Honest opinions from USIC employees

**spraypray&sweat** · August 2nd, 2011, 09:03 PM

I have work for CUS for a while now and love the way the company is ran I would like honest opinions on what I can expect out of USIC.

**locator00566** · August 2nd, 2011, 09:13 PM

USIC will be a rude awakening for CUS employees. Be prepared to be micro-managed to death. GPS tracks your every move. Very strict on idle time. Quantity over Quality is USIC'a policy. Get use to being used and abused. You are just a number now , easily replaced. Good Luck and stay strong.

**ok73112** · August 2nd, 2011, 10:01 PM

I have been invited to an interview with USIC. Was wondering if anyone has any pointers and what can I expect in training and OJT if I were hired. Any information or comments would be appreciated.

**ThatGuy** · August 2nd, 2011, 10:20 PM

Its really not bad at all. My area is great though. I don't veer off course through the day, and I turn my truck off at every locate so I don't have any problems.

For ok73112 training is 4-5 weeks usually, with alot of book work in a classroom and some field time. You'll probably learn more in your first week of ride-alongs than you do the entire training class.

**HPMadness** · August 3rd, 2011, 09:57 PM

Originally Posted by ok73112

I have been invited to an interview with USIC. Was wondering if anyone has any pointers and what can I expect in training and OJT if I were hired. Any information or comments would be appreciated.

Training will be 4 weeks in classroom environment with LOTS of tests. Just make sure you pass them the first time, or you will be playing catch-up every day. (You have 3 chances to pass each test) Mix that in with maybe 3 days in the field for hands-on before Final test and OQ qualification (for locating gas). OTJ training..... HA! It is more like riding with a senior tech for a few days then off on your own. Just make sure that you do not second-guess yourself on everything. That will drive you insane! Listen to your senior techs and TAKE NOTES! They will save your ass.

**laterite** · August 12th, 2011, 07:32 PM

You C.U.S guys are in for a real treat,USIC is only interested in their bottom line,they say that they really care for their employees,They could care less,It is only a smoke screen.They'l nail you to the wall in a new york minute.Micro managed like you have never seen before,Down to the second.All salried employees are only interested in their bonuses,Not you.They will work you to the bone and then some.MORE to come later.......

**yahoo** · August 12th, 2011, 07:49 PM

at least we are getting some honest answers.......

**TBONE** · August 31st, 2011, 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by yahoo

at least we are getting some honest answers.......

I know right!

**locator00566** · September 1st, 2011, 08:09 PM

To some it up, USIC employees are treated like children

**Bad Robot** · September 2nd, 2011, 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by locator00566

To some it up, USIC employees are treated like children

I wholeheartedly agree, and it's unfortunate. In the worse case, they are treated like criminals. If I had a dollar for every time one of their supervisors approached me trying to get some dirt on a locator, I'd have lunch money for a long while.

**FreedMan** · September 2nd, 2011, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by Bad Robot

I wholeheartedly agree, and it's unfortunate. In the worse case, they are treated like criminals. If I had a dollar for every time one of their supervisors approached me trying to get some dirt on a locator, I'd have lunch money for a long while.

I've tried to stay out of this but the last two comments ring my bell pretty loud. I worked for CUS up until March of 09 and left for the very reason that after as many years as I've been in this business, having some A-hole with less than half my experience treat me like a child became intolerable. The bad thing was, my supervisor wasn't a bad guy and I consider us friends to this day, he was simply in a position where upper management was leaning on him hard to make him lean on us even harder. The guy needed his job - what're ya gonna do?

That seems to be the biggest trouble with the biggest players in our industry today (you know who I refer to); the bigger the corporation gets, the more expendable and unappreciated we get. I thought going to work for a smaller company was the answer, and it was a step in the right direction, but missed the mark (mostly because of who the smaller company was). In the new outfit I rose to the top pretty quick, but was unwilling to play hardball with my crew (guys I'd known for many years for the most part) and refused to treat them like children and criminals. Long story short, I got shown the door because I wouldn't compromise my beliefs about how workers should be treated (like human beings for starters).

Anyway, sorry for ranting without adding anything to what this tread is about, but like I said, seeing how far this industry has fallen from the days when a man or woman with integrity and good sense could have a secure job and some respect from the people they work for just really chaps my hide.

**sprayandpray** · September 2nd, 2011, 05:15 PM

The longer I'm in this business the more I realize that all locate companies treat their employees basically the same. In the last week I had an ex Utiliquest employee tell me that Heath is now acting like Utiliquest . I also heard that Consolidated Management doesn't really care all that much about employee retention. A USIC DM supposedly quit because after spending 3 years finally getting his area staffed and trained properly was told he needed to get rid of people after their 3rd drop damage.

As long as the unemployment rate is 9%+ we are expendable in the eyes of these large corporations.

**Turk182** · September 2nd, 2011, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by Bad Robot

I wholeheartedly agree, and it's unfortunate. In the worse case, they are treated like criminals. If I had a dollar for every time one of their supervisors approached me trying to get some dirt on a locator, I'd have lunch money for a long while.

Wait till they release the auto routing system they have been working on since they put GPS in all their trucks, which will take away your ability to route your own tickets.

**locator00566** · September 2nd, 2011, 07:16 PM

For those of you who are not planning a new career outside of USIC, you better start. Don't let them suck the life out of you.

**Wingfoot** · September 3rd, 2011, 09:08 AM

Originally Posted by sprayandpray

The longer I'm in this business the more I realize that all locate companies treat their employees basically the same.

As long as the unemployment rate is 9%+ we are expendable in the eyes of these large corporations.

Hey spray, you and I have been around long enough to know figures lie and liars can figure............. Anytime there is an "official" government announcement, the spin doctors dramatically overstate the positive and likewise dramatically understate the negative.

Case in point, the "official" United States jobless rate hyped by the corporate-owned, government-controlled media is 8.9%; which is utter bullshit!

If the "official" 8.9% would be doubled, it would come much closer to the real number of jobless Americans. The jobless blacks in large metropolitan cities is hovering 40%; even while America has a black, Indonesian citizen (Barry Soetoro) as a sitting president!

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