USIC New Hire Questions

**lowrider** · June 12th, 2011, 03:30 PM

Im thinking of becoming a ULT with USIC....I see good and bad comments..!? I have found through my life that all jobs have there Ups and Downs ! Do ULT get time and a half after 40 hrs.? Where do they..(USIC) send you for training? Thanks all ! I live in Michigan.

**locator00566** · June 12th, 2011, 04:36 PM

**paintitnow** · June 12th, 2011, 08:49 PM

ULT? did they change our locator titles from DPS to ULT? We use to be known as Damage Prevention Specialist. Yes you get time and a half after 40 hrs. Oncall i still believe is straight time unless you are over the 40 hours. I have seen them when trying to get NO OT send a guy home or have them take a day off because they reach the 40 hour mark. No longer with them and how MIchigan works so can not confirm that state

**nopaint4you** · June 14th, 2011, 12:17 AM

Don't do it unless your desperate! and have no other option!!! If thats the case welcome to the club. Training will be the easiest money you make at usic so enjoy the rookie process. Its only downhill from there.

**hellbilly** · June 14th, 2011, 04:01 PM

I bet your on the west side somewhere, I think you do training in Grand Rapids. PM me if you want.

**wilder** · June 14th, 2011, 08:50 PM

Yup training at Grand Rapids office.
Yup time and a 1/2 over 40, kiss the wife and kids goodbye, its long hours right now.

**nopaint4you** · June 14th, 2011, 09:38 PM

ya ..... you must clock out for a lunch but they give it to ya sat and sun without so much as using lube.

Help not avail till mid day ya thats a go f yourself deal with it response. The wonderfull USIC we give you a check go f yourself. welcome to the show.

**locator00566** · June 14th, 2011, 09:51 PM

Welcome to the seventh circle of hell. USIC

**nopaint4you** · June 14th, 2011, 09:59 PM

566 great avatar

**locator00566** · June 14th, 2011, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by nopaint4you

566 great avatar

Thanks. Its in reference to anyone working for USIC

**paintitnow** · June 14th, 2011, 10:43 PM

Didn't they recently pick up contracts in MI? I think I heard of guys going there to help out. Before the boom bust I use to tell new guys to figure on 8-12 hr days and leave Saturdays open. The company may restrict to 8 hrs a day and no more than 40 at times these days but all is flexible.

**lowrider** · June 16th, 2011, 08:40 AM

Thanks all for the replies..!

**6feetunder** · June 16th, 2011, 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by lowrider

Thanks all for the replies..!

Don't listen to all these guys, working for USIC is great!!!

I just wanted to see how it feel to say that. If you can deal with being beat up mentally and physically everyday day in and day out by everyone including people you've never met, it does pay the bills. It pays the bills because you will never be at home , all you do is work, and don't expect any thanks either because when you do everything right, it'ds just expected, but if you screw up any one tiny thing at all you'll never hear the end of it. If you can't handle this crap then don't do it because you won't last a year, if you can then by all means hit it up because it will put some cash in your pocket.

**JACKnBORE** · June 16th, 2011, 10:57 PM

The only thing good about USIC is being able to get experience locating pipes and cables and a knowledge of what locators are capable of doing to spite excavators. Then you take that knowledge and you go to work for an excavating firm making real money out of the union hall. Keep your crew from digging into utilities by means of that instrument you invested in. You also know how to call in tickets without pissing your former co-workers off. You also know when a locators painting imaginary lines or dead stuff. Nice to be able to file complaint with governing body and know you have all your i's dotted and your t's crossed. Seen a locator lose his job for painting a non existent cable in an effort to slow us down.

**SouthPaw** · June 17th, 2011, 09:11 PM

Treat it as a temporary job and not a career. It's solid, steady work, but keep searching and applying other places. Hopefully you'll find something better.

I just applied to be the nighttime janitor at a place here in town. So fed up w/ USIC that I can't stand to be here another day.