This blog is twofold. I get people asking what I do all the time, so at first, I'll give you a little background.
I locate utilities for a living. What is that you ask? Well let me tell you.
I go and mark the underground lines when people dig holes, from basements, two new water mains, to burying Ol Yellar.
I locate gas lines, electric lines, and cable lines. I can do phone too, and we should be in a few weeks, because we just got bought, and they took over the contract.
We are considered the lowest run on the food chain, until a contractor forgot something, and is on the phone with us. Then we are his "buddies", "friend", and even the occasional "pal".
But fear not, we don't believe or trust them. These same people will hit a line, and immediately wipe out your marks. Then claim we didn't mark it, or marks were in a different place. Some go as far as having their own paint, to repaint things.
Luckily, we carry digital camera's, and take pictures, and most know it. But you get the occasional stupid one who gives it a try on occasion.
It is also season for us to learn Spanish. I don't know about where you live, but many of the landscapers, and crews who bore in phone and cable line speak Spanish. Most speak enough English, until they hit something. Then nobody does. The key is to ask the right question, and they'll turn to the guy who does speak English. It's an art form.
The benefits of the job is I'm outside most the day. And its great for 9 months. It's bikini season coming up, and we are in lots of back yards. We know where to get the cheapest lawn supplies. We have endless sources of information on how to do projects.
The drawbacks...well, we work outside all year long. Wind is the worst. We drive around nonstop, and if they're is a logo on a vehicle, you're a target. Not all the bikini's are on the right body. We are called names constantly. It's what we do.
Now for the ranting part. The worst part of the job is my company. We have been sold, so all of middle management is now trying to prove their worth to the new company. We are downhill, so guess where all the shit rolls?
I have minimum two policy changes weekly, usually contradicting each other. We get them in our email. Most of us just go thru and delete all our messages, except from our supervisor, because if its worth hearing, he'll call.
Our old company wanted to be as profitable as possible so we were a tasty nugget to buy, so no money was spent on equiptment the last year unless absolutely necessary. Our vehicles are mostly safety hazards. I am losing a half quart of oil a day, and am debating if I will replace it, or let the truck commit suicide. I am leaning towards the latter.
We get no support when something is hit, and even if we are not at fault for sure, there is a 50/50 chance our damage guy will mess it up and we'll get written up. He is savagely incompetent, but the job sucks, so nobody else wants it. In fact, if I had to guess who the three most imcompetent people are in our office, I would guess the three people handling damages.
As some of you gather though, I am fiercely loyal. I make okay money, and don't work all that hard most days. I was born a worker, thats what I do. My biggest bitch is the guys I work with. Now is our busy season, and they all want to go on vacation. They have no sympathy to the fact that when they're gone, we're screwed. They could hold off for two months, and it would be fine. But no, they plan them now. And my boss has a good heart, and lets them. He can't tell THEM no. But he knows I feel guilty, so tells me yes, then guilts me until I change my plans.
I realize that is my fault. I also realize that I'm more likely to get fired for damage issues, instead of productivity issues, so I'm slowing down this year. I run good numbers all summer long, and it still gets me nothing. So this year, I'm taking my time, running average numbers, and I'm not going to stress like I used to. I'll still work the massive amount of hours, but they're not getting as much bang for their buck.
I guess my rant is that I wish others where I worked cared as much as I do about the job. The way things are, they're forcing us all into a pack, and it doesn't make any sense to shine, because it just gets you more work, while the slackers stay home.
