How far away from your area do you live?

[Goldenboy]

I see alot of people talking about huge drive times and thought it would be interesting to see how far people drive to work each day.

[underground quester]

I see alot of people talking about huge drive times and thought it would be interesting to see how far people drive to work each day.

Well, I drive about 15 minutes to the office in the opposite direction of my territory, get my work, then head out. On freeways it takes about 20 min to 30 minutes most days.

[UULC]

I drive 45 miles to the office, frome there I drive another 20-25 miles.


:happy: :this: :D

[LadyLeatherneck]

Underground are you still on paper tickets or laptop?

We live about an hour from the office but about 30-45 min from locate area. Hoping contracts will renew soon and more territory will become available.

[Goldenboy]

I can't believe people go to the office. I just go about once a month(whenever I need supplies). We get all of our work through our laptops with wireless internet.

With the price of gas these days it just seems silly to drive to the shop and then to your area. Unless of course you don't get to take your work truck home?

[underground quester]

Underground are you still on paper tickets or laptop?

We live about an hour from the office but about 30-45 min from locate area. Hoping contracts will renew soon and more territory will become available.


Re your first question.

I invoke the fifth for fear everyone will laugh their asses off!

[yahoo]

ug quester....lol....good one dude.... we don't go to the office either once a week.for safety meeting...i drive for about an hour and half to my work site ......

[gypsygirl]

I drive anywhere from 30 - 55 minutes to my first locate. As far as going to office... I go there for supplies... or coffee... whichever seems the most urgent at the time... (coffee doesn't get charged)...

[ohlocator]

My area starts at my front door. I make it to the office once a week for supplies if my Sup. is tied up since it's right on the edge of my area.

[Goldenboy]

Re your first question.

I invoke the fifth for fear everyone will laugh their asses off!

Most the locators by us don't even know what a paper ticket looks like. We haven't had them for years.

Do you bill your tickets via the computer or is that on paper also? It isn't a big deal either way, I was just wondering.

[LadyLeatherneck]

How many years has it been since there were paper tickets? Remember when we used to have to log the tickets by hand on paper and check whether we marked power, phone, gas? Am I telling my age? Oh well, glad I'm not one to care!

[underground quester]

Most the locators by us don't even know what a paper ticket looks like. We haven't had them for years.

Do you bill your tickets via the computer or is that on paper also? It isn't a big deal either way, I was just wondering.


Apparently the electronic era has escaped our Consortium. They want the paper trail so it is a pile of work not to mention the bodies we have to employ to bill, sort, file etc.

A question I have is how do you know the individual you hire is self motivated enough to get out there first thing and get started. In some ways I guess it does not matter what time they start but if there is a pile of tix, gotta get them done in 24/48 whatever.

[underground quester]

How many years has it been since there were paper tickets? Remember when we used to have to log the tickets by hand on paper and check whether we marked power, phone, gas? Am I telling my age? Oh well, glad I'm not one to care!


Yes L.L. I remember those days fondly....like it was yesterday.

Oh wait, it was yesterday!!!

I have a million questions about the electronic interface and getting tix done etc. but.... another time.

[LadyLeatherneck]

LOL - you are so funny. When a locator gets to his first locate, he turns on his computer and it logs the time he starts that locate and then he bills the ticket on the computer when he is done and it logs that time as well. They keep up with you and where you are that way. If you hire experienced locators with enough years, they would almost have to be self motivated to still be a locator, wouldn't they? Who in their RIGHT MIND would still be in this business after 21 years?

[TBONE]

I have always had to drive I have never lived in my area:censored: but others have and do :verymad:

[sprayandpray]

I live about 10 min from my area and only attend a Group Meeting every other Thursday for supplies and a Safety Meeting. That's about 20 min from my house. Kind of miss the old days where we met every am at a restaurant and waited for the paper tickets to arrive. Sure felt more like a team back then. Oh well - Progress!

[gypsygirl]

Paper tickets... ahh... what fond memories! Loved the log sheet too!

[geez70]

Off subject a little but going back to the good ole days....... MICROFICHE and those damn little viewers. did I even spell that right? AHHHHHHHHHH the days of stopping fast and then spending the next 2 days putting them back in order after you pick them up from the floor of your truck:escape:

[LadyLeatherneck]

AHHHHHHHHHH the days of stopping fast and then spending the next 2 days putting them back in order after you pick them up from the floor of your truck:escape:

Geez, LOL, after a few times of that happening, we figured out that clipping them to a clip board would hold most of them in place in case they hit the floor. Hubby used to put a dinosaur on top of his to hold them in the seat!

What about laying completes on the dash and they blew out the window. Try explaining that to a fellow locator who just happened to pass by while you were scrounging them up.

Funny story: Hubby was my trainer when I first started with his company. (Note: we were already together). I was in my first few weeks and got REALLY, REALLY aggravated one day. :bang::bang: Called hubby and said, "I QUIT......THIS .......F.........JOB........... AND .......... YOU......... CAN........ DO ........THESE..........D..........TICKETS......... .YOURSELF.
I probably had over 100 tickets, already in order, and I slung them through his truck window. He just smiled and waved bye. MADE ME SO MAD :bang::bang::bang::bang::bang: THAT I FOLLOWED HIM AND HE HAD THE LOCATE DONE IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES. :bang::bang::bang::bang::bang::bang::bang::bang::b ang::bang::bang:

He used to tell me to listen to my locator, it would talk to me (Metrotech 810). I used to tell him the damn thing didn't speak my language!!!!! That was a very long time ago.

[geez70]

Yep everything on paper and an 810.......... How I remember that.......Miss the 810 just not the paper

[ifinditunderground]

I drive 70 miles to the office in the morning, and 70 miles back home in the evening.