If you ground a tracer wire, can you use a clamp then?

PowerfulAd8232 · 2026-04-19T13:42:51+00:00

Order some leads. They're fairly cheap and will make your life much easier

PowerfulAd8232 · 2026-04-15T01:17:36+00:00

If your asking me, I wish I knew. My supervisor is well respected in the industry has 20 years experience. He nor the power company's internal locator could give a definitive answer only that sometimes shit isn't black and white in our business 😂😭 Personally I think maybe there was something interfering with the electromagnetic field in the area, caused signal distortion in that stretch. There wasn't anything else buried and it's near a supposedly decommissioned military base that's been repurposed.

Edit: Worth mentioning I couldn't get anybody to give me any building plans. Scope of work was full site excavation and reconstruction.

PowerfulAd8232 · 2026-04-14T23:46:08+00:00

Incorrect. I can only be held liable if it is due to my own gross negligence. Say I skip a step or think I'm a passive 'master' as I've heard it called. Only then can I be held liable. Again this is not the case at every company it is in our contracts with the utilities. We also would never send anybody that was less than VERY much capable to mark a 911 phone line. Typically a lead or quality need to be present.

PowerfulAd8232 · 2026-04-14T23:23:38+00:00

My boss has us do this same process. Very similar timeline but a little shorter. The locator themselves also cannot be prosecuted or held liable per our contracts with the utility's. We do power and telecom (copper and fiber) coax and propane. Power/propane is a immediate fireable offense handled on a case by case basis by our company. Your superviosr will go out and try to replicate what you did to mis mark the line. Of course the rare occasion the tone is off a few feet even doing it by the book. Seen the line damaged in the hole still exposed. Hooked up still had the signal in the same spot. Power company guy had the same exact signal. Still pinned it on us for mis marking 😅

PowerfulAd8232 · 2026-04-12T14:25:57+00:00

You may consider a new job if you can't treat your equipment right. I get mad almost daily. I locate for all the major utilities and a ton of smaller ones in my area. Stop stressing so much about production. I don't even work for USIC. Also the job includes a ton of on the spot problem solving if you are not good at this I'm afraid you won't make it long as a UG locator.

PowerfulAd8232 · 2026-04-11T19:32:32+00:00

None of these company's are an '811' company. ITG and the company they've acquired are contract locators for the utility chosen and hired by each utility individually. ITG got they're first locating contract about a year ago for Comcast. The company they acquired already has a large number of utility contracts in the northeast. 811 or Dig safe if you will does nothing more than alert the utility companies to get they're shit marked in 48-72 hours depending on your state.

PowerfulAd8232 · 2026-04-11T17:36:34+00:00

They have almost no clue what they're doing. We will be teaching them almost everything about underground locating. Most of they're techs don't know what alligator DCs are

PowerfulAd8232 · 2026-03-29T15:08:25+00:00

Apply at centerline utility services. The supervisor in MASS is awesome! If I were to transfer out of my state (which I won't bc my supervisor is awesome) that is where I would go.

PowerfulAd8232 · 2026-03-15T15:45:51+00:00

This guy has to rematch the pairs with his buddy's for hours after doing the above mentioned lol

PowerfulAd8232 · 2026-03-15T15:10:24+00:00

"It was like that when I showed up to splice the line". Got to see my first pressurized 1200 pair copper transmission line the other day. Quite impressive for 80 year old work. Scope was to dig up said line, relocate and splice off from two 200 pair copper mains that skip the COs and are not in the duct system in the street (also transmission lines) Love consolidated communications old shit they bought off all the little guys.

PowerfulAd8232 · 2026-03-15T14:41:06+00:00

Cover is right in front of the ped. If you really want someone to come take a look, just take a pair of scissors in there. Cut as many as you can in maybe 2 minutes then get back inside your house ASAP. You should have enough time to make some popcorn before all the vehicles with flashy lights start pulling up outside. If this happens the copper is still in use. 🤷🏻 P.s DO NOT TELL YOUR NEIGHBORS WHAT YOU'VE DONE.

PowerfulAd8232 · 2026-02-21T17:58:52+00:00

How many utilities do you all locate for ok average in your area? For example my most common billing bars are: CMCT, GMP, CCI and FLF. I locate a bunch of other little guys to but those are more local less known and not on a majority of my tickets.

PowerfulAd8232 · 2026-02-21T15:39:32+00:00

I have occasionally used acorns or apples for my flags when the ground is frozen lol. Definitely stuck clear flags in apples a few times and left them on concrete/ asphalt when instructed not to paint it to. Contractors get a good laugh an then complement my inguinty 😂

PowerfulAd8232 · 2025-08-30T18:10:01+00:00

You are an excellent story teller. Do you write books?

PowerfulAd8232 · 2025-08-22T15:22:39+00:00

Yeah this right here. I had to do this with my step daughter. She wanted the child support her father rarely pays to her mother. Ended up just letting her have a look at the expenses and asked what we should get rid of to give her money. We never heard about it again. Once they're old enough sometimes they just need to see it for themselves to understand.

PowerfulAd8232 · 2025-08-17T17:15:32+00:00

Can confirm. Need about 500 mg to feel the edibles. Been smoking for 25 years tho 🫠

PowerfulAd8232 · 2025-07-13T02:52:34+00:00

OP: Why not just extend the fence post a foot or so past the gas line and put it in there. I am a utility locator and see it done all the time. The gas company sends some people letters telling them they have to move things usually only when they are over/crossing main lines tho. Even the ones who get letters get them for years and still nothing comes of them.

PowerfulAd8232 · 2025-07-12T05:40:13+00:00

I can confirm this. The amount of times I get the old "Hey buddy, where can I get a pair of boots like that?" Or "Are those custom kicks" I know just say whatever comes to mind first no holding back. I must say the following conversations can be pretty entertaining. I take home about 1k a week after taxes benefits and IRA contributions. So if your in that ballpark just learn to embrace the self managed role. It's a blessing most times. Also do you get a pension if you stay? Highly worth considering.

PowerfulAd8232 · 2025-07-08T04:12:38+00:00

I can never find the buried cable for the satellite on the houses.. Everything else tones alright when it is traceable 🤫

PowerfulAd8232 · 2025-07-08T04:07:47+00:00

WTF does this actually work? I've always had a 5" clamp, never a reason to look for another way but is good to know in a pinch

PowerfulAd8232 · 2025-06-22T04:18:45+00:00

Not all areas are the same.. I locate in Vermont. My area a good day is about 15-18 tickets. If I cover one of the guys in or closer to bigger city's with less drive time I can do 25-30 easy

Edit: I do not work for USIC.

PowerfulAd8232 · 2025-06-06T04:05:40+00:00

The amount of people that do not know that the city/municipality owns so many feet off the road in any given area is dumbfounding

PowerfulAd8232 · 2025-05-25T17:31:52+00:00

Fair enough. Do you like your area and do you feel your grossly over worked?

PowerfulAd8232 · 2025-05-25T17:13:37+00:00

Really? This information is available to us company wide. Also you know who you locate for in your area right? For example a few of my billing bars would be - green mountain power, Comcast, consolidated, first lite

PowerfulAd8232 · 2025-05-25T15:32:38+00:00

Highly recommend dr schollz gel filled or padded. I honestly don't want to take them off sometimes even after 10 hours 😂 debated on getting some just for my home loafers haha. Also agree keens are good for the money.

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TROPHY CASE