confidence through HeavyJob. With T&M in HeavyJob, their organization now has the ability to track all labor and equipment costs in real-time for the owners.
"When I first got here, everything was paper and Excel. There were a lot of multiple entries on things."
– Cody Troseth, Project Manager, Mass Excavation
The Mass Excavation tech advantage in an emergency
It’s late Friday afternoon, and the State of Alaska calls. The aftermath of a rare typhoon slamming into the Alaskan coastline brought with it hurricane-force winds and an unexpected storm surge that overpowered coastal communities. The actual damages are unknown, but early estimates indicate that the losses will amount to hundreds of millions of dollars. Critical infrastructure in at least three villages has been severely damaged or destroyed. Evacuations are ongoing, access is limited, and immediate assistance is required.
Many do not have the capacity to respond to this kind of call; to pack up and move to a disaster zone on a moment’s notice, even if the motivation were there. A lack of cash flow visibility, the proper equipment health data, and the workforce tracking to deploy instantly can end a business if it leaps without a plan.
But Mass X is different.
And when they did receive that call, it became a moment to showcase the Mass X readiness when it mattered most. They didn’t rise to the occasion through luck; it was the result of more than a decade of preparation. With the right technical systems in place, they knew exactly where their assets were, could communicate quickly with their personnel, and had a plan to undertake the work and track the costs as the complexity of the recovery became apparent.
“We were able to mobilize within hours of receiving the request from the state,” says Project Manager Cody Troseth. “And complete the repairs both safely and efficiently.”
The wrong solution getting in the way
Just ten years ago, Mass X was doubling its revenue, but its operations were bogged down in paperwork. “When I first got here, everything was paper and Excel,” Troseth recalls.
This manual workflow was a wall that impeded their growth.
The field workers wrote their timecards on paper, and if the timecards made it into the office, management was tasked to type the data into Excel. Then, accounting had to retype it all into their accounting system. “There were a lot of multiple entries on things… duplicate entries,” Troseth says.
The friction wasn’t just in payroll. It plagued their bidding and maintenance, too. They were bidding using software designed for vertical construction, forcing estimators to jump wildly between CSI numbers that didn’t make sense for the civil work they were performing. “You can easily make mistakes in that realm,” Troseth admits.
To complete the picture of multiple systems, they managed their fleet based on “gut instincts” and spreadsheets. This manual process was time-consuming and lacked reliable data, leading to reactive breakdowns rather than proactive care.
Stacking your tech over time
Mass X didn’t try to change everything overnight. The company recognized that this is how implementation fails. Instead, their leaders took a “gradual, intentional approach.” As Mass X grew, and their needs grew, they looked to HCSS to help them build and layer good tech habits over time.
Getting the work: Twelve years ago, Mass X adopted HeavyBid to streamline their estimates.
Ensuring on track and on budget: A few years later, HeavyJob was added to their operations to eliminate the double-entry madness between the field and the office and to give their foremen the tools to not only keep track of time, but to contain field documents and plans.
The equipment: In 2024, the company completed the suite by implementing Equipment360 and HCSS Safety, allowing for proper maintenance of heavy equipment and ensuring it was done safely through daily safety meetings within the same app, HeavyJob.
Mass X successfully managed the dreaded “change management” curve by introducing these tools during slower periods and relying on HCSS Support to help guide them. This allowed the compound interest of efficiency to grow, moving from weekly safety meetings to a “safety moment at the beginning of every shift.”
Excellence is a daily choice
In an industry like earthwork, Mass Excavation decided to stand out by becoming the company that is “obsessed with excellence.” This obsession has driven Mass X to win multiple AGC Safety Awards, and they were named one of three top finalists for the HCSS Construction Award for excellence.
“Excellence isn’t an act, it’s a culture,” Troseth says. “It’s the way we show up, challenge ourselves, and deliver results that exceed expectations.”
Mass X proves every day that in extreme weather and in dire emergencies, with the right systems in place, you can respond to any emergency and go after the work you want with confidence.
Want to add these solutions to your tech stack? Learn more now.
