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Recent computer-based improvements in excavator-type machines have addressed fuel economy and power delivery to the implement for various types of tasks. Although some developments have been made in task-specific bucket control, the basic pattern of hand control motions for operating these machines has remained little changed over many years. This paper reports on a hand control interface, its computer-based hydraulic control system and the results of human factors studies carried out on a Cat 215B-based log loader. By means of a set of real-time excavator simulator studies, a new approach to directing the control of the implement motion has been developed. A testbed machine was made available by Caterpillar and the control system was implemented on an excavator, a log loader and at present is also being implemented on a feller-buncher. A commercial version of the concept has also been successfully implemented on grapple yarders.