How often do you call 811 (ULOCO)?

[NCgrinder]

According to NC law ,as a stump-grinder ,technically I'm an excavator and supposed to call the 811 utility locator service before grinding...Here they have 72 hrs. to locate/mark utilities ,then I have 10 days to do the job...
Just curious as to how many grinders actually call for the service...and how often? Every time ? Just when utilities are noted nearby? Never?

I'm sure we all have tales of hitting utilities,etc... but just wondering how others handle this aspect of the grinding business...

 

[komatsuvarna]

Im no stump grinder, but i am an excavator. I always do a onecall no matter if i know they's utilities around or not. Its free, cheap insurance, and doesn't take but 10 minutes to call one in. In my years of digging we've found a lot of stuff where anything wasn't supposed to be, even with a onecall. They get to fix it for free that way. If you dont call a ticket in and hit something, they fix it on your dollar. Just me though.

 

[hanniedog]

Callit in everytime. Local guy called in to mark everything. Was digging quit a distance from the marks when up come this big bundle of wires(phone). Put about half the towns phones out. Better safe than sorry.

 

[imagineero]

We've got a similar service in australia. I call every time. It's a one call service that gets plans sent to you from every underground service - water, sewerage, power, gas, fibre optics, phone etc... If you call it in and there's nothing shown and you hit something you don't have to pay. My insurance doesn't cover stump grinding which is classed as excavation and needs a higher premium. Water is cheap to repair, but optical fibre is $40~$60 per splice x the number of fibres = $$$$$$. Gas can get you on TV, but not in a good way.


Shaun

 

[fatheadon1]

i just started doing mine online put in your email and the do the rest like others said its cheap insurance and where im at in jersey no one does it so it makes me look more professional so people like it some just want the job done

 

[elmostump]

811

I don't call "every" time particularly in the county, when all utilities are overhead and no natural gas supply. However always error on the side of caution but common sense and good look around the site tells a lot in whether or not to call. Good to hear from a fellow NC stump grinder..........