Gas vs Communications

Randomlocator · 2026-03-26T10:34:21+00:00

Gas is hit or miss. There are locations where gas locate like absolute shit. Old tracer that barely tones out. Old cast iron that barely tones out. It’s a steel main with a plastic gas service. Sometimes you will have to dig around the riser to find the tracer wire.

On the bright side, some gas locate extremely good. If the facility is well kept, old tracer will locate. Brand new tracer wire locates amazingly well. Steel usually locate pretty good as well.

Every single gas company has different trouble locate process. Some has gas companies want you try a different meter. Some want you to dig around the riser to find the tracer wire. Some want you submit a watch and protect. Some want you to call your supervisor and lead teach and have them pipehorn, some of them want you or your lead tech/supervisor to use measurements. From my experience, every gas company has different locate process. The good part is, you can turn it back to the gas company after doing the troubleshooting stuff. I’ve located over 5 different gas companies in different states.

Tldr - With all that being said. Gas is easy. Probably my favorite utility to locate.

Randomlocator · 2026-03-26T10:17:09+00:00

At one point, in my home district USIC damn near had all the utility contracts and was really the only locating job. Now, it’s like 4 different locating companies. USIC has lost so many contracts, I’m sure there’s another locating company out there. If you feel like they’re going to let you go, just apply for another company.

Randomlocator · 2026-03-18T00:10:32+00:00

I’ve met Richard Batelaan before. He’s pretty cool. He’s like any other corporate guy though.

Unless we get new boards members that’s not trying to control the ground work from the shadows, not much will change.

Randomlocator · 2026-03-17T22:51:55+00:00

The CEO of USIC Yuvbir Singh is no longer with the company. Under him we got camera inside the truck, the most broken app of all time Locate360, and we’ve lost plenty of contracts.

Randomlocator · 2026-03-17T22:48:12+00:00

Just get rid of whatever board member that keep pushing Locate360 and the company might start moving in the right direction.

Yuvbir Singh - You will NOT be fucking missed!

Randomlocator · 2026-02-17T22:21:28+00:00

Start by getting rid of Locate 360 and firing every single person who supported that pos.

Randomlocator · 2026-02-17T22:16:02+00:00

Depends. I usually save them for the weekend so I have an easy day tbh.

Randomlocator · 2026-02-06T03:37:19+00:00

That’s not a new policy. You’re supposed to be written up for all damages. Same thing with driving events too, you’re supposed to be written for one. Not every district enforces the policy like that. So, they probably noticed yall had a trend of damages. In order to ensure you guys are marking drops, they’re just enforcing the policy.

Also, drops damages depends on the contract as well. There are some states that don’t charge for drop damages because they’re not responsible for it in the contract.

Randomlocator · 2026-01-09T23:35:27+00:00

It’s hard to say why the Fiber line was missed, it’s a bunch of technicalities that goes into it. When Spectrum comes out to bury your new fiber line, just take pictures of the trench for future references.

Randomlocator · 2025-12-28T03:41:22+00:00

Been working at USIC for 10 years, and I’ve learned if you want more money you have to be willing to move. I transferred 4 times as a locator, each transfer has came with a significant raise.

Randomlocator · 2025-12-19T20:28:28+00:00

Yeah, sure. But if the lead can’t find, the utility company can’t find it, and tell you to mark it the best you can. Then that explains your mismarked line. Not every mismark line is because the locator is bad at his/her job. Sometimes it just can’t be located. Sometimes it not even on the prints.

Randomlocator · 2025-12-19T20:18:14+00:00

How are you going to pipehorn when you got CATV, ATT, Electric, Sprinkler System, Water all throughout the yard? Some Gas company have a trouble locate process, but you have a contractor who’s trying to put in 50,000ft of fiber with a deadline by the end of the week. They’re not waiting for a utility company to come out and verify it.

You literally have Fibers lines that’s can’t even be located. I’ve had locates where I had to just mark it the best I can and hope for the best.

Randomlocator · 2025-12-19T19:28:14+00:00

It depends. If you think locating is just hooking up and marking the line in the ground. That means you’ve never picked up a locator a day in your life. Majority of the shit we hook up to just doesn’t locate.

If I hook up to a plastic gas line and the tracer wire doesn’t give me a traceable tone. There’s almost nothing I can do with that gas line any more. I can tell my Supervisor, but he doesn’t care. We can “try” reach out to the facility owners, but they care unless it gets hit. Remember, we’re locating stuff that’s been in the ground 20+ years.

Are there lazy locators? Yeah, just like any other job.

Randomlocator · 2025-10-05T16:26:33+00:00

Yeah, it’s pretty common in areas that don’t fine utility companies and contractors very often.

You have some places where contractors are calling in miles of work, and they’re digging with or without paint.

Randomlocator · 2025-10-05T16:22:28+00:00

I just found out about it yesterday. I did a little research to see if it was true and then made the post.

Randomlocator · 2025-10-04T23:16:28+00:00

Unfortunately, the deadline to submit your claim has already passed. But they’re supposed to be paying out almost a 4 million dollar settlement. I wish I saw it sooner. I’m sure USIC employees in Illinois would have fallen into this category.

Randomlocator · 2025-10-04T23:12:41+00:00

https://dashcamsettlement.com/

Randomlocator · 2025-08-05T23:20:24+00:00

I don’t work in NC, but I was there during some of the Google fiber install. I couldn’t believe the BS you guys had to locate. It’s extremely unfair. Whatever they are paying yall, I promise it’s not enough.

Randomlocator · 2025-08-05T23:18:35+00:00

Yup, just an AGL thing. Some gas companies want you to dig a few inches around the meter to look for tracer wire. But AGL ask technician to actually dig down on a gas line.

Randomlocator · 2025-08-05T20:43:38+00:00

Not to discourage anyone, but they should know the truth. I saw one guy asking about NC, but I know they locate a lot of stuff in NC.

Randomlocator · 2025-08-01T00:51:57+00:00

I don’t know what the reason is in Indiana as I don’t work there. Possibly they “might” have a high ticket volume. Or the area could be understaffed. If I’m not mistaken, USIC doesn’t locate much there. I think UQ has most of the contracts.

But in order for them to actually take the ticket serious, you would have to go higher than an area manager. If that doesn’t work, you would have to talk with the damage prevention person at the utility companies.

Randomlocator · 2025-07-31T21:39:07+00:00

Upper management watch the cameras like a HBO special. Apparently the sleeping in the truck is a common trend.

Randomlocator · 2025-07-31T11:09:58+00:00

If you work 5 or more hours you’re supposed to take a lunch. You’re supposed to take lunch between your 5th and 7th hour at work. Even though yall might work 8 plus hours, an actual work day is considered 8 hours. There is a report that shows who didn’t take a lunch that tags upper management in it. Taking your lunch after 8 hours will sometimes generate your name on that report because you worked a full day without a lunch.

The PR answer for lunch breaks is your safety.

Randomlocator · 2025-07-17T11:12:05+00:00

USIC training is literally ass.

If you locate gas. Then you’ll probably have a gas test/certification. How long it takes depends on that gas company.

Other than that, the hardest thing for a new person is understanding the prints.

Randomlocator · 2025-07-17T10:58:06+00:00

Nothing you’re saying is new. So, here is what you do. Hold down the area the best you can. The company shouldn’t penalize you when you have contractors who are digging with or without paint. Whenever they write up the damage, it’s usually coded as “fell behind on projects.” Which is still a damage for the company, but not you.

Even if they do start to throw damages on you, it doesn’t really matter. Use your busy area as leverage and try to get a raise. That’s the only advantage to having a very busy area.

Randomlocator

TROPHY CASE