Different: Wheels of

digDIFFERENT
digdifferent.com FEBRUARY 2017
Think outside the bucket
SHOW
ISSUE
PROFILE:
COASTAL CABLE CONSTRUCTION
LANDS BIG JOBS AT BIG PLACES
12
WHEELS OF
FORTUNE
Clint Stevenson
Supervisor
Accurate Trenching
Trenching for agricultural and oilfield

pipelines proves to be smart choice
for California contractor
22
TIPS:
PIPE FUSION MACHINE

MAINTENANCE
30
DOWN & DIRTY:

CONTRACTOR USES
INNOVATIVE TOOLS ON
LARGE TUNNELING PROJECT
38
digdifferent.com February 2017
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TEXAS DIG TUBE
Advertiser Index
February 2017
Rival Hydrovac Inc. .....................

2
Soil Surgeon, Inc. ....................... 47
Custom Vac Services Ltd. ............ 43
StoneAge, Inc. ............................ 41
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8" Quick-Clamp
8" Intake
Tube
Subsite Electronics ...................... 21
Ditch Witch ................................ 52

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Texas Municipal Equipment .........
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Transway Systems Inc. ................ 11
GapVax, Inc. .............................. 51

Ultra Shore ................................ 45
Gear Equipment Inc. .................. 35
Vac-Con, Inc. ............................. 17

Vanair Manufacturing ................. 25
8" Bandlock Clamp
HammerHead Trenchless
Equipment ............................... 29
Hi-Vac Corporation ....................
VARCo .......................................
Vector Technologies Ltd. .............
Vivax-Metrotech Corp. ................ 31
Kuriyama of America, Inc. .......... 45

Milwaukee Rubber Products, Inc.
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Premier ...................................... 37
Classifieds ................................ 49
R.A. Ross & Associates NE, Inc. ... 35
Marketplace ............................. 49
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BOOTH
BOOTH
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1237
Contents
FEBRUARY 2017
Think outside
the bucket
digDIFFERENT
FOCUS: Conduit, Pipe Installation/Repair; WWETT Show Issue
FEATURES
28 IN THE TRENCHES:
Identifying the Soil Type
12 PROFILE: DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
As part of any job site, a competent

person should know the type of soil
and how it behaves.
Leading the Pack
Coastal Cable constructions hardworking

crew and equipment land them big jobs
at big places.
By Cory Dellenbach
By Matt Timberlake
38 DOWN & DIRTY:
Beneath the Emerald City
20 SUCCESS STORIES:
Contractor uses innovative techniques and

tools on a massive tunnel project.
Conduit, Pipe Installation/

Repair
By Aaron Boerner
By Craig Mandli
30 MACHINE SHOP:
42 MONEY MANAGER:
Is It Time to Consider a
Profit-Sharing Program?
Proper Care Improves Pipe

Fusion Machine Performance
Spreading the wealth to employees

when times are good can be a valuable
motivational tool and its not just a
big-company perk.
Five tips to keep your equipment running

to ensure your projects are completed on
time and stay profitable.
By MaryBeth Matzek
32 PRODUCT FOCUS:
Conduit, Pipe Installation/

Repair
By Erik Gunn
46 SAFETY FIRST:
The Financial Pain of

Trenching Accidents
By Craig Mandli
Criminal charges also more likely than

in the past.
44 WWETT SPOTLIGHT:
By Doug Day
Two For One
Jetstreams Twin Force dual-pump waterblasting system can handle blasting jobs
both big and small.
By Kyle Rogers
COVER STORY
22 PROFILE: TRENCHING
Wheels of Fortune
California excavator turned his
business around by shifting into wheel
trenching mode.
By Ken Wysocky
ON THE COVER:
Accurate Trenching supervisor Clint Stevenson
stands in front of one of the companys larger
wheel trenchers at the company yard in Bakersfield,
California. Clint hopes to take over for his dad,
Jim, as owner of the company when he retires.
The company, which specializes in wheel trenching,
services all of south-central California.
(Photography by Collin Chappelle)
DIG DIFFERENT
COLUMNS
IN EVERY ISSUE
10
36
Burying the Lines
By Cory Dellenbach, Editor
The Latest: Products

This Issues Feature: GapVax and
Wiedemann join forces to offer
water-recycling combination truck
8 BELOW THE SURFACE:
Finding the right method of putting lines

in the ground could be key to your
companys success.
@digdifferent.com
Visit daily for new and exclusive content.
By Craig Mandli
47
The Latest: News
49
Happenings
18 TECH PERSPECTIVE:
Keeping Up With Technology

Operators have many new construction
technologies available for job site
efficiency.
By Jason Hurdis and Tim Crane
NEXT ISSUE: March 2017
FOCUS: CONEXPO Show Issue, Site Prep, Remediation

Profile: APC Vacuum Excavation (Bridgewater,
Massachusetts)
Machine Shop: Maintaining skid steers
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Below the Surface
Burying the Lines

FINDING THE RIGHT METHOD OF PUTTING LINES IN
THE GROUND COULD BE KEY TO YOUR COMPANYS SUCCESS
BY CORY DELLENBACH
NO ONE METHOD
WORKS BETTER
THAN THE REST;
ITS JUST A MATTER
OF WHAT AREA
YOU SERVE AND
WHAT YOURE THE
MOST COMFORTABLE
WITH DOING.
onduit and pipe can be installed in many ways:

through pipe bursting, hydroexcavation, air excavation, directional drilling and trenching, just to
name a few.
Right now throughout North America, electrical lines
are starting to move from those pesky electrical poles
above ground to underground, and fiber-optic lines are
being laid as fast as ever. This provides ample opportunities for contractors to stay busy year-round.
No one method works better than the rest; its just a
matter of what area you serve and what youre the most
comfortable with doing. The two contractors featured in
this issue work on opposite sides of the U.S. and have very
different ways of installing underground utilities and pipes.
Coastal Cable Construction in Ormond Beach, Florida, specializes in directional drilling and does work
throughout north-central Florida. The company prides
itself on work done at Daytona International Speedway.
Owner Jay Flositz has been doing directional drilling since
the 1990s and has developed his company into a wellrespected operation that continues to secure both shortterm and long-term projects.
Accurate Trenching, based in Bakersfield, California,
can usually be found in the agricultural fields putting
down irrigation pipe with its giant wheel trenchers its
pretty tough to miss those giant pieces of equipment.
As the economy slowed down on residential trench
building, owner Jim Stevenson knew the company needed
to diversify to survive. He figured that if his crews could
dig trenches for residential buildings, they could dig
straight-line trenches in the surrounding fields.
MORE TIPS AND INFO AVAILABLE
This issue is full of tips to help you as you head to
your next job site. Matt Timberlake talks about the
importance of identifying soils in this months In the
Trenches column.
DIG DIFFERENT
The Machine Shop this month highlights pipe fusion

machines and what you need to know about maintaining
them to make sure they remain profitable. The last thing
you want is for one of those to break down, stopping work
for the day.
If youre looking for some products that you might
need for installing pipes and conduit, look no further than
Product Focus. It highlights vacuum excavation machines,
directional drilling and pipe bursting tools, and more.
Some equipment shown in Product Focus could also
be on display at the 2017 WWETT Show Feb. 22-25 in
Indianapolis.
COME VISIT WITH US
Speaking of the WWETT Show, COLE Publishing
will have a booth with several editors available to talk to
each day in Indianapolis. Dont be a stranger. Come up
and share your story with us. Well be in booth 2371.
If you are not going to the WWETT Show this year,
I would still enjoy hearing from you. You can call me at
800/257-7222 or email me at editor@digdifferent.com.
Enjoy this issue!
facebook.com/DigDifferent
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with a creative solution?
Share your story with 27,000 other professionals.
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Team Building 101
digdifferent.com/featured
DEALING
WITH THE
TOUGH JOBS
LISTENING TO YOUR EQUIPMENT
Signs Your Hydroexcavator

Is Running Into Trouble
Have you handled a tough

or unique job lately? We
would love to share how you
completed it and what made
it tough in Dig Different.
Tell us about that tough or
unique job by emailing
editor@digdifferent.com
or calling 800-257-7222.
When it comes to blowers and pumps, contractors should be aware

of different sounds or the way the equipment is operating to figure out
if there is a sign of a problem that they should get fixed.
VALUING YOUR EMPLOYEES
Breaking Down
Communication Barriers
With Your Employees
Company owners can maximize communication and innovation
by breaking down barriers that restrict employees ability to share
ideas and spot opportunities for growth.
10
DIG DIFFERENT
Connect with us!

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dig-different-magazine
BOOTHS
4224, 4225
DIRECTIONAL
DRILLING
Profile
LEADING
THE PACK
COASTAL CABLE CONSTRUCTIONS HARDWORKING CREW
AND EQUIPMENT LAND THEM BIG JOBS AT BIG PLACES
STORY: CORY DELLENBACH
PHOTOS: ROB HERRERA
W
Coastal Cable Construction
operator Brandon Gamble is at
the controls of a Ditch Witch
JT1220 directional drill on a job
site near Ormond Beach, Florida.
12
DIG DIFFERENT
I REALLY DONT
CARE HOW MUCH
[THE CREWS] MAKE.
THE MORE THEY
MAKE, THE MORE
IM MAKING.
Jay Flositz
Crew member Miguel Tamayo hand-digs to

verify the depth of marked pipelines prior to
the start of directional drilling work.
Working big jobs at the Daytona International

Speedway and along Daytona Beach had always
been a dream for Jay Flositz, who knew from early
on that he wanted to do directional drilling.
It took a while for Flositz and silent partner
Jimmy Pascarelli to get Coastal Cable Construction
to where they wanted it, but with hard work, determination and the right team, its coming together
for the company based in Ormond Beach, Florida.
Business is going crazy, just nuts, says Flositz,
co-owner. We just started a job in Jacksonville.
Its a contracted job for three years drilling in conduit for fiber lines with 1,200 miles of directional
drilling.
Jobs like that, and those at the speedway, have
helped Coastal Cable grow from a pickup truck
and one directional drill to four drills, three vacuum excavators, 12 pickup trucks and many other
pieces of equipment.
TAKING TIME TO GET THERE

Flositz started in the industry in 1997, working for utility companies throughout east-central
Florida. It didnt take him long to realize he didnt
want to work for other people.
I was always on jobs as a manager for Bell
South and we had a small directional drill that we
operated, Flositz says. Every time we would go
out and do a bore somewhere, somebody would
ask us if we could do something for them with that
machine. Of course we couldnt, because it wasnt
our machine.
That spurred the idea for Flositz and a co-worker
to start up a company. Their first stop was to a contractor doing work for Florida Power and Light
(FPL), one of the states largest utilities.
We asked them if they had any drill work,
Flositz says. They asked us how many machines
we had and how many trucks and we told them we
had three machines and all these trucks.
In reality the two didnt have any equipment
yet. They gave us a contract and we left and said
to ourselves, Guess we better get a machine. So
we did, Flositz says. S&J Boring was born with the
purchase of a directional drill.

After eight years in operation, S&J shut down
in 2009 with the decline of the economy. Flositz
and his business partner tried again in 2010 by
opening another business, but eventually they went
their separate ways. Thats how Coastal Cable was
formed, Flositz says.
Flositz took half the crew and his business partner took the others. Most of Flositz crew had worked
for him the past 10 to 12 years.
THE HAPPY CREW
One of the biggest issues facing Coastal Cable,
and other directional drilling companies, is finding qualified employees. Its hard to find good
employees for drilling, Flositz says. You find
somebody who says they know how to drill and
they might, but its their way of drilling and its not
the way we want to do it.

13
The Coastal Cable Construction team. Front, from left, owner Jay Flositz, project
coordinator Beth Flositz, head mechanic Stanley Smith, operator Brandon
Gamble, operator Dalton Blackburn, and ground technician Martin Rodriguez.
Back, field supervisor Michael Wilson, operator Eligio Tamayo, locator Irineo
Rodriguez, locator Gilberto Alejo, operator Rafael Alejo, locator Miguel Tamayo,
and ground technician Nahum Cruz.
Flositz says its easier to find someone who can run equipment but has
never operated a drill. That allows the workers to be trained the way the company wants them trained.
Once trained, the next thing is to keep them happy. Flositz found an easy
way to do that. I pay all my guys in piece rate, he says. Whatever they do,
thats what they get paid for. Ive tried it hourly, salary, and every other way,
but this way seems to work the best.
The company pays crews of three a percentage of whatever the job brings
in. The crew members then split that percentage between themselves. They
all make out pretty well, Flositz says. They dont want to leave because they
know theyre not going to find another job where they make as much.
Flositz has found other benefits to paying his crew that way. Crews will
take better care of the equipment because if it breaks down, theyre not getting paid. Hes also found that crews tend to get more done in a day.
As an example, the company completed a job in Ormond Beach, putting
in new waterlines. It called for installing an 8-inch main and more than 100
bores across roads to connect homes to the main.
Owner Jay Flositz believes good, long-term employees

are the key to his companys success.
14
DIG DIFFERENT
The crews would take our little

JT520 drill (Ditch Witch) and knock
out 10 bores in a day, Flositz says.
Normally if youre paying them by
the hour, they might go out and
do two or three bores and then call
it quits. My guys, though, know
theyll make more money by doing
more work.
I really dont care how much they
make, he continues. The more they
make, the more Im making.
RELYING ON
CONTRACT WORK
Contracted work, like the drilling job in Jasksonville, has helped the
company grow its fleet, which includes
four Ditch Witch directional drills,
three vacuum excavators (Vac-Tron
and Ditch Witch), four utility locators (Subsite), a pipe fusion machine
(T.D. Williamson), a mini-excavator
(Yanmar), four reel trailers (Roose),
and 12 pickup trucks.
WHEN YOU GO
TO A LENDER AND
SAY YOU HAVE A
CONTRACT FOR
THREE OR WHATEVER
YEARS, THEYRE MORE
THAN LIKELY GOING
TO WORK WITH YOU.
THAT CONTRACT
WORK HELPS CASH
FLOW A LOT BETTER.
Jay Flositz
When you go to a lender and say

you have a contract for three or whatever years, theyre more than likely
going to work with you, Flositz says.
That contract work helps cash flow
a lot better.
Head mechanic Stanley Smith

performs maintenance on the
companys Ditch Witch JT1220
directional drill.
Clean, maintained
equipment a key to landing jobs
Four Ditch Witch directional drills make up the
core of Coastal Cables equipment inventory, and
owner Jay Flositz says they get used daily and are
kept in good working order thanks to head
mechanic Stanley Smith and Ditch Witch of Florida.
The companys oldest machine is a JT520, the
first machine Flositz acquired. You could probably
hang it in a Cracker Barrel because its so old,
Flositz says. It probably has 8,000 hours on it and
it doesnt get used that often now, but when we have
a really tight spot or something, it still runs fine.
Theres no sense in getting rid of it when it still works.
The company also has JT1220 and JT2020 model
drills and a new JT9 purchased in July. There is also
a Subsite utility locator for each drill. To transport
that equipment, Coastal Cable has 12 pickup trucks.
All my trucks are fairly new, Flositz says. They
GOING RACING
The non-contracted work may not pay as fast, but usually brings in more
cash. One of the most frequent job sites is the Daytona International Speedway and One Daytona. Weve done, and Im not exaggerating, about 200 bores
there, Flositz says. Weve had jobs there ranging from working on the irrigation to a new solar circuit pavilion they just built there.
The FPL Solar Circuit, a system of more than 7,000 solar panels that
generate electricity for the speedways operations and FPLs 4.8 million customer accounts, was completed in February 2016. It includes three canopylike structures covered with solar panels. On race days, vendors occupy the
space underneath.
We did all the bores for that project, Flositz says. We did two shots that
were about 600 feet in length. On one shot we had to pull four 3-inch pipes,
and on the other we had to pull three 3-inch pipes running from that pavilion to the transformer.
all have the company name on them and are

cleaned all the time.
Helping to maintain that equipment is Smith, who
has been with the company from the start and has
known Flositz for 20 years. If I didnt have Stanley,
I would be broke just paying bills for repairing
equipment, Flositz says. He can take any machine
apart and put it back together blindfolded. We call
him MacGyver because he can fix anything.
The company requires the trucks and equipment
to be clean and employees to wear uniforms when
on jobs, and safety is a priority.
Your image going to the job makes a big
difference, Flositz says. You dont want some guy
pulling up in a Camaro with the trunk open with 20
shovels in the back and people piling out with potleaf T-shirts on. You wouldnt gain trust that way.
Coastal Cable Construction

Ormond Beach, Florida
OWNERS: Jay Flositz and Jimmy Pascarelli
FOUNDED: 2009
EMPLOYEES: 13
SERVICES: Directional drilling
SERVICE AREA: East-central Florida
WEBSITE: www.coastalcableconstruction.com
15
THEYRE NOT ALWAYS THE EASIEST

JOBS, BUT THEYRE INTERESTING.
Jay Flositz
Flositz says the speedway is one of the most safety-oriented job sites the
company works at because of the number of existing utilities. Theres just so
much existing stuff out there that nobody knows where it is, he says. Its not
really time-consuming. It just takes a lot of extra work that you wouldnt do
somewhere else.
The company has also done bores in the infield, in the parking lots and
along International Speedway Boulevard, all for the speedway.
Theyre running out of room, there is so much stuff in the ground out
there, Flositz says. Theyre not always the easiest jobs, but theyre interesting.
CREDIT GOES TO THE TEAM
Good long-term employees make it possible for Coastal Cable to pick up
the speedway work and other tough jobs.
If it werent for my guys I wouldnt even be here today, Flositz says.
Theyre all really good employees. They want to learn and all of them can run
all of our equipment. They can locate, run an excavator.
Flositz wants to see the company continue on that track with steady jobs
and a solid crew: I surround myself with people I can count on and I dont
want to lose that.
Miguel Tamayo uses a Subsite 752 Tracker to help
navigate the directional drill to the proper location.
Featured products
from:
Ditch Witch
800/654-6481
www.ditchwitch.com
(See ad page 52)
Roose Manufacturing
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T.D. Williamson, Inc.

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digDIFFERENT
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26
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in every issue of Dig Different.
16
DIG DIFFERENT
Hugo Jimenez
Operator
Hydro Spy Vacuum Excavation Services
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1061
TECH PERSPECTIVE
Keeping Up With Technology

OPERATORS HAVE MANY NEW CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGIES
AVAILABLE FOR JOB SITE EFFICIENCY
BY JASON HURDIS AND TIM CRANE
he construction industry has transformed drastically over the past 20

years. Smartphone apps have enabled real-time information exchange;
a few taps on a tablet are replacing armloads of files and blueprints.
Technology is changing almost every aspect of the industry, and companies that
refuse to adapt and implement it risk being outdone by tech-savvy competitors.
One of the biggest fears construction company owners face when considering implementing new technologies is understanding what they do and how
to use them effectively.
Below are snapshots of some of the newest and most innovative construction technologies available to the industry:
Among the benefits grading technology can provide:

Keeping people off the ground and out of trenches
Reducing the cost of staking and grade checking
Cutting grading time by up to 45%
Conserving fuel and materials when you finish in fewer passes
Saving time and costs related to rework
Helping less experienced operators work like pros
Grading technology enhances job site safety, improves reliability and adds
to the machines value, both on the job and at resale.
WORKPLACE SAFETY TECHNOLOGY

UAV TECHNOLOGY
Several new technologies have become available to safeguard work sites
Unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, are a hot technology in several indusand better manage risk. One of the most common accidents in the constructries today because of all the different business-use cases they can provide. In
tion industry is being struck by, or trapped by, equipment or vehicles. Blind
the construction industry, companies are sending camera-equipped UAVs into
spots and backing-up accidents account for between 25 and 50 percent of the
the air to take dozens if not hundreds or thousands of images. The pictotal. One in 10 construction workers are injured every year, so work site safety
tures, which are linked to GPS data, can be stitched together with special softis paramount. Here are some of the newest work site safety technologies that
ware, transforming them into a 2-D or 3-D site model. The model can be used to:
can help prevent injuries:
Assess progress on a project daily, weekly or at some other regular interval
Locate specific areas where work is falling behind schedule
Object detection technologies
Measure stockpile volume
Complete object detection systems include back-up cameras and pulsed Determine the amount of overburden that needs to be removed from an area
radar object detection. Cameras give operators a view of what is typically their
Monitor width and slope of haul roads
biggest blind spot, and radar identifies objects and people hidden from the
Analyze quarry faces and berms
operators view and sounds an alarm.
Inspect hazardous areas
Confirm that employees are wearing protective gear and working safely
Fatigue detection technologies
Get a high-level view of operator technique, load-zone placement, tire
A camera installed in the cab that monitors pupil size, blinking and how
rotation and other factors that affect efficiency
long eyes stay shut determines fatigue detection. If the system senses the oper Show clients work in progress
ator is falling asleep, an alarm sounds and the seat vibrates.
Create images for marketing presentations and materials
These tasks and many others can be done quickly,
TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING ALMOST EVERY ASPECT
accurately and economically with UAV systems assumOF THE INDUSTRY, AND COMPANIES THAT REFUSE TO
ing you have access to the right technology, analytics and
ADAPT AND IMPLEMENT IT RISK BEING OUTDONE BY
expertise.
TECH-SAVVY COMPETITORS.
Companies that are considering taking advantage of
UAV technology need to be aware of the laws governing
Smart wearables
the commercial use of UAVs because they are different depending on where
Safety gear, with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) sensors and bioyou do business. The U.S. has the tightest federal regulations in regard to UAVs.
monitors, has all hit the market within the last several years. The most comAs this technology evolves, contractors will be able to combine machine
mon are RFID systems that alert workers and equipment operators when they
data from telematics systems with geospatial data from UAVs, giving operaare both moving through a work zone.
tors the power to take site efficiency to all-new levels.
As it becomes more evident that technological innovations will shape the
GRADE WITH ASSIST
future of the construction industry, its up to you to determine if your comGrading technology helps make excavators, dozers and motor graders
pany is going to embrace these new construction technologies or be left behind.
more efficient because it allows operators to get to grade faster with less effort.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
New grading technologies can help both new and experienced machine operJason Hurdis is the senior market professional for Caterpillar, while Tim
ators deliver dramatic improvements in grading efficiency over a wide range
Crane is the general manager of safety services for the company.
of applications. For example, GRADE with Assist, which adds automated grading sequences, is featured on Caterpillar excavators.
18
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BY CRAIG MANDLI
Conduit, Pipe Installation/Repair
Success Stories:
CIPP equipment keeps jail

within budget, disruption-free
City boosts productivity

with versatile vacuum excavator
PROBLEM
Rehabilitation of a sewer main running below four dormitories at Estrella
Womens Jail in Maricopa County, Arizona, came with some unusual job limitations. First, the work had to be performed at night but could not disturb the
detainees, due to state law. The actual work window would be between 9 p.m.
and 5 a.m. During that time, the crew had to complete any run it started. Plus,
project funding restricted overtime pay for necessary extra security, so the
crew was allowed to work only on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights
of two consecutive weeks.
PROBLEM
The terrain in the city of Montague in western Michigan provides challenges, requiring crews to travel up and down hills to clean out sewer pumps,
while watching for runoff or discharges into White Lake. Challenges posed
by limits of their equipment mixed with navigating difficult topography required
the department to invest in equipment that could improve the productivity of
daily tasks.
SOLUTION
Digging up the pipe would have required relocation of half Estrellas inmates
for the duration of the job, making CIPP rehabilitation the best choice for the
county. Irontree Construction chose HammerHead Trenchless Equipments
HydraLiner line of CIPP equipment and consumables. The first night began
with jet cleaning and inspecting the main. Everything was made ready to begin
inversion immediately once they returned. The next night, inversion began
with wet-out. After wet-out, the crew wound the liner onto a spool inside the
HydraLiner inversion drum. Pressurizing the drum forced the liner to spool
out through the nozzle, turning itself inside out as it progressed, its epoxy
resin side bonding and sealing with the existing pipe to create a continuous,
jointless rehabilitated line.
RESULT Work was completed on schedule and within budget. The job
went so well that two more dormitories were slated for sewer rehabilitation.
800/331-6653; www.hammerheadtrenchless.com
20
DIG DIFFERENT
SOLUTION
The city selected the Ditch Witch FX50 trailer-mounted vacuum excavator
as its go-to machine for a wide range of tasks, including potholing and general cleanup duties. The FX50 can be customized for specific job site needs.
Equipped with a 300-gallon tank, the lightweight excavator allows operators
to easily travel through city hills and be productive on smaller job sites. The FX50
accurately excavates and locates utilities, reducing damage to waterlines.
RESULT
With the FX50, we have one machine that can accurately and
efficiently help us with many projects, says Scott Beishuizen, foreman for the
Montague Department of Public Works. For the past two years, weve seen
time savings of around 50 percent due to the efficiency and versatility of the
FX50. We are operating safer and more effectively than before. 800/654-6481;
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2016 The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
5118
A Charles Machine Works Company
Accurate Trenching operator Marco

Gutierrez confirms the depth of a
linear trench while operator Stacey
Rogers steers the companys
workhorse, a Cleveland Model 236
wheel trencher, as part of an
8,000-foot agricultural irrigation
job in Californias Central Valley
outside Bakersfield.
TRENCHING
Profile
WHEELS OF
FORTUNE
CALIFORNIA EXCAVATOR TURNED HIS BUSINESS AROUND
BY SHIFTING INTO WHEEL TRENCHING MODE
STORY: KEN WYSOCKY
PHOTOS: COLLIN CHAPPELLE
As demand for new-home construction faltered in 2008,

agricultural customers. Bakersfield is located in CaliforJim Stevenson the owner of Accurate Trenching knew
nias fertile Central Valley, one of the worlds most prohis 40-year-old business, which relied heavily on trenching
ductive agricultural centers, with more than 7 million acres
for foundation footings, had reached a critical crossroads.
of irrigated farmland. Over the years, we had turned down
So Stevenson looked at the business lay of the land,
a lot of irrigation-trenching work because we were so busy
invested in new equipment and steered the company toward
with foundation trenching, Clint explains. But we figured
a completely different market: wheel trenching for agriwere a trenching company, and if we could meticulously
cultural and oilfield pipelines. And in the long run, the
lay out and do excavations for complicated house footings,
company emerged as a stronger and more diversified busiwe also could dig straight trenches for miles of pipelines.
ness, better equipped to handle future market downturns.
So we started buying wheel trenching equipment.
How Stevenson engineered this textA LOGICAL DIRECTION
book turnaround underscores the value
WE DIVERSIFIED
The move made sense for a variety
of embracing unfamiliar technology and
TO SURVIVE AND
of reasons. For starters, few companies
capitalizing on underserved market
do wheel trenching because the machines
niches with high barriers to market
THAT MADE US A
are expensive; a new unit costs about
entry. It didnt hurt that Stevenson also
MUCH STRONGER
$260,000, which makes the market less
had established a reputation as an honCOMPANY.
attractive to competitors. In this case,
est and skilled excavator, says his son,
Clint Stevenson
the only wheel trenching companies
Clint, who has worked for his father ever
around were located out of town. Moreover, the machines
since his high school years. He now serves as a supervirequire constant maintenance and repair. The machines
sor/foreman, coordinating trenching crews.
tend to tear themselves up, as Clint puts it. Its very labor
When the recession hit, we shrank to five or six
intensive to keep up with repairs.
employees, which was the smallest number since Dad
In addition, its much harder to learn how to efficiently
bought the company in 1990, Clint says. A lot of comrun a wheel trencher than conventional excavation equippetitors left the market, and we survived largely on Dads
ment. A lot of people can run a backhoe, but 99 percent
work ethic. His good name and integrity kept us going.
of them will never run a wheel trencher, Clint notes. Its
As Stevenson surveyed the recession-racked market,
a very different kind of excavation equipment, and if youre
he saw opportunity in providing trenching service for

23
Productive wheel trenchers

drive companys profitability
Asking Clint Stevenson to pick his favorite trencher is like asking
a parent to choose a favorite child. In short, all seven machines
built by Vermeer Corp., Cleveland Trencher Company and Guntert &
Zimmerman Construction Division are valuable contributors to the
bottom line at Accurate Trenching in Bakersfield, California.
All of the machines feature four-cylinder diesel engines, typically
in the 100 to 300 hp range. They ride on steel tracks and feature
hardened-steel buckets, except for the Vermeer machine, which is a
chain trencher with more than 100 carbide-tipped teeth. The buckets
on the wheel trenchers feature removable teeth on the outside lip.
Those are the parts that really wear down, Stevenson says. If we
put in a brand-new set of 5-inch-long teeth and dig for six or seven
days in a row, they might wear down to four inches long.
The dirt is like sandpaper, always grinding down the teeth, he
adds. In fact, if the ground is really hard, we might have to change
out, say, 48 teeth in just one day (each bucket has five teeth). And we
use carbide-tipped teeth on our big Vermeer chain trencher (which
digs a 36-inch-wide trench) when were trenching in really hard
ground. Theyll actually chew through rock. They wont do it very
fast, but they will trench through it.
Most of the machines components operate hydraulically, such as
the large rams that drive the wheel into the ground, says Clint
Stevenson, a supervisor/foreman at the company.
The most important thing for a wheel trencher is its weight, plus
the torque it can generate, he explains. The gross weight of a
Vermeer T655 trencher, for example, is 53,500 pounds. When
youre digging into the ground, you need something really heavy
because youre always working against the ground. The weight of the
machine is a huge contributor to how well it performs because it
creates the downward pressure that keeps the wheel in the ground.
not knowledgeable about how to run one, you can tear it up even worse than
it normally tears itself up.
In the end, the market switch proved to be highly successful. Today, Accurate Trenching employs 17 people and owns seven trenchers. One is a larger
chain trencher made by Vermeer Corp.; its designed for excavating in hard
ground and rock, and can dig a 36-inch-wide trench. The other six are smaller
bucket wheel trenchers. Three of them were built by Cleveland Trencher Company (with 18-, 24- and 30-inch-wide trenching capability) and the rest were
manufactured by Guntert & Zimmerman Construction Division (all with
12-inch-wide trenching capability).
The company also owns a backhoe, a mini-excavator and a skid-steer made
by Caterpillar; two Bobcat mini-excavators; and four Freightliner tractor cabs
that pull both low-bed trailers made by Landoll Corp. and TrailMax flatbed
trailers built by Gem State Manufacturing.
Accurate Trenching
Bakersfield, California
OWNER:
Jim Stevenson
FOUNDED:
1980
EMPLOYEES:
17
SPECIALTIES:
Trenching for agricultural and oilfield pipelines,

foundation trenching
SERVICE AREA: Central Valley (south-central California)

WEBSITE:
www.accuratetrenchinginc.com
Operator Rick Rogers heads up

the companys residential
foundation trenching division
using a smaller and more
maneuverable Eagle 4500 wheel
trencher (Eagle Trenchers).
24
DIG DIFFERENT
The company didnt completely

ITS A VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF EXCAVATION EQUIPMENT, AND IF
jettison foundation trenching, either.
YOURE NOT KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT HOW TO RUN ONE, YOU CAN
While agricultural trenching for irriTEAR IT UP EVEN WORSE THAN IT NORMALLY TEARS ITSELF UP.
gation pipelines generates about 45
Clint Stevenson
percent of the business, foundation
and utility trenching contributes the remainder. About 75 percent of the founness, so every customer knew Dad personally, Clint points out. His face effecdation trenching arm of the business centers on commercial work, with resitively was our brand, because he was the only employee for quite some time
dential work providing the balance, Clint says.
and basically ran the company for the previous owner.
So in a sense, the recession turned out to be a good thing for the company.
Clint learned the trade from his father, literally from the ground up. He
It forced us to think outside the box about different markets, Clint says.
not only learned how to operate different kinds of equipment, but also how to
Before we knew it, we had developed another side of the business that was
calculate complex footing layouts for houses. Footings for a tract home are
better than what Dad was doing 30 years ago. We diversified to survive and
fairly easy to do. But laying out footings for 8,000- and 10,000-square-foot
that made us a much stronger company. Clint also points out that his
homes which involves making sure the house is oriented legally on its lot,
mother, Judie, has played an instrumental role since the companys inception,
isnt violating any building codes or setback provisions, and is set an approserving as the office manager, payroll accountant
and bookkeeper.
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Stevenson cut his excavation teeth while working
for Dave Austin, who established Austins Trenching
in the mid-1970s, with Stevenson as his only employee
for many years. When Austin decided to retire in 1990,
Stevenson bought the company and renamed it Accurate Trenching.
Dad wanted a name that was more personal to
him, Clint says. He takes a lot of pride in his work.
Digging foundation footings is a lot different than just
digging a ditch it requires a lot of skill. Thats why
he named the business Accurate Trenching.
The transition was seamless because Stevenson
had worked for Austin for many years and had forged
strong bonds with customers. Were not a huge busi-
Accurate Trenching supervisor Clint Stevenson learned

the business from his father, literally from the ground up.

25
To watch the wheel trenchers in action,
go to www.digdifferent.com/video
priate distance from utility lines and such is a much more complicated
endeavor, he notes.
It can easily take a full day for larger homes, Clint says. Were taking
what the architects put down on paper and translating it (onto a lot).
A DIFFERENT KIND OF ANIMAL
Operating a wheel trencher is also a challenge. Compared to more conventional equipment, its an unusual beast, equipped with a large wheel (8 to
10 feet tall) thats lined with digging buckets all the way around its circumference. A high-torque engine spins the wheel around, and the buckets
which feature replaceable teeth dig into and scoop up soil as the tracked
vehicle slowly moves forward. Spoil is deposited in neat rows on either side of
the machine by a conveyor belt that runs through the wheel, perpendicular to
the rest of the machine, Clint explains.
A benchmark for good production is a mile of trenching a day for, say, a
24-inch-wide 46-inch-deep trench. Barring breakdowns, thats a pretty solid
day, Clint says. Weve gone up to 1 1/2 miles a day. To strike a straight line
for trenchers, farmers will typically drop some kind of marker at the start and
end points of the trench. Then they draw a visual line by dragging, say, a
backhoe tooth behind a tractor that uses the markers GPS coordinates to
determine a straight path from one end to the other, he says.
Sometimes farmers dont have GPS, so we instead measure the line off
something straight, like a fence line or a line of power poles that run for miles,
he says. Other jobs are more complicated; consider an irrigation system for a
26
DIG DIFFERENT
Stacey Rogers makes a run using the Cleveland Model 236 wheel trencher on
an agricultural job. It takes operators several months to get the hang of
operating a wheel trencher and three to four years to master it.
1,000-acre plot that requires 22 miles of trenching in a grid pattern, Clint notes.
Why is there so much wear and tear? The buckets and in particular, the
teeth on the buckets take a beating as they plow through soil. Theres also
a lot of metal-on-metal wear where the wheel contacts the sprockets, Clint
adds. They get beat to death. Its constantly grinding against itself.
As a result, the companys full-time mechanic usually has more work than
he can handle. The most common repair technique is something called hardfacing, where a layer of steel weld is applied atop moving parts that constantly
grind into soil, such as teeth and buckets.
It takes thousands of dollars a year to maintain them, Clint says. The
ratio of time spent trenching versus time spent on maintenance is probably
two to one, so we spend half as much time doing repairs as we do
trenching.
Moreover, to provide adequate service for customers, a wheel trenching
company must have more than one trencher. This erects yet another hurdle
for prospective competitors. If youre going to be a professional wheel trencher, you cant service customers with one or two machines, Clint says. You
need multiple machines so when one breaks down and you know its not if,
but when you have a backup ready to go.
Further, to meet customers needs, a trenching company also needs trenchers that can dig a variety of different trench widths (12-, 24- and 36-inch
widths, for example) and depths, which only compounds the capital-intensive
nature of the business. In fact, sometimes a customer needs three differentsize trenchers on just one job, he notes.
Read more about what it takes

to operate a wheel trencher at
www.digdifferent.com/featured
But it takes more than deep pockets to build a wheel trenching business. Clint says his fathers work ethic
and integrity have also played a huge
role in the companys success. Id
say that 99.9 percent of anyone whos
done business with my father has had
a positive experience, he points out.
And thats paved a pathway to success in everything we do.
What sets us apart is we do what
we say were going to do, and we do it
when we say were going to do it, he
continues. Were not perfect by any
means, but I think we do that better
than most anyone else in our trade.
MORE GROWTH EXPECTED
Looking ahead, Clint who will
take the reins of the company when
his father retires doesnt anticipate
a lot of changes in the companys
business model. But he says hes open
to expanding geographically and perhaps even getting into other aspects
of trenching.
I think were pretty good where
we are right now, he says. Im certainly not against growth, but we
dont want to force it. Wed much
rather have it happen organically
grow through a natural increase in
demand for our services. And we
never want to lose our focus on the
local customers that helped us get
where we are today.
Stacey Rogers takes a break to check in with another trenching project before continuing an agricultural irrigation job.
WERE NOT PERFECT BY ANY MEANS, BUT I THINK WE DO THAT

BETTER THAN MOST ANYONE ELSE IN OUR TRADE.
Clint Stevenson
Featured products
from:
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TrailMax Trailers
Eagle Trenchers
Vermeer
559/834-5621
www.cleveland-trencher.com
909/615-4037
www.trenchersandequipment.com
208/454-0718
www.trailmaxtrailers.com
641/628-3141
www.vermeer.com
Landoll Corporation
785/562-5381
www.landoll.com
Accurate Trenching specializes in both agricultural and residential trenching,

often spending equal time digging irrigation and foundation trenches.
27
IN THE TRENCHES
Identifying the Soil Type

AS PART OF ANY JOB SITE, A COMPETENT PERSON
SHOULD KNOW THE TYPE OF SOIL AND HOW IT BEHAVES
BY MATT TIMBERLAKE
n every job site where employees must work in excavations, an important responsibility of the competent person is the accurate classification of the soil. OSHAs Subpart P, Appendix A, describes methods
of classifying soils based on site and environmental conditions.
The competent person is required to perform at least one visual and one
manual test as a basis for classifying the soil. The soil type is then used to select
the proper shielding, shoring protective system or the proper sloping technique that will protect workers. The second installment of this article will discuss the details and the how to of these visual and manual tests.
include clay, silty clay, sandy clay, clay

loam and, in some cases, silty clay
loam and sandy clay loam. Cemented
soils such as caliche and hardpan are
also considered Type A. However, no
soil is Type A if:
The soil is fissured
The soil is subject to vibration
OSHA recognizes four types of soils:

Stable rock
OSHA defines stable rock as natural, solid mineral matter than can be
excavated with vertical sides, and will remain intact while exposed. Stable rock
is extremely rare. In fact, less than 2 percent of the soil in the U.S. is classified
as stable rock. In addition, the process of excavating with saws, breakers, dynamite, etc., will likely fracture and destabilize the material that was initially
considered stable.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT, FOR

A VARIETY OF REASONS, SOIL CONDITIONS
CAN CHANGE AS TIME PASSES.
from heavy traffic, pile driving from heavy traffic, pile driving, or similar effects
The soil had been previously disturbed
The soil is part of a sloped, layered system where the layers dip into the
excavation on a slope of four horizontal to one vertical (4H:1V) or greater
The material is subject to other factors that would require it to be classified as a less stable material
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRAD STAUFFER
Type A soil
Cohesive soils with an unconfined compressive strength of 1.5 tons per
square foot (tsf) (144 kilopascals (kPa)) or greater. Examples of cohesive soil
Matt Timberlake
Tim Haeg stands in a test pit to compare soil samples with a Munsell color chart
prior to starting a septic tank installation.
28
DIG DIFFERENT
Ben Pflueger, left, takes notes as Tim Haeg compares soil samples.
Type B soil
Cohesive soil with an unconfined compressive strength greater than 0.5
tsf (48 kPa) but less than 1.5 tsf (144 kPa)
Granular cohesionless soils including: angular gravel (similar to crushed
rock), silt, silt loam, sandy loam and, in some cases, silty clay loam and
sandy clay loam
Previously disturbed soils except those that would otherwise be classed
as Type C soil
Soil that meets the unconfined compressive strength or cementation
requirements for Type A, but is fissured or subject to vibration
Dry rock that is not stable
Material that is part of a sloped, layered system where the layers dip into
the excavation on a slope less steep than four horizontal to one vertical
tor soil conditions and assess whether additional precautions are necessary.
A project might start in Type B soil, and then change to Type C, and then back
to Type B.
In many instances, the competent person can simply classify the encountered soil as Type C, the least stable, and then shield, shore or slope
accordingly.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Matt Timberlake is president of the Ted Berry Company, located in Livermore, Maine.
An industry standard Munsell color chart is used to

evaluates and compile data to classify soil type and
characteristics.
THE SOIL TYPE IS THEN

USED TO SELECT THE PROPER
SHIELDING, SHORING
PROTECTIVE SYSTEM OR THE
PROPER SLOPING TECHNIQUE
THAT WILL PROTECT WORKERS.
(4H:1V), but only if the material would otherwise
be classified as Type B
Type C soil
Cohesive soil with unconfined compressive
strength of 0.5 tsf (48 KPa) or less
Granular soils including gravel, sand and loamy
sand
Submerged soil or soil from which water is freely
seeping
Submerged rock that is not stable
Material in a sloped, layered system where the
layers dip into the excavation or slope of four
horizontal to one vertical (4H:1V) or steeper
SOIL CONDITIONS CAN CHANGE
It is important to remember that, for a variety of
reasons, soil conditions can change as time passes.
The on-site competent person must constantly moni
29
MACHINE SHOP
Proper Care Improves

Pipe Fusion Machine Performance
FIVE TIPS TO KEEP YOUR EQUIPMENT RUNNING TO ENSURE YOUR
PROJECTS ARE COMPLETED ON TIME AND STAY PROFITABLE
BY MARYBETH MATZEK
Cleanliness
It sounds simple, but keeping the machine clean is something contractors
sometimes overlook. We all know that fusion machines work in some really
dirty, often wet environments, Smith says.
Those conditions can lead to corrosion on guide rods or pivot pins
that need to move freely so they can
operate properly. Regular cleanings
with water and soap prevent that corrosion, Smith says. Electrical components on heaters, facers, GFCI circuits,
motors and generators are also affected
by moisture and dirt, so keeping them
clean will improve their operation
and extend their longevity.
Heater care
For a heater on a pipe fusion
machine to work properly, it needs
to have the Teflon-coated butt plates
or adapters installed, Smith says.
Those areas need to be in serviceable condition, which means no
scratches or gouges in the area that
will contact the pipe and no excessive plastic buildup in those same
areas, he says. I have received many
phone calls from people using a McElroy heater that is damaged to the point
it cannot perform the intended function, so caring for it is crucial.
30
DIG DIFFERENT
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MCELROY MANUFACTURING
ith their many small components, taking care of pipe fusion machines
can sometimes be a challenge for contractors.
Without proper maintenance, the machines can slow down,
malfunction or stop working altogether, says Jesse Smith, a technical service
specialist with McElroy Manufacturing. And when machines dont work, projects can be delayed, costing time and money.
Proper maintenance is not just about making a fusion machine last a long
time, Smith says. It is also about making sure the machine is going to produce a quality product each and every time.
Here are some tips to make sure your pipe fusion machine stays in working order:
A technician works on a McElroy pipe fusion machine in the field. There are
many small components to the machines that need to be looked at regularly to
keep the machine running at peak performance.
A McElroy pipe fusion machine sits on a job site. Because the machine is exposed to elements, contractors should take time
before each job to carefully inspect it for any problems.
BOOTH
4229
If the butt plates and adapters do develop scratches and gouges, Smith says
they can easily be replaced.
The manual calls out service intervals for things like hydraulic oil and
filter changes and engine oil changes for contractors to follow, he says.
Maintain the cord

Smith often sees electric cords on job sites tangled up and laying on the
ground where people can easily walk or drive over them.
Electric tools like facers or heaters are only as good as the cord that supplies them with the electricity, he says. Taking a few extra minutes to set up
the equipment in such a way that cords are not being walked on or run over
is an easy step that will help prevent downtime and repair costs due to broken
plugs or damaged cords.
Work with a technician who knows your machine

There are multiple pipe fusion machine designs on the market and each
one operates differently, so it is vital that contractors have properly trained
mechanics working on the equipment. Smith says contractors should ask the
mechanic working on the machine what kind of experience or specialized
training they have regarding the equipment.
McElroy distributors have factory-trained mechanics on staff, so that is
one option contractors can pursue, he says.
In addition to following the prescribed maintenance
advice regarding pipe fusion machines, Smith has another
PROPER MAINTENANCE IS NOT JUST ABOUT MAKING A
tip to help contractors improve the function and longevFUSION MACHINE LAST A LONG TIME. IT IS ALSO ABOUT ity of their equipment: make sure the machine is used
MAKING SURE THE MACHINE IS GOING TO PRODUCE A
correctly.
Equipment is most often broken due to an operaQUALITY PRODUCT EACH AND EVERY TIME.
tional issue like poor job site setup, he says. The use of
Jesse Smith
pipe stands and rollers to minimize the stress being
One way to protect the machines cord is to use an extension cord to connect
put on the machine is often looked at as an additional unnecessary expense,
with the electrical outlet, since they are cheaper and easier to replace if damaged.
but if you look at the time saved and reduced equipment maintenance costs
that setup and handling tools deliver, the cost is usually far outweighed by
Keep a regular maintenance schedule
the benefit.
Pipe fusion machines sometimes go out to job sites with existing problems
or showing signs of a potential issue. Then they break or are incapable of making quality joints, Smith says.
Read more about McElroys training
If that same machine would have been inspected before going out to the
program
and university for operators online at
field, any downtime could have been avoided, he says.
www.digdifferent.com/featured
Contractors should check the inspection checklist inside every product
manual. Smith says the list is a great place to get information about developing an inspection and maintenance program for the pipe fusion machine.

31
Product Focus:
BY CRAIG MANDLI
Air Excavation
Vacmasters System 4000
The System 4000 air excavator manufactured by Vacmasters and

distributed by Sewer Equipment can provide the brute force to dig
deep down with air, exposing
utilities in hard soils without
harming them. It is effective
in soil that is hard, wet, sunbaked or compact, including
ground frost. This unit provides operators with seven to
eight minutes average potholing time and efficiency in backfilling with no mud hauling or disposal costs. It includes remote
operation, a low-maintenance design, hydraulic-powered dumping,
supervisory control panel, self-purging filtration system and fastacting interceptor canister.
800/466-7825; www.vacmasters.com
Horizontal Directional Drilling

Hunting Trenchless HX-1TRNTM Quick Connect
The HX-1TRNTM Quick Connect from Hunting Trenchless

requires just a single,
360-degree rotation to
fully connect or disconnect transition subs, starter rods, pulling adapters, backreamers and other
downhole tools for rigs in the 40,000-pound
class and below. Its Quad-Lead design provides a thread pattern with a lead every 90 degrees,
so the technician has four places to start threading, as opposed to one place
with current technology. It takes just one rotation to fully connect tools, providing the customer with time savings and a safer work environment. It is
designed it to be compatible with threads on every brand of downhole tool.
337/367-9296; www.hunting-intl.com/trenchless
Hydroexcavation Equipment
Foremost 1600 Hydrovac
The Foremost 1600 Hydrovac has a

heated 42-inch van body and is recommended for both urban and industrial applications. It allows for water capacities of
1,600 gallons and a 13-yard debris body.
The Robuschi RBDV125 blower provides
vacuum power. The Cat 3560 wash pump
and 740,000 Btu boiler are also used on this model. The boom is rear-mounted,
8 inches in diameter, fully rotational and controlled by an Omnex wireless
controller, which also controls the vehicle rpm, wash and vacuum functions.
All off-loading functions can be performed via the remote, and are performed
via a sloped debris floor design and washout system. The dump door is 48 by
58 inches, providing a large area to allow for tank cleaning. Optional 4-inch
Hydratech off-loading pump systems are available, which allow for pumping
off in a contained manner when discharging liquid loads. Complete winterization is standard.
403/295-5800; www.foremost.ca
32
DIG DIFFERENT
GapVax HV-55
The HV-55 hydroexcavator from

GapVax has a 12 1/2-cubic-yard debris
body and water tanks from 400 to
1,400 gallons. It comes with a PD
blower rated at 5,250 cfm and 28 inches
Hg. Its filtration design includes five
cyclones that prolong the life of the filter bags and eliminate the threat of material entering the vacuum pump. The tailgate is fully opening, field-adjustable
and has four fail-safe, individually adjustable locks that ensure a complete
seal. Options include interior polymer coating, a cold weather package, sludge
pump, wireless remotes, washdown system and a stainless steel body.
888/442-7829; www.gapvax.com
Hydra-Flex Switchblade and Ripsaw
Switchblade static, zero-degree and Ripsaw

rotating nozzles from Hydra-Flex have improved
impingement and stream quality to allow operators to dig faster and use dramatically less water
to ensure greater job site efficiency. The heavy-duty,
high-impact nozzles operate up to 3,200 psi and are
constructed with stainless steel housings and tungsten carbide wear surfaces. Both are designed to withstand harsh
environments and provide long life. A nonconductive urethane coating on the
nozzle body extends the life of the nozzle, while protecting the safety of the
user and sensitive underground assets. A range of flow rates and spray patterns are available for applications such as potholing and trenching.
952/808-3640; www.hydraflexinc.com
LMT SMART-DIG HX-2100
The SMART-DIG HX-2100 hydroexcavator from LMT is powered by a 59 hp Kubota

VT2403 diesel engine that drives a
1,300 cfm Tuthill blower and 2,200
psi Udor water blaster. The compact
design includes a 700-gallon debris
tank and 300 gallons of freshwater. The trailer has a fully automatic rear-open
door with wireless remote control for ease of use. Filtration is provided by the
SMART-DIG dropbox and washable PTFE filters. An antifreeze winterization
system is standard, and for colder climates and improved digging performance
an optional diesel-powered water heater is available.
309/932-3311; www.vaxteel.com
NozzTeq MONRO-JET
The MONRO-JET hydroexcavation

nozzle from NozzTeq combines the power
of a solid-stream pencil jet with the large
coverage of a fan jet. Its circular water jet
motion generates tremendous power at
modest gpm rates, allowing the operator
to move faster whether hydroexcavating,
surface cleaning or cleaning sewer lines. It can be used for other types of surface cleaning such as concrete, steel, castings and large surface areas including line removal from runways. It can be modified for internal pipe cleaning
of sewers and pipes of all types. An orbital design increases performance at a
lower gpm rate and pressures as high as 36,250 psi.
866/620-5915; www.nozzteq.com
Presvac Hydrovac
The Presvac Hydrovac is a versatile hydroexcavator designed for cold

weather operation and is offered as an option to be in full compliance with
DOT collection and transportation of hazardous materials. The high-vacuum
blower allows extraction of all types of soils, gravel, rock, clay, water and silt
material, with knockout features in

the debris tank to minimize carryover. Modular filtration configured
to the blower size provides blower
protection and minimal maintenance. It has a heavy-duty 8-inch
boom (up to 25 feet long) with sixway hydraulic power and wireless controls for all boom functions, soft-start
water pump, vacuum breaker and truck engine speed.
800/387-7763; www.presvac.com
Ramvac by Sewer Equipment HX-3
The HX-3 truck-mounted hydroexcavator from Ramvac by Sewer Equipment is the smallest model in the
Ramvac truck family, but is equipped
with large productivity features. It
has a 3-cubic-yard debris body, a 0
to 10 gpm at 2,500 psi water system all in a temperaturecontrolled enclosure, a compact footprint, NEMA-rated electrical system,
debris blow-off system and a fully hydraulic powertrain.
888/477-7638; www.ram-vac.com
Soil Surgeon
The Soil Surgeon hydroexcavating tool fits any sewer

combination truck equipped with a telescoping 6- or
8-inch boom. The tool has a 1-inch water connection. The
operator controls water pressure and power through truck
controls. It has a 6-foot Tuff Tube with handles to guide
the unit down for potholing or side to side for trenching.
Six jets boring inward cut the soil, while six boring outward bring the tube down.
949/363-1401; www.soilsurgeoninc.com
Super Products Mud Dog 1200
The Mud Dog 1200 hydroexcavator from Super Products has a

12-yard debris capacity and a rearmounted boom capable of 19- to
27-foot reach, 335-degree rotation,
45-degree upward and 25-degree
downward pivot for greater work
area access and deeper digging without halting production to reposition the trunk. It has easy-to-use ejector plate
unloading technology, and the units tilt-unloading feature ensures liquids in
the debris tank are cleared quickly and efficiently, even when unloading in an
up-slope/nose-down position. Equipment options include the Acculevel load
sensor system for precise debris tank level measurement.
800/837-9711; www.superproductsllc.com
Transway Systems Terra-Vex
The Terra-Vex all-season

hydroexcavator from Transway Systems has a Robuschi
RB-DV145 6,400 cfm blower
with OMSI transfer case and
insulated acoustical enclosure with walk-in storage.
Water pressure is achieved with a hydraulically driven Pratissoli KT20 water
pump, delivering 10 gpm at 6,000 psi. The 3,000-gallon debris tank has a
hydraulically operated hoist, and door locks with full-open door. The 1,200-gallon HDPE water tank supplies a 420,000 Btu diesel-fired burner, permitting
operation in subzero temperatures. The water pump and water tank compartments are heated by a diesel-fired heater and 12-volt engine coolant heater.
The 26-foot hydraulically operated 8-inch suction boom is equipped with joystick control and wireless remote control. All parts are painted/powder-coated
off the unit, and it includes marine-grade plywood floor enclosure, three-camera back-up system and digital water level display.
800/263-4508; www.transwaysystems.com
Vac-Con X-Cavator
The X-Cavator from Vac-Con is powerful, durable and easy to operate. It comes
fully loaded and comes with a hydrostatic
drive that uses the chassis engine for the
vacuum, creating a more efficient system
that eliminates the need for PTO, clutch
and gearbox operation. It is available with
water systems up to 4,000 psi, and a mobile
wireless remote control system that enables
the operator to work the chassis engine rpm, boom, automatic vacuum breaker,
dump controls and hydraulic door locks from remote areas up to a 1/2 mile.
The boom rotates up to 270 degrees.
904/284-4200; www.vac-con.com
Vactor Manufacturing
HXX ParaDIGm
The HXX ParaDIGm vacuum

excavator from Vactor Manufacturing is designed for utility, municipa l and contractor customers
involved in the installation, maintenance and repair of underground
water, sewer, gas, electric and telecommunications lines. This compact, multiuse truck can dig holes with water or air; vacuum, contain and dispose of
drill mud; power pneumatic, hydraulic or electrical tools; and provide transport and storage of replacement parts, equipment and tools. The trucks Parkn-Dig design minimizes the time between arriving on the job site and excavation,
including the ability to dig up to 6 feet in depth without additional pipe and
hose. The air compressor is able to power utility tools such as jackhammers
and tampers that may be used on the job. The truck has substantial storage
space for these tools, including a long-handle toolbox. It can also tow up to
20,000 pounds.
800/627-3171; www.vactor.com
Westech Vac Systems Hydrovac Code TC407
The Hydrovac Code TC407 excavation truck from Westech Vac Systems is specified with a TC407 rating
(hazardous goods transport capable). The truck allows quick access
to buried water mains and natural
gas and petroleum pipelines, cutting through hardened scale and frozen ground with reduced risk of damage.
It is designed to handle unpredictable off-road applications and unknown hazardous materials, in every type of weather, from -40 to 95 degrees F. It is quick
and easy to set up so work can begin immediately, maximizing efficiency and
productivity. Debris body capacities range from 11.8 to 13 cubic yards. It has
heated rear door valves, a heated hose reel cabinet, and glycol and air purge
winterization systems.
780/955-3030; www.westechvac.com
X-Vac, A Product of Hi-Vac Corporation,

X-6 Hydro Excavator
The truck-mounted X-6 Hydro Excavator from X-Vac, A Product of HiVac Corporation, has a 6-cubic-yard debris tank and can store 570 gallons of
freshwater with an option for a capacity of 1,000 gallons. The adjustable triplex water pump exerts up to 3,000 psi and is set independently of the blower

33
Product Focus:
speed. Vacuum systems range

in size from 2,600 cfm at 27-inch
Hg vacuum to 3,400 cfm at 16
inches Hg of vacuum. Its 6-inch
vacuum hose exposes any type
or size of underground utility,
especially in residential areas
where space is tight and crews
want to avoid blocking residential streets.
740/374-2306; www.x-vac.com
Pipe Bursting
Pow-r Mole Sales Model PD-33M
The Model PD-33M pipe bursting machine

from Pow-r Mole Sales is designed to replace
existing underground pipes 2 to 6 inches in
diameter. Its nonslip cylinder-activated jaws
prevent cable damage while providing 60,000
pounds of pulling force. It offers a cost-effective alternative to opencut excavation, which
reduces customer disruption and increases
company profits. The process replaces the existing pipe with a fused HDPE pipe, which eliminates all joints and allows the operator to pull through bends such
as 45-degree fittings. This system is modular and can be easily disassembled and reassembled for manhole and basement applications.
With a compact design and very small footprint of only 20 by 20
inches, this unit can be used in tight locations.
800/344-6653; www.powrmole.com
Pipeline Rehabilitation/Lining
Agru America Sure-Grip
Sure-Grip concrete liners from Agru America

extend the life of tanks, pipes and other structures by
combining the flexibility and chemical resistance of
thermoplastics with the strength of concrete. They are
ideal for new cast-in-place construction, rehabilitation projects and prefabricated elements such as concrete pipes and manholes. The liners with V-shaped
13 mm-tall Ultra Grip anchors are designed for concrete
structures subject to high groundwater back pressure, and liners with 19 mm-tall anchors are designed for rehabilitation of structures where
a thicker layer of grout is required. Liners are available in a variety of resins
including HDPE, PP, PVDF and ECTFE; thicknesses; and sheet/roll dimensions. They are also available with an antiskid surface for floors, a coextruded
signal layer for damage detection, and a self-cleaning surface for reduced sedimentation in pipe inverts.
800/373-2478; www.agruamerica.com
CUES TV/cutter inspection truck
Made to withstand severe

conditions and ergonomically
designed for comfort and efficiency, CUES truck-mounted
systems can include TV inspection equipment for sewer/storm/
potable waterlines, mainline
joint or lateral sealing, and lateral reinstatement cutters for the relining industry. Custom TV/cutter inspection trucks are available with Schwalm self-pro-
34
DIG DIFFERENT
pelled cutters for 6- to 12-inch lines or 8- to 24-inch lines or CUES Kangaroo

Cutters, which include full capabilities for reinstating lateral services, removal
of protruding taps, and brush finishing existing cuts.
800/327-7791; www.cuesinc.com
Pipeline Renewal Technologies

Quick-Lock
For stand-alone point repair, or

for pre-lining under high infiltration,
the Quick-Lock sleeve from Pipeline
Renewal Technologies offers a rapid,
easy-to-install and economical way to repair
failing pipe. It restores the host pipes strength with heavy-gauge 316L stainless steel, and seals out infiltration with a single-piece vulcanized EPDM rubber gasket. Suitable for sewer, water and industrial applications, a sleeve installs
in minutes with minimal equipment and overhead. It is positioned inside the
host pipe on a wheeled flow-through packer pushed by any standard CCTV
crawler. Once in position, the packer expands the sleeve against the pipe wall
to structurally reinforce it and to stop infiltration. It is available in diameters
ranging 6 to 28 inches, and in lengths of 16 and 20 inches. Multiple sleeves
can be interleaved to perform longer repairs.
866/936-8476; www.pipelinert.com
Pipeline Surveying and Mapping

General Pipe Cleaners
Gen-Eye Hot Spot Transmitter
The Gen-Eye Hot Spot Transmitter from

General Pipe Cleaners makes pipe and utility locating easy. Its 5-watt transmitter has
four trace frequencies, and an LCD graphic
display that indicates line resistance and current flow. Choose one of four line trace frequencies 1, 8, 33 or 65 KHz. The graphic display with auto backlight indicates
battery level, output level, USB connection, connectivity, type of transmission,
and active frequencies. Long battery life keeps the unit operating for as much
as 100 hours.
800/245-6200; www.drainbrain.com
Whats Your Story?

Dig Different welcomes news about
a tough excavation, pipe bursting,
trenching, boring or tunneling job you just
completed for the Down & Dirty column.
D
O Send your news to editor@digdifferent.com
W or call 800-257-7222
N
& DIRTY
35
1. Hi-Vac hydroexcavator
The X-8 hydroexcavator from Hi-Vac Corp. has been redesigned for
increased power and capacity. A new debris tank with dished front head
allows operators to legally load up to 8 cubic yards, helping avoid overweight tickets. The total payload capacity is 24,000 pounds and there is an
onboard scale located at the operator station. The unit also features a 4,000
cfm 27-inch Hg blower and a cyclone separator capable of 10-micron filtration. 800/752-2400; www.x-vac.com
THE LATEST:
Products
1
2. Subsite Electronics Commander 7 HDD guidance display

The new Commander 7 from Subsite Electronics sends tracking data
to both the tracker and drill operator. This HDD guidance display offers
enhanced capabilities to the TK RECON Series system and is compatible
with both Apple iOS and Android devices. It has an expanded communication range, faster data rate speeds and a large, high-resolution 7-inch screen.
The Commander 7 offers users three ways to view their data and has been
tested to withstand wind speeds of 100 mph. 800/846-2713; www.subsite.com
3. Ring-O-Matic Hurco valve exercisers

Spin Doctor valve exercising models from Hurco can be mounted to
any Ring-O-Matic vacuum excavator, allowing operators to clean
debris from and then exercise the valve. Exercisers have
13 feet of reach and 270 degrees of swing. The
Hurco SD-400 provides 400 ft-lbs
of torque, sufficient for
This Issues Feature:

GapVax and Wiedemann join forces to
offer water-recycling combination truck
BY CRAIG MANDLI
GapVax and Wiedemann Enviro Tec are joining forces to offer the GapVaxWiedemann Recycle JetVac, a water-recycling combination machine, to the
North American market. According to Matt Cooper, sales/demo for the
Recycle JetVac, there is a great need for water-efficient units, especially on the
arid West Coast.
Many municipalities and contractors on the West Coast have to pay a lot
for their water, says Cooper. Water-recycling technology has been used for
years in Europe, and now that need is here as well.
The greatest technical challenge to water-recycling systems is the complete
removal of abrasive sediments from the water. Wiedemann Enviro Tec has
spent 40 years refining its recycle systems to achieve total removal of abrasive
sediments. The wet-only system physically cleans the water by removing all
abrasive particles through a combination of centrifugal separation and sedimentation. There are no filters and therefore no blockages on the unit. It is
also capable of handling routine grease.
This system is actually cleaning the water, not filtering it, says Cooper.
The longer the unit runs, the cleaner the water is.
The waterrecycling system is built around three main components: a selfcleaning backflush mesh, cyclones for centrifugal cleaning action, and progressive sedimentation chambers inside the water tank. The key to the water-recycle
system design is that it keeps the workload of all these components in balance.
In fact, the recycle system cleans more water than the pump can discharge.
The Recycle JetVac, because of its continuous operation, drastically reduces
water consumption and substantially increases productivity. It eliminates time
GapVax-Wiedemann
Recycle JetVac
and effort wasted on refilling water tanks. By using existing wastewater for
the initial fill, the operator can arrive on site empty and work in subzero temperatures. Push-button operation of jetting hoses, vacuum system and suction hoses speeds setup and reduces strain on operators. With 70 feet of vacuum
hose on the cassette, there is no need to add vacuum tubes.
We view this unit as a problem solver for municipalities and private contractors, says Cooper. With its quick setup time and not having to worry
about refilling, youre saving money right off the bat.
A meeting at the 2016 WWETT Show in Indianapolis brought GapVax
and Wiedemann Enviro Tec together. Both companies saw a fit for the technology in the U.S., and Cooper says that Wiedemanns innovative system combined with GapVaxs manufacturing capabilities and standing in the combination
machine market is the perfect combination.
We are very excited to see where it goes, he says. We believe this market is just going to keep growing.
888/442-7829; www.gapvax.com
36
DIG DIFFERENT
BOOTH
6344
municipal valve exercising programs. The SD-800 exerciser offers 800 ftlbs of torque, allowing it to open large and gear-operated valves. The ERB800 is similar to the SD-800, but on a horizontal axis. It also features a
pivoting head, simplifying connection to the valve wrench. 800/544-2518;
www.ring-o-matic.com
4. Akkerman Guide Rod Swivel (GRS-50)
Akkermans Guide Rod Swivel (GRS-50) performs guided boring steel
casing installations in deep, densely compacted ground and soft rock. The
GRS-50 family of cutter heads contains four sizes of high-thrust bearing
upsizing tools able to withstand up to 50 tons of continuous thrust loads
on guided boring, guided auger boring and soft rock pilot tube projects.
Cutter heads meet the outside diameter of common steel casing pipe in
24-, 30-, 36- and 42-inch diameters. 800/533-0386; www.akkerman.com
5. Water Cannon undercarriage cleaner
Steel Eagle undercarriage cleaners from Water Cannon are designed
to simplify pressure washing vehicle undersides. A 13-inch wheel assembly has two 0-degree nozzles and two 15-degree nozzles providing 24 inches
of cleaning area. The unit handles pressures up to 4,300 psi and temperatures up to 250 degrees. The handle adjusts from 33.5 to 60 inches of reach
and the unit can be used for vehicles with 14.5 inches of ground clearance.
800/333-9274; www.watercannon.com
7. Vac-Trons CV Series hydroexcavator trailer vac

The new CV (Competitive Vac) Series from Vac-Tron comes in two
model lines, the CV GT and the CV SGT High-CFM. The CV GT models
are powered by a 27 hp Kohler engine and offer 580 cfm at 15 inches Hg.
The CV SGT High-CFM Models are powered by a 37 hp Kohler engine
and offer 1,000 cfm at 15 inches Hg. Both series have wet/dry filtration
with cyclonic separation, a 500- or 800-gallon debris tank, 200- to 300-gallon water capacities and provide 3,500 psi at 4 gpm. Optional reverse pressure is also available. 888/822-8755; www.vactron.com
4
5
6
7
6. Ditch Witch SK600 mini skid-steer

The new SK600 mini skid-steer from Ditch Witch helps operators ease
maneuverability on tight, compact landscape job sites. Equipped with a
24.8 hp Kubota diesel engine, it has a 600 lb-rated operating capacity and
a 76-inch hinge pin height. Operators can maintain hydraulic flow to the
attachment with an auxiliary-control foot pedal. The SK600 has singlepoint, lockable fuel and hydraulic fluid tanks to improve machine security. 800/654-6481; www.ditchwitch.com

37
DOWN & DIRTY
Beneath the Emerald City

CONTRACTOR USES INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS ON A MASSIVE TUNNEL PROJECT
BY AARON BOERNER
DEMANDING SCHEDULE AND CONDITIONS

JCM project leaders knew immediately that the schedule would be demanding. They had to work around the clock six days a week to meet deadlines. The
38
DIG DIFFERENT
PHOTOS COURTESY OF BROKK
heres no fast way to add more

than 4 miles of track, most of
it underground, to the Sound
Transit Link Light Rail system in the
Seattle area. But increasingly busy
traffic through a number of neighborhoods made it necessary.
Thats the challenge a joint venture of several tunneling contractors
faced when starting its portion of the
$1.9 billion Northgate Link Extension in 2013, and the project is still
keeping them busy three years later.
Completion will mean just a 14-minute ride from Northgate to downtown
for an extra 60,000 passengers by
2030. The transit lines will join 36
miles of new and under-construction
light rail lines running north, east
and south from Seattle.
Voters tired of long commute
times approved the project, a key part
of Seattles regional mass transit system, in 2008. The extension is part of
a plan adopted by the Sound Transit
board in 1996 to connect the regions
major activity centers. The Northgate
Workers use a Brokk 400D with a
project is meant to relieve one of
TEI 350 rock drill to drill through a
the areas most congested traffic
tunnel wall. Crews used the attachareas by connecting the Northgate,
ment to drill holes for steel spiles,
wellpoints and freeze pipes.
Roosevelt and University District
neighborhoods to existing routes
including downtown Seattle and SeaTac airport.
Sound Transit dedicated more than a quarter of the projects estimated
expense $440 million to general contractor JCM Northlink to handle
the tunnel segment. JCM is a joint venture formed in 2013 between Jay Dee
Contractors of Livonia, Michigan; Frank Coluccio Construction of Seattle;
and Michels Corporation of Brownsville, Wisconsin. The contractors regularly collaborate on large-scale projects and brought experience working on a
different section of the extension they completed in 2013.
PROJECT:
Northgate Link Extension adding subway

tunnels in Seattle
CUSTOMER:
Sound Transit Link Light Rail
CONTRACTORS: JCM Northlink (A joint venture between Jay
Dee Contractors of Livonia, Michigan; Frank

Coluccio Construction of Seattle; and Michels
Corporation of Brownsville, Wisconsin)
EQUIPMENT:
Kroll 15000 tower crane, Hitachi Zosen (Hitz)

tunnel-boring machine, Robbins tunnelboring machine, Brokk 400D, Atlas Copco SB
302 hydraulic breaker, Atlas Copco SB 552
hammer, Simex road header
RESULTS:
JCM completed the final breakthrough on

Sept. 1, 2016. Once the cross passages are
completed, likely by March, the crews will
have removed about 725,000 cubic yards of
material. Final completion of the tunnels is
scheduled for 2021.
D
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W
N
& DIRTY
A Simex road header attached to a Brokk 400D is used to mill away at frozen
ground during cross passage construction. JCM was forced to freeze 10 cross
passages after encountering more water than expected.
extension runs through highly populated areas, meaning contractors had to

follow strict city noise restrictions between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Plus, supervisors needed to manage the scheduling of nearly 250 employees to keep work
running smoothly.
We had eight different operations and four different subcontractors trying to work in one tunnel, says Chris Wood, JCM site project superintendent.
Its important that we keep work linear. Thats the biggest challenge: keeping
a path in and out so you can pour concrete, keep electricians and carpenters
going, and accomplish everything else.
Project planners also realized they wouldnt be able to use the same equipment they had in the past for tunneling projects. The tunnels would run directly
below the University of Washington, which has long-standing, ongoing senTo meet noise restrictions, JCM crews used Metalliance rubber-tired vehicles like
sitive science projects. The train and tracks JCM used for past projects to transthis instead of a train to transport people, equipment and supplies in and out of
port crews and supplies through tunnels are loud and produce significant
the tunnels.
vibrations, which would have disrupted the experiments. To lower
noise levels throughout the tunnel
THE FREEZING TECHNIQUE IS INVALUABLE TO KEEPING WORK GOING
and to avoid disturbing the univerQUICKLY AND SAFELY. THE FROZEN SAND ENDS UP BEING LIKE
sity, project leaders incorporated new
CONCRETE UNTIL IT THAWS. THIS MAKES IT REALLY EASY TO CHIP AWAY
sound abatement methods. JCM
AT WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT STABILITY ISSUES.
brought in seven Metalliance rubberChris Wood
tired vehicles that stretched 52 feet
long but were just 6 feet wide and
The machines stretch about 400 feet long and advanced an average of 30-50
could handle 45 tons. Crews could use them as an alternative to a locomotive
feet a day.
on rails for transportation in and out of the tunnel. In addition, the vehicles
The tough soil didnt make the job easy. The TBMs hit harder ground than
work with a number of attachments, including high-car platforms and conanticipated, slowing down the machines as cutter and scraper heads wore
crete distribution attachments, reducing the need for additional equipment.
down or broke against cobbles and boulders.
THE DIGGING BEGINS
As tunneling moved along, crews started digging 23 cross passages between
Crews started the tunneling portion of the project by digging two large
the tunnels. The 16- to 20-foot-long openings house electrical rooms and serve
vertical shafts and a tunnel portal to initially be used as access points for tunas safe havens and escape routes for train passengers in case of an
nel boring machines (TBMs), service work, material removal and supplies. The
emergency.
shafts will be converted to light rail stations when the project is complete.
Cross passages are typically constructed using pneumatic tools and miniJCM used a Kroll 15000 tower crane with 108,000 pounds of lifting capacexcavators, but about five years ago, on another section of the light rail expanity, the third-largest capacity in North America, to lift stacks of tunnel liner
sion, JCM began using a different approach: Brokk remote-controlled demolition
segments, equipment and material in and out of the 100-foot-deep shafts.
machines. They made the switch to limit worker exposure to harsh tunnel
Once shaft construction was well underway, JCM began digging the twinenvironments and reduce the inevitable fatigue and potential injuries that
bore tunnels from Northgate to the already-excavated University of Washingcome with using hand-held tools all day.
ton station and existing light rail track. Crews used Hitachi Zosen (Hitz) and
The remote-controlled technology also allows workers to operate the units
Robbins TBMs to simultaneously dig two parallel 21-foot-diameter tunnels.
from a safe distance, minimizing exposure to falling debris. JCM owned a

39
Brokk 260 from an earlier project, but with the increased demands and tight
FINAL BREAKTHROUGH
After three years of tunneling with the TBMs, JCM completed the final
deadlines of the Northgate project, they decided to invest in two larger Brokk
breakthrough on Sept. 1, 2016. Once the cross passages are completed, likely
400Ds and rented another in order to maximize productivity. The equipments
by March, the crews will have removed about 725,000 cubic yards of material
efficiency and precision sped up the excavation portion to less than three weeks,
enough to fill about 242 Olympic-sized swimming pools. JCM will conshaving off more than a week of work compared to hand-held tools. In additinue follow-up work until February 2018.
tion, the machines held up well in tough tunneling conditions.
The next contractors will continue work on the stations, rail and electriI tell everybody that anything that goes down into that tunnel will get
cal components in preparation for project completion in 2021.
broken. I can give these guys a glass of water and somehow theyll break the
The transit plan approved by voters in 2013 also included an 8.5-mile
water, Wood says. But the Brokk remote-controlled machines withstand the
conditions. When we do have issues,
Brokk field mechanics work with our
mechanics to limit detrimental downITS IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP WORK LINEAR. THATS THE
time by bringing in parts and fixing
BIGGEST CHALLENGE: KEEPING A PATH IN AND OUT SO YOU CAN
the unit right away.
POUR CONCRETE, KEEP ELECTRICIANS AND CARPENTERS GOING,
JCM worked on multiple cross
AND ACCOMPLISH EVERYTHING ELSE.
passages at a time. Crews typically
Chris Wood
started the passages by pairing the
Brokk 400D with a TEI 350 rock drill
attachment, drilling 4-inch-diameter holes for wellpoints and 20-foot
steel spiles. These were installed about
every foot to create a canopy to secure
the ground and protect workers from
falling debris. Once the spile canopy
was completed, JCM needed the
maneuverability and compact size of
the Brokk 260 paired with an Atlas
Copco SB 302 hydraulic breaker to
break through the tunnel wall.
After getting through the concrete, JCM brought back the B400D
to complete the passage, often alternating between an Atlas Copco SB
552 hammer to break through the
ground and a Simex road header to
mill the walls. Workers used miniexcavators to remove material and
load it into dump trucks, and crews
coated the walls with shotcrete to
keep them in place.
Each passage took seven to nine
weeks to complete, including waterproofing, installing rebar, pouring
the invert and headwalls, and finalTwo JCM crew members stand in front of one of the tunnel boring machines as it sits idle. Crews used Hitachi Zosen (Hitz)
izing 90 to 110 yards of fiber-reinand Robbins TBMs to simultaneously dig two parallel 21-foot-diameter tunnels.
forced concrete.
40
DIG DIFFERENT
above-ground light rail extension from Northgate to Lynnwood. Project construction is expected to begin in 2018 with a goal of service starting in 2023.
The project is just one of a series of planned improvements, all part of an overall goal to relieve commuter headaches.
Keeping it GREEN since 1979

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..
FREEZING THE SOIL

Staying true to its Rain City nickname, Seattle gave JCM much more
groundwater than expected, causing complications. The TBMs had earth pressure balance systems that pushed water away, allowing technicians to do inspections and service cutter heads, but the cross passages werent as easy. The water
volumes that needed to be pumped at some of the cross passages were far
greater than what the municipal system could handle.
Project leaders knew freezing the soil was a solution that would prevent
structural issues and ensure safety during excavation. They originally planned
to freeze five of the cross passages, but expanded that to 10 after encountering
the excess water. Crews again used the Brokk 400D, this time to drill holes for
freeze pipe they installed within the haunches of the cross passages. They then
pumped the pipes with a brine solution, chilling the soil to a frozen 10 degrees
F and making it an easy target for the machines hydraulic breaker.
The freezing technique is invaluable to keeping work going quickly and
safely, Wood says. The frozen sand ends up being like concrete until it thaws.
This makes it really easy to chip away at without worrying about stability issues.
41
MONEY MANAGER
Is It Time to Consider
a Profit-Sharing Program?
SPREADING THE WEALTH TO EMPLOYEES WHEN TIMES ARE GOOD CAN BE
A VALUABLE MOTIVATIONAL TOOL AND ITS NOT JUST A BIG-COMPANY PERK
BY ERIK GUNN
he business is doing well and youd like to show your employees some
extra appreciation and maybe encourage them in a meaningful way
to keep up the good work.
Consider profit sharing.
We mostly think of profit sharing as a big-company benefit. Where I live
and work, in Racine, Wisconsin, home care products giant SC Johnson is
famous for doling out hefty profit-sharing bonuses to all employees. Its so well
known that some big-ticket retailers, such as car dealers, have tied sales promotions to the annual profit-sharing payday.
But what about small businesses like yours? Can a small septic pumping
business really set up a profit-sharing plan? Is it worth considering?
WHO SHARES PROFITS?

The consensus among economists is that profit-sharing plans boost productivity. How much is hard to say, because plans and the companies using
them can differ widely. Still, the general trend favors them, as a 2010 report
from the National Bureau of Economic Research found.
Roughly one in five employers offers some kind of profit-sharing plan, says
Kerry Chou, an expert on the subject at WorldatWork, an organization that
offers advice, training and certification programs for human resources professionals. WorldatWorks primary focus is on pay, benefits, work-life matters,
and strategies to attract, motivate and retain employees.
PROFIT SHARING CAN BE AN EFFECTIVE PLAN AT

ANY-SIZE COMPANY. IT PROMOTES THE CULTURAL
ELEMENT IN THE COMPANY THAT WERE A FAMILY
WERE GOING TO WIN OR LOSE TOGETHER.
Kerry Chou
The available statistics dont detail whether the companies that participate
in such plans are most likely to be large, small or in-between, but Chou is confident that size doesnt matter: Profit sharing can be an effective plan at anysize company, he says. It promotes the cultural element in the company that
were a family were going to win or lose together.
They have other things going for them. One of the biggest advantages to
a profit-sharing plan is that, regardless of the companys size, its very simple
to understand, says Chou. If the company makes profits, we are simply going
to be sharing those with the employees.
The typical profit-sharing plan is just what it sounds like: The employer
takes a fixed percentage of company profits and pays that money out in the
form of bonuses to employees.
42
DIG DIFFERENT
HOW TO PAY?
The bonus is typically an annual payment, although nothing stops a business from making payments more frequently once a quarter, for instance.
Its also possible to set up a deferred payment plan contributing the
bonus to an employees 401(k) or other retirement plan, or breaking a payment
into two chunks paid over two years so the employees have to stay another
year to get it, Chou says.
But variations like those can make accounting a lot more complicated
and also less powerful as an incentive because deferred payments are less of
a value to the employee, he notes.
The predominant practice is to simply cut the employees a check to give
them the actual cash, Chou says. Most employees like cash because they can
spend it right away. And if they want to invest it on their own, they can simply do that.
Youre sold on the idea so what do you do next? Step one, Chou says, is
to determine competitive pay levels for the positions at your organization.
Check with local wage surveys (there are many sources, including state and
federal agencies, your local employers association and private consultants) to
see where you stand. Dont simply look at base pay; see what forms of variable
pay, such as profit sharing or other bonus plans, prevail in your area as well.
Then identify some expert advisers who understand how profit-sharing
programs work a human resources consultant, a suitably qualified attorney or certified public accountant.
IF ITS SOMETHING
HOW GENEROUS?
YOU CAN AFFORD,
The typical plan may set a flat
IT MAY BE WELL
percentage of net income or of
EBITDA Earnings Before Interest,
WORTH IT. AFTER
Taxes, Depreciation and AmortizaALL, WHAT BETTER
tion to be distributed, usually after
WAY IS THERE TO TELL
profits clear a certain threshold. But
YOUR WORKERS THAT
you dont want to make the choice off
EVERYONES IN IT
the top of your head.
TOGETHER?
Instead, Chou says, take a close
look at how much you can realistically afford to share and how much you are willing to pay out if profits hit the
target at which the bonus is triggered. Of course, youll need to think hard
about what that target should be in the first place.
Theres also the question of how to divide the total pool. Again, Chou says,
your compensation survey information will be important.
Some employers might take the position that everyone should get the same
amount, perhaps with incremental increases based on how long a person has
been with the company. But market considerations lead most to scale the bonus
according to management rank, he says.
Line workers, for instance, might get a payment amounting to 5 percent
of their base pay, while higher managers bonuses might be 10 or even 20 percent of base. In essence, that means the higher a person is up the ladder, the
more of his or her pay is at risk.
CHECK THE FINE PRINT
There arent a lot of regulations over profit-sharing plans but there are some.
An important thing to remember, Chou says, is that under federal wageand-hour laws, the typical profit-sharing payment is generally considered part
of an employees regular rate of pay. Thats because its nondiscretionary
the employer has committed in advance to paying the bonus if a certain target is met.
This becomes especially important when calculating overtime pay. Because
the profit-sharing bonus gets added to the employees earnings, it effectively
increases the individuals standard hourly wage. That also leads to an increase
in the employees overtime premium (half the hourly wage, paid on top of the
regular wage for overtime hours). When the profit-sharing bonus is paid out, a
sum representing that retroactive additional overtime pay must be paid out, too.
One thing employers need to do is make sure that their payroll departments are able to get those numbers included, and make sure that a retroactive payment is made if additional overtime is required, says Chou. Failure
to do so could lead to fines and other penalties in addition to an order to pay
the back wages owed.
Discretionary bonuses awarded at the whim of the employer with no
advance communication to employees dont have to be included in overtime calculations. But they limit the ability to motivate performance because
you didnt tell employees in advance about them or how to earn them. And
if the employer awards such bonuses every year, they may become an annual
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A BIG THANK-YOU
All those considerations point to the care required when setting up a profitsharing plan. But if its something you can afford, it may be well worth it.
After all, what better way is there to tell your workers that everyones in it
together?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Erik Gunn is a business writer in Racine, Wisconsin. Direct inquiries to him

at editor@digdifferent.com.

43
SPOTLIGHT
Two For One

JETSTREAMS TWIN FORCE DUAL-PUMP WATERBLASTING SYSTEM
CAN HANDLE BLASTING JOBS BOTH BIG AND SMALL
BY KYLE ROGERS
PHOTO BY CRAIG MANDLI
odays high-flow nozzles require some serious horsepower. Yet not every job needs a great deal of flow.
Enter the Twin Force dual-pump waterblasting
system from Jetstream, a subsidiary of Federal Signal
Corporation.
The system can provide 650 hp for high-flow applications, but because separate 325 hp engines provide that
power, it is also a good fit for smaller jobs. Jetstream displayed the Twin Force at the 2016 Water & Wastewater
Equipment, Treatment & Transport Show.
Theres a remote manifold at the end so you can have
650 hp or you can have two 325 hp completely independent units, says Eric Rust, an engineer at Jetstream. Thats
a huge benefit. Someone taking on a huge cleaning job
can use all 650 hp, and then if they follow with a smaller
job, they can split the units apart.
The system, which has been on the market for almost
two years, uses all of Jetstreams standard components.
It just doubles them. The name is of course the Twin
Force because there is two of everything packaged as one,
Rust says.
The system is built around Jetstreams UNx fluid end,
designed for easy servicing and fast conversion between
operating pressures of 8,000 to 40,000 psi. Dual fuel tanks
provide eight hours of runtime between refueling.
Richard Padilla, right, a regional sales manager with

Jetstream, explains a few of the features of the Twin Force
dual-pump waterblasting system to an attendee at the
2016 WWETT Show. The system can provide 650 hp for
high-flow applications, but because separate 325 hp engines
provide that power, it is also a good fit for smaller jobs.
GIVING THE SYSTEM EXPOSURE TO A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO

DIDNT KNOW IT EXISTED IS THE BENEFIT OF COMING TO THIS SHOW.
Water & Wastewater Equipment,

Treatment & Transport Show
www.wwettshow.com
Education Day: Feb. 22, 2017
Exhibits: Feb. 23-25, 2017
Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis
Eric Rust
Rust says Jetstream developed the dual system primarily to serve industry trends. Instead of manually handling a cleaning tool, more of Jetstreams
customers are turning to automation. That creates an opportunity to do higherflow applications, but achieving such flow also requires more horsepower.
When using a tool, theres a lot of thrust and 325 hp is basically all a person can handle. But then youre limited to only so many gallons per minute,
Rust says. If youre going with automation, you can blast faster with more volume, but now you need the equipment that can run these big tools. If you have a
tool that can produce 100 gpm, you need the horsepower to be able to get there.
When operating as one, the dual units can provide up to 125 gpm at 8,000
psi. With a single 325 hp unit, 62 gpm is the maximum flow at 8,000 psi.
Though the goal of achieving more total horsepower was the impetus
behind developing the Twin Force, it is the systems versatility that has caught
customers attention, Rust says.
We didnt go into the market focusing on versatility, he says. We went
into the market saying, We need to be able to feed this tool 100 gpm. This is
44
DIG DIFFERENT
how were going to do it. But a lot of our customer feedback has been about
the versatility. Its very unique that it is a dual setup. If I need to run a big tool
that requires 100 gpm, I have that option. If I have a smaller job that only
requires 30 gpm, I can run just one of the 325 hp units and not waste all the
extra fuel and water. And if one of the engines or something on one of the
pumps were to go down, I still have the ability to clean with the other unit.
Maybe its at a slower rate, but its functioning and Im still able to do my job.
I dont have to wait to get another unit from the shop or have it repaired.
Giving the system exposure to a whole bunch of people who didnt know
it existed is the benefit of coming to this show, he adds. The biggest selling
point has definitely been the versatility. Anyone can crunch the numbers and
know that a certain horsepower gives you this much flow at this pressure. With
the Twin Force, customers see that they can get that horsepower with the twounit setup, but that it also provides a lot of options.
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45
SAFETY FIRST
The Financial Pain

of Trenching Accidents
CRIMINAL CHARGES ALSO
MORE LIKELY THAN IN THE PAST
BY DOUG DAY
hey are preventable, yet still kill around 40 people every year. With all
the rules to follow and guidance to help, there is no reason for fatalities
or injuries in trench accidents.
Sometimes accidents just happen, but there are those times when people
take shortcuts or even worse, ignore safety. For company owners, there are
good reasons to consider the business ramifications of following safety rules.
Here are three recent examples, all announced in October, of companies that
ended up paying large fines; two of the cases involve no injuries.
Two workers were killed and another seriously injured in May in Boise,
Idaho, when a trench about 11 feet deep caved in. The contractor had provided
no cave-in protection or even a ladder for the employees working in the trench
doing underground utility work. The company also did not have a competent
person inspect the trench and had not trained its employees on the dangers
of trench work. The three serious violations and one willful citation resulted
in $77,319 in assessed penalties:
Serious $14,964 (lack of training, no ladder, no competent person)
Willful $62,355 (lack of protective system)
In announcing the fines, area director of OSHAs Boise office, David Kearns,
says the contractor, made almost no effort to protect its workers, or even to
understand the right ways to avoid the common hazards in this line of work.
Hiring workers and assuming they know how to protect themselves is a sure
path to tragedy.
Nobody was hurt in a September
HIRING WORKERS
incident in Stevens Point, Wisconsin,
when OSHA inspectors found two
AND ASSUMING
workers in a 10-foot trench with no
THEY KNOW HOW TO
required protection and a ladder proPROTECT THEMSELVES
vided for escape more than 25 feet
IS A SURE PATH TO
away. In addition, the required comTRAGEDY.
petent person was present but allowed
David Kearns
the workers to enter the trench without proper cave-in protection. The
two serious and one willful citations carried a penalty of $93,532:
Serious $6,236 (ladder violation, competent person allowing workers to enter trench)
Willful $87,296 (no cave-in protection)
Ground soil gives no warning prior to giving away, and a collapse can
bury workers in just seconds, says Robert Bonack, OSHAs area director in
Appleton in the announcement of the penalties. One cubic yard of soil can
weigh as much as a small automobile, making it almost impossible to avoid
tragedy.
In March, three weeks after a Chicago plumbing contractor was cited for
exposing workers to unprotected trenches while also not wearing hard hats,
46
DIG DIFFERENT
GROUND SOIL GIVES NO WARNING PRIOR TO

GIVING AWAY, AND A COLLAPSE CAN BURY
WORKERS IN JUST SECONDS.
Robert Bonack
it was again cited for allowing four workers into an unprotected 5.5-foot trench.
Despite being told by an investigator to provide proper protection, the same
workers were caught by an inspector doing the same thing the next day in a
6.5-foot trench at another location. As the inspector left the site, workers went
back into the trench, only to scramble out as the inspector returned. A short
time later, a large section of the trench collapsed in the area where the employees had been working.
The early March incident drew a penalty of $69,300. Due to wanton disregard for worker safety in the later incidents, OSHA placed the company in
its Severe Violator Enforcement Program and issued several citations with
penalties totaling $275,728:
Serious $8,231 (no hard hats on first day)
Repeat $123,458 (no means of egress or protective system on the
first day)
Repeat $48,013 (no means of egress on second day)
Willful $96,026 (no protective system on second day)
Also, under the Severe Violator Enforcement program, OSHA may inspect
any of the companys facilities or job sites if it has reasonable grounds to believe
there are similar violations. According to OSHA, the program focuses on
recalcitrant employers that endanger workers by committing willful, repeat
or failure-to-abate violations.
If the health of workers isnt enough incentive for owners, considering a
companys financial health may be. In addition, OSHA has teamed up with
the Department of Justice to pursue more felony criminal charges against individuals in safety and environmental issues. The effort was announced last
December.
Misdemeanors under the Occupational Safety and Health Act are punishable with fines up to $10,000 and six months in prison, which hasnt increased
since the law was passed in 1970. If charged as a felony, the same acts could
draw much larger fines and from five to 20 years in prison.
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March 14-16
Common Ground Alliance (CGA) Excavation Safety
Conference & Expo, Rosen Shingle Creek, Orlando, Florida.
Visit www.cgaconference.com
March 2325
Mid-America Trucking Show, Kentucky Expo Center, Louisville,
Kentucky. Visit www.truckingshow.com
April 9-13
NASTTs No-Dig Show, Gaylord National Hotel & Convention
Center, Washington, D.C. Visit www.nastt.org
Dig Different welcomes your contributions to our Happenings column. To

recognize members of your team, please send notices of new hires, promotions,
service milestones, certifications or achievements. We also invite your national,
state or local associations to post notices, news items and learning opportunities.
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EQUIPMENT & TOOLS

Industrial Pressure Washer - New w/warranty
$9,500. 2,000psi, 18gpm. 999cc Kohler & AR
pump. Will deliver. 321-800-5763
(DBM)
Honda horizontal GX engines, new in-thebox w/warranty. GX200QX - $399; GX270QAG - $579; GX390QA - $599 delivered
price. 800-363-9855 or GXParts.com (DBM)
Honda model WP40X, 8 hp, 4 with hoses.
Honda 4 hp, 2 pump with hoses. The Cable
Center: 800-257-7209.
(CBM)
New F.E. Myers DP80-20 RH Drive $13,529; D65-20 RH Drive - $12,353. Other
models available. Cloverleaf Tool Co. 941739-0707 www.cloverleaftool.com (CBM)
Liquid vacs, wet/dry industrial vacs, combination jetter/vacs, vacuum street sweeper
& catch basin cleaner, truck & trailer
mounted jetters. All available for daily,
weekly, monthly, and yearly rentals. VSI
Rentals, LLC, www.vsirentalsllc.com.
(888) VAC-UNIT (822-8648)
(CBM)
2008 - 1995 Vactor 2100s for sale. Ex-municipal units. Both fan and blower, 10-yard
to 12-yard debris hoppers. Call 425-4131211. www.1point7.com
(P02)
Sell your equipment in DIG DIFFERENT classifieds!
www.digdifferent.com/classifieds/place_ad
HYDROEXCAVATING
EQUIPMENT
Available for Rent-to-Own or Sale!

2014 Peterbilt HV56 Hydroexcavator,
10-speed, 15-yd. debris, cold-weather
package. Multiple GapVax available.
Call Steve 888-393-4425
www.renthydrovac.com D02
Available for Rent-to-Own or Sale!

2012 Kenworth Vactor HXX Hydroexcavator, 10-speed, 12-yd. debris,
cold-weather package. Multiple Vactors available.
Call Steve 888-393-4425
www.renthydrovac.com D02
49
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digdifferent.com FEBRUARY 2017

Think outside the bucket

Trenching for agricultural and oilfield

PIPE FUSION MACHINE

DOWN & DIRTY:

digdifferent.com February 2017

TEXAS DIG TUBE

Rival Hydrovac Inc. .....................

Soil Surgeon, Inc. ....................... 47

Custom Vac Services Ltd. ............ 43

StoneAge, Inc. ............................ 41

Cat Pumps .................................

Subsite Electronics ...................... 21

Ditch Witch ................................ 52

With all-in-one 8" to 6"

Texas Municipal Equipment .........

Tornado Global Hydrovacs Ltd. ..

Transway Systems Inc. ................ 11

GapVax, Inc. .............................. 51

Vac-Con, Inc. ............................. 17

8" Bandlock Clamp

Vector Technologies Ltd. .............

Vivax-Metrotech Corp. ................ 31

Kuriyama of America, Inc. .......... 45

EQUIPMENT Arlington, TX 817.269.6677

Water Cannon, Inc. MWBE ...... 19

R.A. Ross & Associates NE, Inc. ... 35

Think outside the bucket

MORE POWER TO YOU

Published nine times yearly by COLE Publishing, Inc.

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ADVERTISING RATES: Call Tim Krueger at 715-550-4402 or email tim.krueger@

FOCUS: Conduit, Pipe Installation/Repair; WWETT Show Issue

Identifying the Soil Type

12 PROFILE: DIRECTIONAL DRILLING

As part of any job site, a competent

Leading the Pack

Coastal Cable constructions hardworking

38 DOWN & DIRTY:

Beneath the Emerald City

Contractor uses innovative techniques and

Conduit, Pipe Installation/

Proper Care Improves Pipe

Spreading the wealth to employees

Five tips to keep your equipment running

Conduit, Pipe Installation/

The Financial Pain of

Criminal charges also more likely than

Two For One

Burying the Lines

By Cory Dellenbach, Editor

The Latest: Products

8 BELOW THE SURFACE:

Finding the right method of putting lines

The Latest: News

Keeping Up With Technology

NEXT ISSUE: March 2017

FOCUS: CONEXPO Show Issue, Site Prep, Remediation

The X-8 also features:

in the industry. Offering an 8" high-

Triplex Water Pump: 10 GPM @ 2,500 PSI

capacity vacuum system and a