Excavator News April 2021

The beginning of the busiest season of the year for excavators is underway. As the weather warms up and more digging projects begin, we have a few announcements and reminders to share:

Indiana 811 does NOT locate utilities. We transmit the ticket to utility owners who mark their own facilities.
Our member utilities don’t locate private service lines. As the excavator, it is your responsibility to speak with the property owner or hire a private locating company to locate them.
Please refrain from submitting tickets for more work than your crews can complete within 20 days. When contractors only request the marks for excavation they can start within the 20 days, it makes it easier for the locators to get to everyone’s jobs during an already busy season.
Be sure to visit your proposed dig site and properly white line or stake the site PRIOR to submitting your ticket. This helps locate technicians more efficiently mark your proposed dig site and keep the damage prevention process moving smoothly for all stakeholders.
Please do everything you can to help preserve marks. There have been instances where excavators will submit a ticket, then subsequently submit multiple refresh tickets every 2-4 days after their dozer, excavator, or backhoe operator either runs or dozes over flags and paint. This backlogs the damage prevention system and makes it run less efficiently for everyone.

Additionally, we are pleased to announce that Indiana 811 and Kentucky 811’s “I Dig Summer” contest will return again this year! This summer, excavators who submit their utility locate requests through Exactix, our new online ticketing platform, will have the chance to win cash prizes. Keep an eye out for more information, coming soon.

If you haven’t already, be sure to create your Exactix account now. It’s fast, easy and free!