A system for remotely operating a machine includes a plurality of remote control input devices including a propulsion input device. A controller generates an operator generated propulsion command to propel the machine and generates continued propulsion commands to continue to propel the machine without additional propulsion signals from a propulsion input device. The controller determines an interval since the generation of a previous remote input signal at the remote control unit and generates a change in operation command signal if the interval since the generation of the previous remote input signal exceeds an input signal absence threshold.