Last month brought another strong lineup of industry coverage, expert insights and practical strategies from across the underground construction and vacuum excavation sectors. To help readers stay caught up, we’re rounding up some of the most-read online stories from September on Dig Different.
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5. Repairing and Replacing Underground Waterlines Without Disturbing Sidewalks
By using trenchless techniques like pneumatic boring, push-pipe methods or specialized earth moles, contractors can efficiently install new underground lines while preserving the hardscape and significantly reducing environmental disruption.
4. Is Your Approach to After-Hours Calls Hurting Business?
Contractors who rely on voicemail for after-hours emergency calls are bleeding revenue, as nearly 85% of frustrated homeowners will immediately dial the next competitor rather than wait for a callback. Investing in live answering solutions or AI voice agents can help business owners can capture these high-value, off-hours emergencies.
3. How to Overcome the Pains of Business Growth
When a growing business pushes past a dozen employees, the informal communication habits and owner-centric micromanagement that built the company can cause the operational structure to fracture. To survive this chaotic growth ceiling, owners must step out of the field, establish rigid administrative workflows and implement strict daily check-in rhythms that empower their team to operate independently.
2. Defensive Driving Tips for Workplace Safety
As heavy utility trucks navigate increasingly congested and distracted roadways, defensive driving is a critical requirement for protecting employees and the public. Fleet operators must train their crews to manage extended stopping distances, compensate for large equipment blind spots and strictly enforce the proper securing of heavy cargo loads before leaving the yard.
1. The Cost of Going Electric: Job Site Infrastructure and Equipment Needs
As electric construction equipment finally reaches cost parity with diesel machines, contractors bidding on urban infrastructure or noise-sensitive public projects are increasingly evaluating battery-powered excavators for their fleets. However, failing to proactively plan for on-site charging logistics and temporary power access can quickly erase these expected fuel savings through expensive, unexpected generator rentals and crew downtime.
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